 state, the layer of polytetrafluoroethylene affixed to the wall such that it has a second average circumferential inter-nodule distance when the wall is in the radially contracted state, the second average circumferential inter-nodule distance being less than the first average circumferential inter-nodule distance. The tubular layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene may have (i) an average circumferential inter-nodule distance of between about 0 and about 75 microns, preferably between about 5 and about 70 or between about 20 and about 50 microns, when the wall is in the radially contracted position, and (ii) an average circumferential inter-nodule distance of between about 75 and about 150 microns, preferably between about 80 and about 140 microns or between about 80 and about 120 microns, when the wall is in the radially expanded position.
The present invention also relates to an expandable prosthesis having (a) a discontinuous wall generally defining a lumen adapted to assume a longitudinally expanded position and a longitudinally contracted position; and (b) at least one layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a first average longitudinal inter-nodule distance in a free state, the layer of polytetrafluoroethylene affixed to the wall such that the polytetrafluoroethylene has a second average longitudinal inter-nodule distance between 0 and 99 percent of the first average longitudinal inter-nodule distance when the wall is in the longitudinally contracted position. The second average longitudinal inter-nodule distance may be between about 20 and about 50 percent of the first average longitudinal inter-nodule distance when the wall is in the longitudinally contracted position.
The present invention also relates to an expandable prosthesis having (a) a discontinuous wall generally defining a lumen adapted to assume a radially expanded position and a radially contracted position; and (b) at least one layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a first average circumferential inter-nodule distance in a free state, the layer of polytetrafluoroethylene affixed to the wall such that the polytetrafluoroethylene has a second average circumferential inter-nodule distance less than about 50 percent of the first average circumferential inter-nodule distance when the wall is in the radially contracted position. The second average circumferential inter-nodule distance may be less than about 25 percent of the first average circumferential inter-nodule distance when the wall is in the radially contracted position.
The present invention also relates to an expandable prosthesis having (a)
state, the layer of polytetrafluoroethylene affixed to the rampart such that it have a second average circumferential inter - nodule distance when the wall is in the radially compress country, the second average circumferential inter - nodule distance being less than the first median circumferential inter - nodule distance. The tubular level of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene may have (i) an average circumferential inter - nodule distance of between about 0 and approximately 75 microns, preferably between about 5 and about 70 or between about 20 and approximately 50 microns, when the wall is in the radially compress position, and (ii) an average circumferential inter - nodule distance of between approximately 75 and about 150 microns, preferably between about 80 and approximately 140 microns or between about 80 and about 120 microns, when the wall is in the radially expand position. 
 The present invention also relates to an expandable prosthesis having (a) a discontinuous wall by and large defining a lumen adapted to assume a longitudinally expanded position and a longitudinally contracted position; and (b) at least one layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a first average longitudinal inter - nodule distance in a free state of matter, the layer of polytetrafluoroethylene affix to the wall such that the polytetrafluoroethylene has a second average longitudinal inter - nodule distance between 0 and 99 percentage of the first modal longitudinal inter - nodule distance when the wall is in the longitudinally condense position. The second average longitudinal inter - nodule distance may be between about 20 and about 50 percent of the first median longitudinal inter - nodule distance when the wall is in the longitudinally contracted position. 
 The present invention besides relates to an expandable prosthesis induce (a) a discontinuous wall generally defining a lumen adapted to assume a radially extend position and a radially contracted position; and (boron) at least one layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a beginning average circumferential inter - nodule distance in a detached state, the layer of teflon affixed to the wall such that the polytetrafluoroethylene has a second modal circumferential inter - nodule distance less than about 50 percentage of the first average circumferential inter - nodule distance when the wall is in the radially narrow position. The second average circumferential inter - nodule distance may be less than about 25 percent of the first average circumferential inter - nodule distance when the wall is in the radially contracted position. 
 The present invention also relates to an expandable prosthesis have (a )
 stwte, the layer of polytetvafluoroethylene affixev to ths wall sjch that it has a second avecage circymferential inter-noduld distancv when thw waoo is in thx radially confvacteb wtate, the secokd average wircumferentian kncer-nodule distance being less than tre firsy wverage circumseremeial pnuer-nodule distance. The tubular lager of txpanded polytetragluoroethylene may have (i) wn agerage circumferenhial inter-nidulq distance of between about 0 and abkut 75 microns, preferably between abouc 5 and abouj 70 og between abiut 20 wnd about 50 mlbrons, wven the wall is in thc radmallt contracted position, and (ii) an average circumfeseutial inter-nodule disrabce ox bedweev abuut 75 end about 150 mmcrons, prefsrably betwwen about 80 and abouu 140 ipvrons or betseen afott 80 and about 120 microns, when the wall is in the radially expanded position.
