EP0092927B1 — Cannulae — Luxuse Patents

Claim 1

Independent Claim 116 words

A tubular cannula for connection to an artificial heart which is to provide partial or entire replacement of a heart function, said cannula (14) having an insertion distal end tip (15a) for insertion into a natural heart, a connection proximal end tip (25a) for connection with the artificial heart, a tubular portion (20) intermediate said end tips (15a, 25a), and means (21) for securing said cannula to the wall of the natural heart, characterized in that the longitudinal axis (23) of said tubular portion (20) of said cannula (14) has a three-dimensional configuration by being bent at least twice in different planes between said insertion distal end tip (15a) and said connection proximal end tip (25a).

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 116 words

A tubular cannula for connection to an artificial heart which is to provide partial or entire replacement of a heart function, said cannula (14) having an insertion distal end tip (15a) for insertion into a natural heart, a connection proximal end tip (25a) for connection with the artificial heart, a tubular portion (20) intermediate said end tips (15a, 25a), and means (21) for securing said cannula to the wall of the natural heart, characterized in that the longitudinal axis (23) of said tubular portion (20) of said cannula (14) has a three-dimensional configuration by being bent at least twice in different planes between said insertion distal end tip (15a) and said connection proximal end tip (25a).

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 124 words

A cannula according to claim 1 wherein said tubular portion (20) comprises a first bent portion (C 1 ) of arcuate shape and located in the vicinity of said insertion distal end tip (15a), and a second bent portion (C 3 ) of arcuate shape and located between said first bent portion (C 1 ) and said connection proximal end tip (25a); and an angle (θ 1 ,θ 2 ) formed by a first plane (P 1 ) including an axis of said first bent portion (C 1 ) and a second plane (P 2 ) including an axis of said second bent portion (C 3 ) is within a range of 5 to 85°, and preferably within a range of 10° to 45°.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 36 words

A cannula according to claim 2 wherein an angle (β 1 ) through which said axis (23) of said tubular portion (20) is deflected by said second bent portion (C 3 ) is 20° to 120°.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

A cannula according to claim 2 wherein said axis of said first bent portion (C 1 ) has a radius of curvature of 10 to 90R.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 98 words

A cannula according to claim 2 wherein said tubular portion (20) has a third bent portion (C 2 ) of an arcuate shape and located between said first bent portion (C i ) and said second bent portion (C 3 ), said third and second portions (C 2 , C 3 ) form an overall S-shape, and said first and third bent portions (C 1 , C 2 ) form an overall inverted S-shape, so that the combination of said first to third bent portions (C 1 , C 2 , C 3 ) has a meandering configuration.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 41 words

A cannula according to claim 5 wherein a curved length of said axis (23) between said insertion distal end tip (15a) and a middle point (A 1 ) of said third bent portion (C 2 ) is 45 to 250 mm.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 40 words

A cannula according to claim 5 wherein a radius of curvature of an axis of said third bent portion (C 2 ) is smaller than a radius of curvature of said axis of said first bent portion (C 1 ).

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 24 words

A cannula according to claim 6 wherein a radius of curvature of said axis of said third bent portion (C2) is 5 to 30R.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

A cannula according to claim 5 wherein said axis of said third bent portion (C 2 ) is included in said first plane (P i ).

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 34 words

A cannula according to claim 2 wherein said tubular portion (20) further has a first straight portion (L 1 ) contiguous with a distal end side of said first bent portion (C i ).

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 35 words

A cannula according to claim 10 wherein said axis of said first straight portion (L 1 ) is included in said first plane (P i ) and extends to said insertion distal end tip (15a).

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 46 words

A cannula according to claim 10 wherein said tubular portion (20) further has a second straight portion (L 4 ) which is contiguous with a proximal end side of said second bent portion (C 3 ) and which extends to said connection proximal end tip (25a).

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

A cannula according to claim 12 wherein an axis of said second straight portion (L 4 ) is included in said second plane (P 2 ).

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 62 words

A cannula according to claim 1 wherein said cannula securing means comprises a flange (21) protruding from an outer surface of an insertion end (15) of said tubular portion (20), and said flange (21) is inclined with respect to said insertion end (15) to form an angle of 30° to 80° with respect to said axis (23) of said tubular portion (20).

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 19 words

A cannula according to claim 14 wherein said flange (21) protrudes for a distance of 1 to 5 mm.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 95 words

A cannula according to claim 2 wherein said tubular portion (20) has a small diameter portion extending from said insertion distal end tip (15a) through said first bent portion (C i ), and a large 'diameter portion connected to said small diameter portion through a connecting portion (24) and extending to said connection proximal end tip (25a), said large diameter portion having an inner diameter larger than an inner diameter of said small diameter portion, and at least an inner surface of said tubular portion (20) being a seamless and smooth surface without any corners.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 81 words

A cannula according to claim 16 wherein said tubular portion (20) further has a straight portion (L 4 ) which is contiguous with a proximal end side of said second bent portion (C 3 ) and extends to said connection proximal end tip (25a), an axis of said straight portion (L 4 ) is included in said second plane (P 2 ), and a part or entirety of said straight portion (L 4 ) is included in said large diameter portion.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 74 words

A cannula according to claim 16 wherein one end of said connection portion (24) has an inner diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of said small diameter portion connected thereto, and the other end of said connection portion (24) has an inner diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of said large diameter portion connected thereto, an inner diameter of said connection portion (24) gradually increasing from one end to the other end.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 72 words

A cannula according to claim 18 wherein said small diameter portion has an inner diameter of 3 to 15 mm and a thickness of 0.2 to 5 mm, said large diameter portion has an inner diameter of 8 to 25 mm and a thickness of 1.2 to 7 mm, and a ratio of a length of said small diameter portion to a length of said large diameter portion is 1:1 to 1:10.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 25 words

A cannula according to claim 18 wherein said connecting portion (24) has a length of 8 to 200 mm, and preferably 10 to 50 mm.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 35 words

A cannula according to claim 1 wherein a metallic spiral body (29) for reinforcement is embedded in said tubular portion (20) in a suitable portion excluding the vicinity of said insertion distal end tip (15a).

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 46 words

A cannula according to claim 14 wherein said cannula securing means further comprises a flanged cylindrical holding member (22) slidably fitted around said insertion end (15) of said tubular portion (20) on a side of said flange (21) opposite to said insertion distal end tip (15a).

Cannulae

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag