Compressible resilient fabric, devices, and methods
Inventors
Norris, Stephanie Booz • Monestere, JR., Martin • McMurray, Brian L.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-7921678-B2
Publication Date
2011-04-12
Expiration Date
Abstract
A compressible resilient fabric can include a ground layer of knitted yarn, and a loop layer comprising a plurality of loops of yarn, each loop having a point knit into the ground layer. The fabric can be compressible from an non-compressed configuration, in which each loop has an apex extending substantially perpendicularly outward from the ground layer, into a compressed configuration, in which each loop is collapsed onto the ground layer. The fabric can further be resilient so as to substantially resume the non-compressed configuration when compression is relieved. The loop layer yarn can include a multifilament yarn having a high denier per filament ratio. The ground layer yarn can include a yarn shrinkable substantially more than the loop layer yarn. The loops can be densely knit so as to support the extension of the loops outward from the ground layer.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a compressible resilient knitted textile. The textile comprises a knitted ground layer and a loop layer in which point-knit upright loops extend substantially perpendicularly outward from the ground layer in a non-compressed expanded configuration. When the textile is compressed, the point-knit loops collapse onto the ground layer into a compressed configuration having a specified small thickness.
The textile is resilient such that, when compression is relieved, the loops substantially rebound by returning toward an approximately original, non-compressed loop height. A key feature is that the loop layer yarn is characterized as multifilament yarn having a high denier-per-filament ratio, while the ground layer yarn has substantially higher shrinkage.
The relative shrinkability of the ground layer yarn acts to lock or position the loops during shrink/heat-setting so that consistent loop stability is maintained through the compressible/rebound behavior. The textile is extended to medical devices, particularly tubular intraluminal sealing members for stents, stent-grafts, and heart valves, with linkage described between loop stability and vessel/duct sealing and clotting performance.
Claims Coverage
Two independent claims are present (clm-00001 and clm-00011). Across these independent claims, the coverage is directed to a knitted fabric having a knitted ground layer and a loop layer of point-knit loops that collapse under compression to a specified compressed thickness and substantially rebound when compression is relieved, with quantitative structural and yarn-property constraints.
Point-knit loops on a knitted ground layer with compressible collapse and resilient rebound
A fabric comprising a ground layer of knitted yarn and a loop layer comprising a plurality of loops of yarn, each loop having a point knit into the ground layer, wherein the fabric is compressible from a non-compressed configuration into a compressed configuration comprising a thickness of about 0.004-0.008 inches with each loop collapsed onto the ground layer, and wherein the fabric is resilient so as to substantially resume the non-compressed configuration by returning the loops to approximately an original, non-compressed height when compression is relieved.
Multifilament loop yarn with total denier and defined compression/rebound thickness ranges
A fabric comprising a ground layer of knitted yarn and a loop layer comprising a plurality of loops of multifilament yarn having a total denier of about 60-70, each loop having a point knit into the ground layer, wherein the fabric is compressible from a non-compressed configuration into a compressed configuration comprising a thickness of about 0.008 inches with each loop collapsed onto the ground layer, and wherein the fabric is resilient so as to substantially resume the non-compressed configuration having a thickness between about 1 mm and about 2 mm by returning the loops to approximately an original, non-compressed height when compression is relieved.
Overall, the independent claims cover a knitted fabric architecture (ground layer plus point-knit loops) that exhibits compressible collapse to a small thickness and resilient rebound to an approximately original loop height, with additional quantitative yarn and thickness ranges specified in the multifilament-denier embodiment.
Stated Advantages
Provides substantially repeatable loop collapse into a compressed thickness and substantial rebound/resume of an original non-compressed loop height when compression is relieved.
Enables loop stability and consistent sealing and clotting performance by locking/positioning loops via ground-layer yarn shrinkage.
Supports use as tubular intraluminal sealing members for stents, stent-grafts, and heart valves.
Includes radiopaque options to support imaging.
Documented Applications
Tubular intraluminal sealing members on stents, stent-grafts, and heart valves, with described linkage to vessel/duct sealing and clotting performance.
Systems/kit and implantation and imaging support concepts, including radiopaque options.
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