US5804366A — Method and apparatus for sodding microvessel cell…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 252 words

A sodding tube assembly for use in receiving a quantity of certain isolated cells from tissues and for sodding the cells onto an inner lumenal surface of a tubular synthetic graft having a porous wall, said sodding tube assembly comprising: an elongate tubular member having a pair of opposite ends; an inlet fitting and filter pack assembly sealingly cooperating with said tubular member at one of said pair of opposite ends, said inlet fitting and filter pack assembly defining an inlet flow path for receiving the cells and communicating the cells into the lumen of the graft, and a plurality of filter members cooperatively defining a number of turbulent-flow chambers successively along said inlet flow path; and an outlet fitting and check valve assembly sealingly cooperating with said tubular member at the other of said pair of opposite ends and cooperating with said tubular member and said inlet fitting and filter pack assembly to define a sodding chamber within which said graft is disposed to receive the cells from said inlet fitting and filter pack assembly into the lumen of the graft and to flow a liquid outwardly through said porous wall of the graft to said sodding chamber, said outlet fitting and check valve assembly defining an outlet flow path leading from said sodding chamber to an outlet from said sodding tube assembly, and including a check valve device disposed in said outlet flow path for preventing reflux of liquid along said flow path from said outlet toward said sodding chamber.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 252 words

A sodding tube assembly for use in receiving a quantity of certain isolated cells from tissues and for sodding the cells onto an inner lumenal surface of a tubular synthetic graft having a porous wall, said sodding tube assembly comprising: an elongate tubular member having a pair of opposite ends; an inlet fitting and filter pack assembly sealingly cooperating with said tubular member at one of said pair of opposite ends, said inlet fitting and filter pack assembly defining an inlet flow path for receiving the cells and communicating the cells into the lumen of the graft, and a plurality of filter members cooperatively defining a number of turbulent-flow chambers successively along said inlet flow path; and an outlet fitting and check valve assembly sealingly cooperating with said tubular member at the other of said pair of opposite ends and cooperating with said tubular member and said inlet fitting and filter pack assembly to define a sodding chamber within which said graft is disposed to receive the cells from said inlet fitting and filter pack assembly into the lumen of the graft and to flow a liquid outwardly through said porous wall of the graft to said sodding chamber, said outlet fitting and check valve assembly defining an outlet flow path leading from said sodding chamber to an outlet from said sodding tube assembly, and including a check valve device disposed in said outlet flow path for preventing reflux of liquid along said flow path from said outlet toward said sodding chamber.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 1 wherein said inlet fitting and filter pack assembly defines four turbulent-flow chambers each preceding a respective one of said filter members.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 2 wherein each of said plurality of filter members defines substantially the same open area.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of filter members is of progressively finer opening size along said flow path toward said sodding chamber.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of filter members is formed of polymer material.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 178 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 1 wherein said plurality of filter members includes four filter members, a first filter member being formed of a square weave of 0.0160 inch wire, with a mesh of 20×20 wires, providing openings of substantially 0.0340 inch square, with an open area of 46.2 percent; a second filter member positioned downstream of the first filter member and being formed of a square weave of 0.0085 inch wire, with a mesh of 40×40 wires, providing openings of substantially 0.0165 inch square, with an open area of 43.6 percent; a third filter member positioned downstream of the second filter member and being formed of a square weave of 0.0035 inch wire, with a mesh of 88×88 wires, providing openings of substantially 0.0079 inch square, with an open area of 47.9 percent; and a fourth filter member positioned downstream of the third filter member and being formed of a square weave of 0.0011 inch wire, with a mesh of 325×325 wires, providing openings of substantially 0.0020 inch square, with an open area of 41.6 percent.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 15 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 6 wherein said wires are formed of stainless steel.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 1 wherein said plurality of filter members are coated with a material selected to reduce the surface energy of said wires.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 17 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 8 wherein said plurality of filter members are coated with parylene.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 59 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 1 wherein said inlet fitting and filter pack assembly includes a tubular body, said tubular body defining a barb member extending therefrom into said elongate tubular member for receiving thereon the synthetic graft, the barb member defining a plurality of barbs, each having a different diameter to accomodate synthetic grafts of different diameters.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 79 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 1 wherein said inlet fitting and filter pack assembly includes a tubular body defining a stepped through bore; said tubular body including a cylindrical portion receivable into one of said pair of opposite ends of said tubular member; a sealing member disposed in sealing relation with said tubular body and said elongate tubular member, and a nut member engaging said inlet fitting and filter pack assembly and sealingly securing said tubular body thereto.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 38 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 11 wherein said stepped through bore of said inlet fitting and filter pack assembly further receives a plurality of spacer members interposed individually between adjacent ones of said plurality of filter members.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 55 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 11 wherein said tubular body further includes a closure member closing an end of said stepped through bore remote from said tubular member, said closure member defining a recess confronting a first of said plurality of filter members and defining a first one of said plurality of turbulent-flow chambers.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 77 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 1 wherein said check valve of said outlet fitting and check valve assembly includes a check valve member disposed in said outlet flow path, the check valve member comprising a pair of pressure-responsive lips sealingly cooperating to prevent liquid reflux along said outlet flow path from said outlet toward said sodding chamber, said pair of lips disengaging from one another to allow liquid flow from said sodding chamber toward said outlet.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 90 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 1 further including a conduit for connecting a source of the isolated cells from tissues with said sodding tube assembly, said conduit at each end thereof including a male luer-type connector with a freely rotational fastening collar, and said sodding tube assembly including a female luer-type connector carried upon said inlet fitting and filter pack assembly and communicating with said inlet flow path for receiving the quantity of cells in liquid and communicating the cells and liquid together into the lumen of the graft.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 179 words

