Self-sealing implantable vascular graft

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention features a self-sealing implantable prosthetic device for connection to a fluid flow pathway of a patient.
The device comprises a tubular body adapted for attachment to the fluid flow pathway.
The body defines a primary lumen for accommodating fluid flow therethrough and a secondary lumen partially circumscribing the primary lumen.
The lumina share a common side wall.
A non-biodegradeable elastomeric material is disposed in the secondary lumen.
This permits repeated self-sealing penetrations by a cannula through the secondary lumen, the common side wall, and into the primary lumen.
It is a significant feature of the invention, that the secondary lumen partially but not totally circumscribes the primary lumen.
This provides a single piece unitary construction prosthetic device.
In a preferred embodiment, the present prosthetic device is made from stretched and/or expanded polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE).
Stretched and/or expanded PTFE is made up of a network of nodes and fibrils which endow the PTFE with porosity.
The network of nodes and fibrils created during the manufacture of tubing from PTFE results in a semi-permeable membrane having a permeability determined by the porosity of the PTFE material.
A method for repeatedly accessing a patient's vascular system is also the subject of the present invention.
The method includes the steps of implanting in the patient a structure constructed in accordance with the invention and accessing the patient's vascular system by passing a cannula through the second lumen, the common side wall, and into the first lumen of the structure.
The present device and method have several advantages, including more flexibility than vascular graft structures having a two-piece coaxial design.
The presence of a polymer material completely surrounding the graft can inhibit blood flow through the graft lumen, and increase the rigidity of the grafts.
The present structures provide grafts which more clearly approximate the behavior of naturally occurring veins or arteries