| US 7,594,974 B2 | ||
| Method of cutting material for use in implantable medical device | ||
| Douglas S. Cali, Mission Viejo, Calif. (US); and Keith E. Myers, Lake Forest, Calif. (US) | ||
| Assigned to 3F Therapeutics, Inc., Lake Forest, Calif. (US) | ||
| Filed on Dec. 08, 2004, as Appl. No. 11/7,732. | ||
| Application 11/007732 is a continuation of application No. 10/207438, filed on Jul. 26, 2002, granted, now 6,872,226. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/308268, filed on Jul. 26, 2001. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2005/0098547 A1, May 12, 2005 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. B32B 37/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 156—64 [156/251; 623/2.12; 623/2.13] | 21 Claims |
| 1. A method of creating an implantable medical prosthesis, comprising:
a. providing a sheet of pericardium, wherein the pericardium has at least two tissue layers;
b. supporting the sheet of pericardium with a support platform;
c. providing a laser cutting apparatus having a laser tube assembly configured to create a laser beam which is directed through
a series of optical elements to direct a laser beam on the support platform; and
d. cutting a segment of tissue out of the sheet of pericardium with a laser beam; said cutting comprising operating the laser
apparatus at a power and pulse rate such that said laser beam welds the layers of the pericardium together along a laser cut
edge
wherein sufficient energy is imparted to vaporize portions of the pericardium along the cut edge and to at least partially
melt the cut edges without substantial burning of the pericardium adjacent the cut edge and further wherein the cut edge of
the tissue segment is not susceptible to premature wear.
|