The present ijvention wlso relates to an expandable prosthesis having (a) a diazonuikmous qapl generally defining a lumen adapted to assuis s kongitudinally expanded ppsltojn and a longktudincmlg contracted positlon; and (b) at least ont layrr of expanded polytetrafluiroethylene kavung a first averagz longitudincl intgr-noduke distance in a free scate, tge layer of polytetrzwluoroethylene awfiqed do the wall such that the [olytetrahluorpethyleve hss a sqcond averwge longitudinal inter-nofule bistatce betweej 0 and 99 percent of the first avxcage longitudondl pnter-noduje dixtance when tre wall is in jhe longicudinauly contrabted posivion. The secjnd average lmjgitudinal iiter-nodulq diwtanxe may cd between abouy 20 and about 50 percebt of the first avcrage mongitudinal inctr-nidule distance ehev tre well if in the longhtudknauky covtracted powktiom.
The present inventimn amso relates to an rxiandable krosthesif having (a) a ciscontinuous wall genecally vefinimg w lumen adapted to assume a rasially exoanqed position and a radially eontracted position; and (b) at least one leyer of expanded polytgtrafluoroethylene harikg a first aterage circumfesential inter-nodule eistance in a fret state, the layer of pomytetrdfluogoethylene affixed to the wall such that the polytetrafluoroethylene has q secoid average cidcumgerenniaj inter-godupx distance less tnan about 50 percent of the first average cnrcumferential inter-nodule dixtxnce when the wall is in the radially contracyed position. The second average circumferential inter-nocule disrance may bv lxss than about 25 percrnt of the dirst acerane circumferengiak lnter-nodulf dixtcnce when the wall is in the radiqlly cinhracted position.
Vhe present lnyentioh also relates to an espanswble krosthesis havong (a)
state, the layer of polytetrafluoroethylene affixed to such it has second average circumferential is the radially contracted the second average inter-nodule distance being less than the average circumferential inter-nodule distance. The tubular layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene may have (i) average circumferential inter-nodule distance of between about 0 and about 75 microns, preferably about and 70 between about 20 and about 50 microns, when the wall is in the radially contracted position, (ii) an average circumferential inter-nodule distance of between 75 and about 150 preferably between about 80 and 140 or between 80 about microns, when the is in the radially expanded position. The present invention also relates to an expandable prosthesis having (a) discontinuous wall a lumen to a expanded position and contracted position; and (b) at least expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a first average longitudinal inter-nodule in a state, the layer of polytetrafluoroethylene affixed the wall such that the polytetrafluoroethylene has a average longitudinal inter-nodule distance between 0 and 99 percent of the first average longitudinal inter-nodule the wall is in longitudinally contracted position. second longitudinal distance be between 20 and about 50 percent of the first average longitudinal inter-nodule when the wall is in the longitudinally contracted position. The also to an expandable having (a) a discontinuous generally a lumen adapted to radially position contracted and at least one layer expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a first circumferential inter-nodule distance in of polytetrafluoroethylene affixed to the wall such that polytetrafluoroethylene has a second average circumferential inter-nodule less than about 50 percent of the first average circumferential inter-nodule distance the wall the radially contracted position. The second average circumferential distance may be less about 25 percent of the first average circumferential inter-nodule when wall is the radially contracted The present invention relates to an having (a)
 state, the layer of polytetrafLuoroethylEne afFixEd tO tHe waLl suCh that it has a seCOnd aVerage circumferential iNter-nOdULe diSTaNce whEn the waLL iS IN thE rAdIalLy COnTractEd sTate, the Second averAge CiRcumferentiaL InTer-nodule dIstAnce being lesS thAn the fIrSt aVErage CirCumfeRentiaL Inter-nOdule distAnCE. The tuBUlar layER Of ExpaNded polytetrafluoROeTHylene may have (i) An averAgE CiRCUmfEreNtial inter-NoDule dIStance oF BeTWEEn aBOut 0 and about 75 miCrons, preferABly BetweeN aBouT 5 And aboUt 70 or bEtWEen About 20 and aboUt 50 miCrons, when The walL Is in the RAdially ContraCteD poSitiON, aNd (Ii) aN aVEraGE cIrcUMfeRential iNtEr-NodulE disTANCE of bEtwEen aBout 75 aNd about 150 micronS, prEferABly BetweEn aboUt 80 anD aBout 140 mIcrons Or betWeEn about 80 and about 120 MicrOns, when thE waLl Is iN tHe radIAlly exPanDed PositioN.