A sodding tube assembly for use in receiving a quantity of certain isolated cells from tissues and for sodding the cells onto an inner lumenal surface of a tubular synthetic graft having a porous wall, said sodding tube assembly comprising: an elongate tubular member defining a sodding chamber for receiving the synthetic graft and having a pair of opposite ends; and an inlet fitting and filter pack assembly sealingly cooperating with said tubular member at one of said pair of opposite ends, said inlet fitting and filter pack assembly defining an inlet flow path for receiving the cells and communicating the cells into the lumen of the graft, and a plurality of filter members cooperatively defining a number of turbulent-flow chambers successively along said inlet flow path, said inlet fitting and filter pack assembly further comprising a tubular body, said tubular body defining a barb member extending therefrom into said elongate tubular member for receiving thereon the synthetic graft, the barb member defining a plurality of barbs, each having a different diameter to accomodate synthetic grafts of different diameters.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 179 words

A sodding tube assembly for use in receiving a quantity of certain isolated cells from tissues and for sodding the cells onto an inner lumenal surface of a tubular synthetic graft having a porous wall, said sodding tube assembly comprising: an elongate tubular member defining a sodding chamber for receiving the synthetic graft and having a pair of opposite ends; and an inlet fitting and filter pack assembly sealingly cooperating with said tubular member at one of said pair of opposite ends, said inlet fitting and filter pack assembly defining an inlet flow path for receiving the cells and communicating the cells into the lumen of the graft, and a plurality of filter members cooperatively defining a number of turbulent-flow chambers successively along said inlet flow path, said inlet fitting and filter pack assembly further comprising a tubular body, said tubular body defining a barb member extending therefrom into said elongate tubular member for receiving thereon the synthetic graft, the barb member defining a plurality of barbs, each having a different diameter to accomodate synthetic grafts of different diameters.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 110 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 16, further comprising an outlet fitting assembly sealingly cooperating with said tubular member at the other of said pair of opposite ends and cooperating with said tubular member and said inlet fitting and filter pack assembly to define the sodding chamber within which said graft is disposed to receive the cells from said inlet fitting and filter pack assembly into the lumen of the graft and to flow a liquid outwardly through said porous wall of the graft to said sodding chamber, said outlet fitting assembly defining an outlet flow path leading from said sodding chamber to an outlet from said sodding tube assembly.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 40 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 17, wherein said outlet fitting assembly further includes a check valve device disposed in said outlet flow path for preventing reflux of liquid along said flow path from said outlet toward said sodding chamber.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 74 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 18 wherein said check valve of said outlet fitting assembly includes a check valve member disposed in said outlet flow path, the check valve member comprising a pair of pressure-responsive lips sealingly cooperating to prevent liquid reflux along said outlet flow path from said outlet toward said sodding chamber, said pair of lips disengaging from one another to allow liquid flow from said sodding chamber toward said outlet.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 28 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 16 wherein said inlet fitting and filter pack assembly defines four turbulent-flow chambers each preceding a respective one of said filter members.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 21 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 16 wherein each of said plurality of filter members defines substantially the same open area.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 29 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 16 wherein each of said plurality of filter members is of progressively finer opening size along said flow path toward said sodding chamber.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 22 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 16 wherein at least one of said plurality of filter members is formed of polymer material.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 178 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 16 wherein said plurality of filter members includes four filter members, a first filter member being formed of a square weave of 0.0160 inch wire, with a mesh of 20×20 wires, providing openings of substantially 0.0340 inch square, with an open area of 46.2 percent; a second filter member positioned downstream of the first filter member and being formed of a square weave of 0.0085 inch wire, with a mesh of 40×40 wires, providing openings of substantially 0.0165 inch square, with an open area of 43.6 percent; a third filter member positioned downstream of the second filter member and being formed of a square weave of 0.0035 inch wire, with a mesh of 88×88 wires, providing openings of substantially 0.0079 inch square, with an open area of 47.9 percent; and a fourth filter member positioned downstream of the third filter member and being formed of a square weave of 0.0011 inch wire, with a mesh of 325×325 wires, providing openings of substantially 0.0020 inch square, with an open area of 41.6 percent.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 15 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 24 wherein said wires are formed of stainless steel.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 27 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 16 wherein said plurality of filter members are coated with a material selected to reduce the surface energy of said wires.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 17 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 26 wherein said plurality of filter members are coated with parylene.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 79 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 16 wherein said tubular body of said inlet fitting and filter pack assembly defines a stepped through bore; said tubular body including a cylindrical portion receivable into one of said pair of opposite ends of said tubular member; a sealing member disposed in sealing relation with said tubular body and said elongate tubular member, and a nut member engaging said inlet fitting and filter pack assembly and sealingly securing said tubular body thereto.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 38 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 28 wherein said stepped through bore of said inlet fitting and filter pack assembly further receives a plurality of spacer members interposed individually between adjacent ones of said plurality of filter members.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 55 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 28 wherein said tubular body further includes a closure member closing an end of said stepped through bore remote from said tubular member, said closure member defining a recess confronting a first of said plurality of filter members and defining a first one of said plurality of turbulent-flow chambers.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 90 words

