High profile fabric graft for arteriovenous access

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention is an AV graft made from synthetic fibers or yarns and having a high external profile to facilitate tissue ingrowth and to provide self-sealing of the graft after puncture by a dialysis needle, or the like.
The AV graft includes elastic synthetic fibers to provide a self-sealing mechanism after puncture.
The AV graft of the present invention includes a woven or knitted pattern of yarns.
The woven or knitted pattern provides for self-sealing after puncture.
The AV graft has a high external profile to promote tissue ingrowth after implantation and to further provide self-sealing of the graft after puncture.
In one aspect the high profile AV graft is a woven graft having a first fabric layer of a plain or twill pattern to provide a smooth interior surface of the graft.
A second fabric layer having raised loops is provided to give the AV graft a high external profile.
The second fabric layer has raised loops of fabric extending outwardly from the outer surface to provide a raised or velour texture.
In a another aspect, the present invention includes a knitted pattern of yarns.
A first fabric layer is provided with a close-knit pattern having a smooth inner surface.
A second knit pattern of a second fabric layer has external loops that can be raised from the surface to provide a velour-like surface.
The fabric loops extending from the outer surface of the AV graft extends from about 1 to about 5 mm in length.