LASER CUTTING OF FABRIC GRAFTS

摘要

A graft forming apparatus and method including a plurality of mandrels for receiving tubular grafts thereon and an adjacent cutting instrument for forming regular and repeated patterns of small holes therein and for severin g the ends of the graft. The cutting instrument is preferably a low-powered laser to form clean and non-frayed holes and lines in fabric grafts. The mandrel a re mounted for rotation about an axis underneath the cutting instrument which is movable along the axis. By computer control, the motion of the cutting instrument and mandrel can be accurately and precisely choreographed. The mandrel may be a straight cylinder for forming straight grafts, or may be a bifurcated mandrel formed of several components. The bifurcated mandrel includes a trunk portion and pair of detachable leg portions. Adapter disks are provided so that the bifurcated mandrel can be rotated either about the axis of the trunk portion, or about the axis of one of the leg portions. The hole s are formed to precise dimensions and locations so that support wires may be weaved through the holes and circumferentially around the tubular graft to form a non-leaking supported tubular prosthesis.