Abstract A method for introducing a two-piece implant into a living being. A tubular organ such as a vas deferens is divided into a pair of separate portions having free ends adjacent each other. The implant has a pair of parts which are separately introduced into the lumens of the separate portions of the tubular organ while the parts of the implant remain accessible at the free ends of these separate portions of the tubular organ. These parts which are thus accessible are then joined together to render the implant operative without excessive stretching of the tubular organ so that excessive slack is not produced therein. The tubular organ may be a vas deferens while the implant is a vas valve capable of reversively blocking flow in the vas deferens and having the separate parts one of which is constituted by a tubular component and the other of which is constituted by the remainder of the vas valve, these parts being united after being introduced into the lumens to provide the assembled vas valve.
In a method for introducing an implant into a tubular organ of a living being, the steps of cutting transversely through the tubular organ to divide the latter into a pair of separate portions respectively having free ends located adjacent each other, introducing one part of an implant into the lumen of one of the separate portions of the tubular organ through the free end of the latter while maintaining said one part of said implant accessible at the latter free end, introducing another part of the implant into the lumen of the other of the separate portions of the tubular organ through the free end of the latter whilE maintaining said other part of said implant accessible at the latter free end, and then joining the parts of the implant directly to each other without any space therebetween, so that the entire implant is introduced into the lumens of the separate portions of the tubular organ without excessive stretching and displacement of the tubular organ during introduction of the implant into the latter, the tubular organ being a vas deferens and the implant being a valve, and including the steps of removing inner mucosa linings from the lumens of the separate portions of the vas deferens prior to introduction of the valve parts into the lumens so as to reduce the possibility of blocking valve passages during introduction of the valve parts into the lumen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
In a method for introducing an implant into a tubular organ of a living being, the steps of cutting transversely through the tubular organ to divide the latter into a pair of separate portions respectively having free ends located adjacent each other, introducing one part of an implant into the lumen of one of the separate portions of the tubular organ through the free end of the latter while maintaining said one part of said implant accessible at the latter free end, introducing another part of the implant into the lumen of the other of the separate portions of the tubular organ through the free end of the latter whilE maintaining said other part of said implant accessible at the latter free end, and then joining the parts of the implant directly to each other without any space therebetween, so that the entire implant is introduced into the lumens of the separate portions of the tubular organ without excessive stretching and displacement of the tubular organ during introduction of the implant into the latter, the tubular organ being a vas deferens and the implant being a valve, and including the steps of removing inner mucosa linings from the lumens of the separate portions of the vas deferens prior to introduction of the valve parts into the lumens so as to reduce the possibility of blocking valve passages during introduction of the valve parts into the lumen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
In a method as recited in claim 1 and wherein the mucosa linings are removed by reaming operations.