Thin-wall polytetrafluoroethylene tube
 A thin-wall PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) tube in the form of a tube of porous expanded PTFE film wherein the porous PTFE film has a microstructure containing a multiplicity of fibrils oriented substantially parallel to each other. The tube has a wall thickness of less than about 0.25 mm and is made from at least one first layer and at least one second layer of porous PTFE film, wherein the fibrils of the first and second layers are oriented substantially perpendicular to each other. Preferably the fibrils of the at least one first layer are oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube and the fibrils of the at least one second layer of porous PTFE film are oriented substantially circumferential to the tube. The first and second layers may be inner and outer layers respectively, or alternatively their relationship may be reversed. Alternatively, either of the first and second film layers may be replaced with alternative reinforcing components such as a braid or at least one reinforcing rib. 
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
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Y10T B32B B29C B32B B29K Y10T B29L B29L A61L F16L A61F Y10T B29C B29L Y10T B29K B29K B29K Y10T A61B B29K B29C Y10T B29L A61F B29C B32B Y10T A61L B32B B29C B29L A61F B29L A61L A61L Y10S B32B A61L B29D B29C A61F B29K Y10T B29D B32B A61F B32B B32B Y10T B29L B29L A61L
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David J. Carey V. James D.
Myers Campbell Lewis