WOVEN STENT/GRAFT STRUCTURE
A combined stent/graft structure for repair of a body tube in a living body. The structure includes a textile graft adapted to enhance fluid integrity of the body tube and a stent expandable between a first position permitting easy insertion of the stent into the body tube and a second position wherein the stent presses securely against the inside surface of the body tube. The stent includes a first elongate wire-shaped stent member with both a stent member global axis and a stent member local axis, and is integrally secured to the graft by at least one graft yarn of which the graft is formed. Substantial portions of the first stent member global axis form a non-orthogonal angle with the graft main portion axis when projected into a plane containing the graft main portion axis. This permits repeatable, reliable manufacturing and allows the stent member to extend over substantially the whole length of the structure to provide uniform flexural properties and support throughout. Embodiments wherein the first stent member global axis forms an orthogonal angle with the graft main portion axis are also contemplated. A method of forming a textile with an undulating wire is also provided. Further, a woven textile is also part of the invention as is a method of manufacturing such a woven textile, which can be used to produce stent/graft structures according to the invention. Inventive weaving shuttles suitable for manufacturing structures in accordance with the invention are also set forth. Methods utilizing shape-memory stent members for ease in manufacturing are also disclosed.