CARBON CONTAINING VASCULAR GRAFT AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME

摘要

A method for making a carbon lined vascular graft wherein a polymeric carbon compound and a polymeric compound are co-extruded through a mandrel and die assembly to form a vascular graft having carbon as an integral component of its intraluminal or exterior surface is presented, along with the carbon containing graft which results from the method. A divided preformer comprising two hollow concentrical cylinders is used to form a dual compound billet for extrusion. Alternatively, the polymeric carbon compound may be used to fill both cylinders of the divided preformer to form a single compound billet which is extruded to present a carbon containing polymeric graft having uniform carbon polymeric material throughout the wall of the graft. A preformer having multiple dividers which thereby forms a billet having multiple layers wherein one of the layers contains a carbon element way also be used as part of the inventive method. A time-releasable bioactive substance may be incorporated into the vascular grafts resulting from the inventive method.