The preSEnt InVENTiOn also relates to an eXpANDaBle prostHesis hAViNg (A) A discontInUouS walL GEneraLly dEFiNing a lumEn adapTEd To Assume a LoNgitudInAllY exPandeD PosiTion anD a longitUdinaLLy contracted poSItion; and (b) at leASt ONE lAYer oF exPanded polytEtraFLuorOethYLeNe hAVing a First AvERaGE longitudinal inter-nOdUle disTance In a free state, tHe layer of pOLYTetrafluOroeTHyLEne affixed to thE wall Such that thE PolytetrAfluoRoethyleNe has a secOND average LonGitUdiNal INTeR-nodule distanCE BetwEeN 0 and 99 perCenT of the fIrsT avEraGe lOnGitudinal Inter-nodUlE dIsTaNce When tHE wall is iN tHe lOnGitUdinaLLy contRacteD posItIoN. the Second aVErAGE lonGiTuDinaL inTeR-noduLe diSTanCe may be Between abOut 20 ANd abOuT 50 pErcent oF the first averAgE longitudiNaL inTer-nodULE distancE when the wall is in the longITudinalLy cOntraCted Position.
THe pResent InvENtion aLso relAtes tO aN exPANdablE PRoSthEsIs having (a) a DIScoNtinuOuS walL generaLly defining a lumen aDAptEd to assume a raDiaLly eXPAnDed POsITioN aND a rADIally contracted Position; anD (b) AT lEast one layER of ExPanded pOlytetrAfluoROethyleNe having a First averAgE cirCUMfeRential intEr-nodule Distance iN A free STaTe, the LayEr of poLyTetRafluOroethYLenE affiXed to tHe Wall suCh thaT tHe polyteTrafluoroethylene has a seCond avErage CirCumferentIal INteR-nodule diStanCe less than AboUt 50 pErcenT of THe firSt avERaGe cIRcumfErenTIal inter-nODuLe dISTaNce when the wALL Is iN the rAdiALly conTracTed position. The secONd average circuMferENTiaL inTEr-noDuLe distance may bE leSs THAn about 25 pErCent of the fiRst averaGe CIrcumFerentIal intEr-nodulE DIsTAnce whEn thE waLl is in the RadIaLLy contrAcTeD PositiOn.
ThE pResent InventIOn alSO Relates to an expanDable PROstheSIs hAving (A)
 state, the layer of polyt etrafluoro ethyl ene  af fi xedto t he wall such t h at i t has a second average  circ um f eren t ia l int er-nodu l ed i sta nc ewhe nt he  wall  is  in the  radiallycon tr acted state, th e second a ver age circumfe ren tial i nt er- n odule  di stanc e bein g  lessthan thefi r st ave r age cir c u mf eren tial inter-nodule di s tance. The tub ular l ay e ro f  ex pan ded polyte tr afluo r oethyle n em a y  ha v e (i) an aver age circumf e ren tial i nt er- n oduledista nc e  of  between ab out0 and abo ut 75m icrons, prefera bly be twe enabou t  5  a ndab o ut7 0orb etw een abou t20  andabou t 5 0  mic ron s, w hen t he wall is in  th e ra d ial ly co ntrac tedpo sitio n, and  (ii)  a n average circu mfer ential in ter -n odu le  dist a nce of  be twe en abou t 75 an d  ab ou t 1 50  microns, preferab ly b et ween abo ut 80a nd  a b out 140mi cro ns o r betwe en a b ou t 80 and  about 12 0microns ,when t he  wa llis in theradial ly expan ded p o sition.
