| abstract |
Porous, distensible, gel-like membranes which in tubular form are suitable as implants, e.g., vascular prostheses and a process for the preparation thereof is described. The membranes are formed by a spraying, phase-inversion technique which employs thermodynamically unstable polymer solutions and is accomplished by separately spraying the unstable solution and a nonsolvent onto a rotating surface. Prostheses from the highly porous tubular membranes have shown a high degree of patency and completeness of the healing process and are useful for direct implantation in the body or for extracorporeal vascular accesses. |