Implantable medical grafts fabricated of metallic or pseudometallic films
of biocompatible materials having a plurality of microperforations passing through
the film in a pattern that imparts fabric-like qualities to the graft or permits
the geometric deformation of the graft. The implantable graft is preferably fabricated
by vacuum deposition of metallic and/or pseudometallic materials into either single
or multi-layered structures with the plurality of microperforations either being
formed during deposition or after deposition by selective removal of sections of
the deposited film. The implantable medical grafts are suitable for use as endoluminal
or surgical grafts and may be used as vascular grafts, stent-grafts, skin grafts,
shunts, bone grafts, surgical patches, non-vascular conduits, valvular leaflets,
filters, occlusion membranes, artificial sphincters, tendons and ligaments.