Apparatus and methods for conduits and materials

Abstract

The present invention provides apparatus and methods for a conduit, such as an implantable conduit for a vessel. The conduit may comprise a main member and a side-branch member. The conduit may be implanted with the side-branch member initially disposed within the main member. When positioned, the side-branch member may then be extended from within the main member and into a vessel side-branch. The materials for the conduit may include circumferentially distensible and/or low recoil materials. The materials for the conduit may be constructed by various techniques and may include materials with enhanced flexibility and kink resistance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A film-tube comprising at least 2 layers of microporous polyethylene film that have been bonded together, which film-tube shows no substantial circumferential distension when exposed to an inflation pressure of up to 1.7 MPa at ambient temperature. 
     
     
         2 . The film-tube according to  claim 1 , wherein the film-tube comprises at least 3 layers of microporous polyethylene film. 
     
     
         3 . The film-tube according to  claim 1 , wherein the layers of microporous polyethylene film have been bonded together by a heat bonding process. 
     
     
         4 . The film-tube according to  claim 3 , wherein the film-tube substantially consists of layers of microporous polyethylene film that have been bonded together. 
     
     
         5 . The film-tube according to  claim 1 , wherein the microporous polyethylene film had a nominal thickness of about 50 μm before being bonded together. 
     
     
         6 . The film-tube according to  claim 1 , wherein circumferential distension measured as increase in outer diameter when exposed to an inflation pressure of up to 1.7 MPa at ambient temperature is less than 10%. 
     
     
         7 . The film-tube according to  claim 6 , wherein the increase in outer diameter is less than 8%. 
     
     
         8 . The film-tube according to  claim 6 , wherein the increase in outer diameter is less than 7%. 
     
     
         9 . A balloon catheter comprising a non-distensible film-tube according to  claims 1 - 8 , wherein the film-tube functions to limit increase in outer diameter of the balloon during inflation. 
     
     
         10 . A prosthetic conduit comprising a non-distensible film-tube according to  claims 1 - 8 , wherein the film-tube functions to limit increase in outer diameter of the conduit during use.