Appeal No. 2002-1671 Page 12
Application No. 08/993,985
Referring now to the figures, Chaikof's self-expanding intraluminal composite
prosthesis 10 comprises an elongated tubular shaped member 2 having a body portion
4, the body portion 4 being formed by at least one layer of a composite material 6, the
composite material 6 being comprised of a plurality of strands of a reinforcing fiber 8
and a plurality of strands of a sealing fiber 12. The fibers 8, 12 are interwoven, thereby
forming the composite material 6. The tubular shaped member 2 has an expanded or
resting diameter, a radially contracted diameter, and an operable diameter when
deployed in a body passage 14 which is intermediate the expanded and radially
contracted diameters, the tubular shaped member 2 being radially compressible along
its longitudinal axis between the expanded and radially contracted diameters to permit
intraluminal delivery of the tubular shaped member 2 through a body passage 14 to a
predetermined delivery site 16. At the predetermined delivery site 16, the tubular
shaped member can self-expand within the body passage 14 to its operable diameter
as shown in Figures 4-5.
Chaikof teaches (column 6, lines 19-25) that "[t]he reinforcing fibers 8 can be
comprised of any biocompatable material including, but not limited to, metals, polymers,
organic fibers or combinations thereof. The sealing fibers 12 can be comprised of any
biocompatable polymer or carbon fiber. Examples of suitable polymers include,
polyethyleneterepthalate, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyurethane, polysiloxane or nylon."
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