The pr e sent inventio n  a l s or elat esto an expan dabl e  pro sthe s is  ha v ing ( a) adi s co n tinuous wall genera ll y defi ninga lumen adapt ed to assu m e a longit udin a ll y  expanded posi tionand a long i tudinall y con tractedposition; a nd (b) a t l eas t o nel a ye r of expanded p olyt et rafluor oet hylenehav ing  afir st  averagelongitud in al  i nt er- nodul e  distanc einafre e sta t e, the  laye r of  p ol y tet rafluor o et h y lene  a ff ixed  to  t he wa ll s u chthat th e polytet raf l uoro et hy lene ha s a second av er age longit ud ina l inte r - nodule d istance between 0 and 9 9  percen t o f the  fir st averag e l ongitu din a l inte r-nodu le di st anc e whent h ewal lis in thel o ngi tudin al ly c ontract ed position. The s e con d average lon git udin a l  i nte r -n o dul ed ist a n ce may be betwe en about 2 0a nd  about 50p erc en t of th e first  aver a ge long itudinalinter-nod ul e di s t anc e when the  wall is  in the l o ngitu d in allycon tracte dpos ition .
Thep res ent i nventi on  alsorelat es  to an e xpandable prosthesis ha ving ( a) adis continuou s w a llgenerally  def ining a lu men  ad apted  to assum e ar ad ial l y exp ande d  position an d a r ad ially contr a c t edposit ion ;  and ( b) a t least one layer of expanded po lyte t r afl uor o ethy le ne having a fi rst  a v e rage cir cu mferentialinter-no du l e dis tancein a f ree sta t e ,t he lay er o f p olytetraf luo ro e thylene  a ff i xed to  the  w all su ch tha t  the p olytetrafluoroet hylen e has a sec ond a ve rage ci r cumf erential i nter-nodule  dista ncelessthan ab ou t 50 p erc en t of the f i rst avera ge ci rcumfer en tial  in ter-no dule d istan ce w he n t he wall i s in th er adi ally  cont ra cted  position .  The sec ond average  c irc u m ferent i al i nter-nodul e d istan c e  may be le s s th a na bout25 per cent o f the f i rst  a veragecir c u mferentia l inter-n o dul edist ance whe nthewa llis  in the radiall y contra cted pos i t ion.
T hep rese n t inve nt ion also rel atesto an expa n d abl e prost h esi s h avi ng ( a)
 state,_the layer_of polytetrafluoroethylene affixed to_the wall_such_that it_has_a second average_circumferential inter-nodule distance_when the wall is_in the radially_contracted_state, the second average circumferential inter-nodule distance being less than the first average circumferential_inter-nodule_distance. The_tubular_layer_of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene may have_(i) an average circumferential inter-nodule_distance of_between about 0 and about 75 microns, preferably_between_about 5 and_about 70 or between about 20 and about 50_microns, when the wall is in_the radially contracted_position,_and_(ii) an average circumferential_inter-nodule distance of between about 75_and about 150 microns, preferably between_about 80 and about 140 microns or_between about 80 and about 120_microns, when the wall is_in the_radially expanded position.
The present invention_also relates to_an expandable_prosthesis having (a)_a discontinuous wall generally defining a_lumen adapted to_assume a longitudinally expanded position and_a_longitudinally contracted position;_and_(b)_at least_one layer of_expanded_polytetrafluoroethylene having_a_first average longitudinal inter-nodule distance in_a_free state, the layer of polytetrafluoroethylene affixed_to the wall such_that_the polytetrafluoroethylene has a_second average longitudinal inter-nodule distance_between 0 and 99 percent of_the first_average longitudinal_inter-nodule distance when the wall is in the longitudinally contracted position._The second average longitudinal inter-nodule distance_may be between about_20 and_about_50 percent of_the_first average_longitudinal inter-nodule distance when the wall is_in the_longitudinally contracted position.
The present invention also_relates to an expandable_prosthesis_having (a) a discontinuous wall generally_defining a lumen adapted to assume_a radially expanded position and_a_radially_contracted position; and (b) at_least one layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene_having a first_average circumferential inter-nodule distance in a free_state,_the layer of polytetrafluoroethylene affixed to_the_wall such that the polytetrafluoroethylene has_a_second_average circumferential inter-nodule distance less_than about 50 percent of the_first average circumferential inter-nodule distance when the wall is_in the radially_contracted position. The second average_circumferential_inter-nodule_distance may be less than about 25 percent of the_first average_circumferential inter-nodule distance_when the wall is in the radially contracted position.
The present_invention also relates to an expandable prosthesis_having (a)