Device for partly occluding a vessel in particular the inferior vena cava and inherent component of this device

Claim 3

A partial occlusion device as in claim 1, wherein said clip (1) comprises two arms (4, 5) arranged in a substantially U-shape, said arms comprising compression walls (4a, 5a) opposite one another and for making contact with the vessel, at least one of said arms (4, 5) of said clip being hollow and forming an inside chamber (C1, C2), the compression wall (4a, 5a) of each hollow arm being provided with apertures (4b, 5b), at least one flexible membrane (10, 11) in each of said chambers for sealing the apertures (4b, 5b) of the compression walls, said membrane(s) being designed so as to project through said apertures upon inflation in order to form said teeth (d) in their active position or to deflate and retract into the compression wall to provide the passive position of said teeth, said remote control means including means (2) for pressurizing and depressurizing the inside chamber of each hollow arm and means for actuating the inflation or deflation of the teeth.

Claim 4

A partial occlusion device as in claim 2, and wherein said clip arms (4, 5) are hollow and form two hollow inside chambers (C1, C2) connected by a hollow connecting portion (6), each of said walls (4a, 5a) opposite said clip arms including apertures (4b, 5b) and at least one flexible membrane (10, 11) for forming teeth on each of said walls.

Claim 5

A partial occlusion device as in claim 3, and wherein said membranes (10, 11) and said apertures (4b, 5b) of the compression walls are positioned so as to form teeth (d) which are paired in opposition to each other.

Claim 6

A partial occlusion device as in claim 4, and wherein said membranes (10, 11) comprise a layer of an inextensible, flexible material designed so that the tips of the mutually opposite pairs of teeth when in the active position will be near each other but without making contact.

Claim 7

A partial occlusion device as in claim 2, and wherein said remote control means comprises a catheter (3) connected to the inside chamber (C1, C2) of each said arm, and a pneumatic or hydraulic member (2) connected to the other end of said catheter and designed for pressurizing or depressurizing said chambers.

Claim 8

A partial occlusion device as in claim 6 and wherein said catheter (3) is connected to the hollow U-shaped portion (6) of said clip.

Claim 9

A partial occlusion device as in claim 6 and wherein said pneumatic or hydraulic member comprises a deforming fluid reservoir (13) of variable capacity forming together with said catheter (3) and said chambers (C1, C2) of said clip a closed circuit, hand means (14, 18, 19, 21) for maintaining said reservoir in two states, one of higher capacity corresponding to the deflation of the teeth (d) and to their passive position, the other of lesser capacity corresponding to the inflation of said teeth and to their active position.

Claim 10

A partial occlusion device as in claim 8 and wherein said reservoir (13) comprises a membrane (15) of a generally cylindrical shape, closed at its ends and capable of longitudinally advancing or retracting, a spring (18) associated with said membrane for guiding said membrane and pulling said membrane in the direction of advance in order to keep the reservoir in its state of higher capacity, and limiting means (14, 19, 21) associated with said reservoir for maintaining said reservoir in its state of lower capacity.

Claim 11

A partial occlusion device as in claim 9 and wherein said reservoir (13) is housed in a case (14) having a removable bottom (19), at least one removable block (21) being provided for insertion between the case bottom and the reservoir for maintaining said reservoir in its state of low capacity.

Claim 12

A partial occlusion device as in claim 8 and wherein said closed fluid circuit comprises said reservoir (13), said catheter (3) and said chambers (C1, C2) filled with a radio-opaque liquid.

Claim 13

A partial occlusion device as in claim 2 and including means for locking the ends of said arms with respect to each other to prevent relative movement of said arms toward or away from each other.

Claim 14

A partial occlusion device as in claim 12 and wherein said locking means comprises a closing strip (8, 8') hinging on the end of one of said arms (5) and having a snap-in member (8a) cooperating with a conjugate member (9) located at the free end of the other of said arms (4) for closing said clip.

Claim 15

A partial occlusion device as in claim 13 and wherein said strip (8) hinges on said one of said arms (5) by a flexible strap (12) integral with said one of said arms.

Claim 16

A partial occlusion device as in claims 12 and wherein said strip (8') is a separate piece hinged on the arm (5) by a fork (22) and a hinge shaft (23).

Claim 17

A partial occlusion device as in claim 12 and wherein said the strip is provided at its free end with a flexible emplacing string (25).

Claim 18

A partial occlusion device as in claim 2 and wherein at least one of said arms includes a tooth (24) at the free end thereof for closing the clip.

Claim 19

A partial occlusion device as in claim 17 and wherein said clip arms (4, 5) comprise two closing teeth (24) located opposite each other and designed to rest against each other upon inflation.

Claim 20

A partial occlusion device as in claim 18 and wherein each closing tooth (24) comprises a membrane made of a flexible material such that it will only offer negligible impedance to inflation, while the membranes forming the other teeth (d) comprise an inside elastic layer for limiting the volume of advance of said teeth.