Endovascular graft joint and method for manufacture

Abstract

A joint and method for producing a joint in an endovascular graft. In one embodiment, a flap of a flexible material portion of an endovascular graft is folded about a portion of an expandable member to form a loop portion. The flap is secured in the loop configuration so that tensile force on the expandable member is transferred into a shear force on the fixed portion of the flap.

1 - 37 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         38 . A method for securing a transversely oriented member to a flexible material portion of an endovascular graft or section thereof comprising: 
 a) disposing the transversely oriented member in proximity to a flap in a flexible material portion of an endovascular graft or section thereof;    b) folding the flap over at least a portion of the transversely oriented member to form a looped portion of the flap about the transversely oriented member; and    c) securing the flap in the looped configuration.    
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the flap is comprised of a portion of a layer of flexible material and the flap is secured to the layer of flexible material.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration with adhesive.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the flap is comprised of a portion of a first layer of flexible material and the flap secured to a portion of a second layer of flexible material.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the flexible material comprises ePTFE.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration by thermomechanical compaction.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration with FEP or PFA.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the ePTFE material of the flap is sintered after being secured in the looped configuration.  
     
     
         46 . A method for securing a circumferentially oriented member to a flexible material portion of an endovascular graft or section thereof comprising: 
 a) disposing a circumferentially oriented member in proximity to a flap in a flexible material portion of an endovascular graft or section thereof;    b) folding the flap over at least a portion of the circumferentially oriented member to form a looped portion of the flap about the circumferentially oriented member; and    c) securing the flap in the looped configuration.    
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the flap is comprised of a portion of a layer of flexible material and the flap is secured to the layer of flexible material.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration with adhesive.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the flap is comprised of a portion of a first layer of flexible material and the flap secured to a portion of a second layer of flexible material.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the flexible material comprises ePTFE.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration by thermomechanical compaction.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration with FEP or PFA.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the ePTFE material of the flap is sintered after being secured in the looped configuration.  
     
     
         54 . A method for securing an expandable member to a flexible material portion of an endovascular graft or section thereof comprising: 
 a) disposing the expandable member in proximity to a flap in a flexible material portion of an endovascular graft or section thereof;    b) folding the flap over at least a portion of the expandable member to form a looped portion of the flap about the expandable member; and    c) securing the flap in the looped configuration.    
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54  wherein the flap comprises a portion of a layer of flexible material and the flap is secured to the layer of flexible material.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 54  wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration with adhesive.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 54  wherein the flap comprises a portion of a first layer of flexible material and the flap secured to a portion of a second layer of flexible material.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 54  wherein the flexible material comprises ePTFE.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58  wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration by thermomechanical compaction.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 58  wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration with FEP or PFA.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 58  wherein the ePTFE material of the flap is sintered after being secured in the looped configuration.