Multi-strand implant with enhanced radiopacity

Abstract

An implant for medical use, and methods of making same, having a body formed of a plurality of single strands of a first material. The body further includes at least one multi-strand of radiopaque material incorporated among the single strands, the multi-strand having at least two side-by-side filaments of radiopaque material that lie substantially contiguous to each other over substantially the entire length of the multi-strand.

1 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A method for manufacturing an implant for medical use, comprising:
 providing a plurality of carriers, each carrier having a single strand composed of at least a first material;   providing at least one carrier having a multi-strand of radiopaque material, the multi-strand having at least two side-by-side filaments of radiopaque material that lie substantially contiguous to each other over substantially the entire length of the multi-strand; and   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the carrier having the multi-strand is substantially the same as the carriers for the single strands. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein each of the side-by-side filaments of the multi-strand is a monofilament of radiopaque material. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein forming the body includes establishing a first spacing pattern and a first wall thickness, and each multi-strand joins in the first spacing pattern without substantial deviation from that pattern and without substantially altering the first wall thickness. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the first spacing pattern is one of an open braid pattern and an open weave pattern. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein at least one multi-strand carrier is utilized for every dozen single-strand carriers. 
     
     
         12 . A method of retro-fitting an implant forming machine having a plurality of carriers, each carrier designed to carry a single strand composed of at least one of a first material and a radiopaque material, comprising: selecting at least one of the plurality of carriers, each carrier designed to carry a single strand, and loading the selected carrier with a multi-strand of radiopaque material, the multi-strand consisting of two side-by-side filaments of radiopaque material that lie substantially contiguous to each other over substantially the entire length of the multi-strand; and forming a body for the implant utilizing both the single strands and the multi-strand. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein each of the side-by-side filaments of the multi-strand is a monofilament of radiopaque material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein forming the body includes establishing a first spacing pattern and a first wall thickness, and each multi-strand joins in the first spacing pattern without substantial deviation from that pattern and without substantially altering the first wall thickness. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the first spacing pattern is one of an open braid pattern and an open weave pattern. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein at least one multi-strand carrier is utilized for every dozen single-strand carriers. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the machine has at least 42 carriers, and at least 6 of the carriers are loaded with the multi-strands of radiopaque material.