The sodding tube assembly of claim 16 further including a conduit for connecting a source of the isolated cells from tissues with said sodding tube assembly, said conduit at each end thereof including a male luer-type connector with a freely rotational fastening collar, and said sodding tube assembly including a female luer-type connector carried upon said inlet fitting and filter pack assembly and communicating with said inlet flow path for receiving the quantity of cells in liquid and communicating the cells and liquid together into the lumen of the graft.

Claim 34

Independent Claim 178 words

A method of sodding cells onto the inner lumenal surface of an elongate tubular vascular graft having a porous wall, said method comprising the steps of: providing an elongate tubular shape-retaining body defining a flow path extending there along and an elongate sodding chamber therewithin; disposing the graft within and along said sodding chamber; plugging a distal end of the graft; providing a pellet of aggregated cells; flushing said pellet of aggregated cells into said elongate tubular body with a flow of liquid; subjecting said cell aggregations to a series of successively finer filtrations to prevent aggregations of cells above a determined size from reaching said graft and sodding chamber; introducing the liquid and individual cells along with aggregations of cells below said determined size into the lumen of the tubular vascular graft; flowing said fluid through the porous wall of the graft while sodding the individual cells and aggregations below said determined size onto the inner lumenal surface of the graft; and preventing reflux of liquid along said flow path from an outlet toward said sodding chamber.

Claim 35

Independent Claim 178 words

A method of sodding cells onto the inner lumenal surface of an elongate tubular vascular graft having a porous wall, said method comprising the steps of: providing an elongate tubular shape-retaining body defining a flow path extending there along and an elongate sodding chamber therewithin; disposing the graft within and along said sodding chamber; plugging a distal end of the graft; providing a pellet of aggregated cells; flushing said pellet of aggregated cells into said elongate tubular body with a flow of liquid; subjecting said cell aggregations to a series of successively finer filtrations to prevent aggregations of cells above a determined size from reaching said graft and sodding chamber; introducing the liquid and individual cells along with aggregations of cells below said determined size into the lumen of the tubular vascular graft; flowing said fluid through the porous wall of the graft while sodding the individual cells and aggregations below said determined size onto the inner lumenal surface of the graft; and preventing reflux of liquid along said flow path from an outlet toward said sodding chamber.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-09-07	2002-03-09	2002-09-08	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-09-07	2006-03-09	2006-09-08	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-09-07	2010-03-09	2010-09-08	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for sodding microvessel cells onto a synthetic vascular graft

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