IMPLANTABLE TUBULAR PROSTHESIS HAVING INTEGRAL CUFFS

摘要

An implantable tubular prosthesis having cuffsadapted to accommodate stents. The prosthesis includes ahollow tubular conduit with cuffs at each end. Each of thecuffs has a closed end and a open end to create a slot forhousing the stents. The prosthesis may be an implantabletubular intraluminal prosthesis for insertion within a bodyvessel, where the hollow tubular conduit is radiallyexpandable to buttress the body vessel. Alternatively, theprosthesis may be an implantable tubular prosthetic graftfor surgical replacement of damaged or diseased existingbody vessels. The tubular prosthesis and stent combinationmay be radially expanded so that the stents anchor theprosthesis within the lumen. The slots which house thestents, prevent contact between the stents and fluidsflowing through the body vessel.