US6120432A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Medical grafting methods and apparatus
Assignee: St Jude Medical ATG Inc
•
Filing: 1997-04-23
•
Granted: 2000-09-19
•
Expires: 2017-04-23
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatus for delivering and installing a new length of tubing between two sections of a patient's existing body organ tubing and at least partly outside of that existing structure. For example, the new length of tubing may be for the purpose of providing the patient with a coronary bypass. The new tubing may be an artificial graft, a natural graft (harvested elsewhere from the patient), or both. The new tubing is delivered to and installed at the operative site primarily by working through the patient's existing tubular body organ structure. This avoids the need for any significant surgery on the patient.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel J. Sullivan
- 👤 Thomas J. Bachinski
- 👤 David S. Goldsteen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:52
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/04; A61F2/06; A61F2/064; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/3205; A61B17/32056; A61F2/95; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/003; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B2017/2926; A61B2017/2932; A61B2017/2939; A61B90/00; A61B90/30; A61B2090/306; A61B90/36; A61B90/361; A61B2090/3614; A61F2/82; A61F2/86; A61F2/90; A61F2/958; A61F2002/826; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M2025/0175; A61M25/02; A61M2025/0213; A61M2025/0233; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S623/00; Y10S623/902; Y10S623/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for installing a tubular graft between first and second spaced locations in a patient's tubular body structure comprising: inserting an elongated structure into and along a lumen of the tubular body structure so that a distal portion of the elongated structure extends to the first location; using a distal portion of the elongated structure to make a first aperture through the tubular body structure at the first location; extending a distal portion of the elongated structure out of the first aperture and to the second location; using a distal portion of the elongated structure to make a second aperture through the tubular body structure at the second location; passing the graft along a lumen of the tubular body structure and then out one of said apertures to the other of said apertures; and attaching axially spaced portions of the graft to the tubular body structure adjacent the first and second locations.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for installing a tubular graft between first and second spaced locations in a patient's tubular body structure comprising: inserting an elongated structure into and along a lumen of the tubular body structure so that a distal portion of the elongated structure extends to the first location; using a distal portion of the elongated structure to make a first aperture through the tubular body structure at the first location; extending a distal portion of the elongated structure out of the first aperture and to the second location; using a distal portion of the elongated structure to make a second aperture through the tubular body structure at the second location; passing the graft along a lumen of the tubular body structure and then out one of said apertures to the other of said apertures; and attaching axially spaced portions of the graft to the tubular body structure adjacent the first and second locations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the elongated structure includes an elongated member which enters the tubular body structure via the second aperture, and wherein the passing includes: disposing the graft around the elongated member so that the graft can follow the elongated member into the tubular body structure via the second aperture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the elongated structure includes an axially extending lumen which opens out at a distal portion of the elongated structure, and wherein said passing includes: disposing the graft in the axially extending lumen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method defined in claim 1 further comprising: withdrawing the elongated structure from the tubular body structure after performing the attaching.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the attaching includes: creating a substantially fluid-tight seal between the graft and the tubular body structure adjacent each of the first and second locations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the using a distal portion of the elongated structure to make a second aperture includes: piercing the tubular body structure at the second location with a distal end of an elongated member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method defined in claim 6 wherein the distal end of the elongated member is threaded, and wherein the piercing includes: rotating the elongated member about its longitudinal axis to cause the threads to threadedly engage the tubular body structure and pull the elongated member into the tubular body structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method defined in claim 6 wherein the using a distal portion of the elongated structure to make a second aperture further includes: feeding a distal portion of the elongated member into and along a lumen of the tubular body structure adjacent the second location.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method defined in claim 6 wherein the using a distal portion of the elongated structure to make a second aperture includes: radially expanding the aperture made by the piercing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method defined in claim 9 wherein the radially expanding includes: inserting an enlarging structure into the aperture made by the piercing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method defined in claim 10 wherein the enlarging structure substantially concentrically surrounds the elongated member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method defined in claim 10 wherein the passing includes: following the enlarging structure into the second aperture with an axial portion of the graft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the using of a distal portion of the elongated structure to make a second aperture includes: piercing the tubular body structure at the second location with a distal portion of the elongated structure; and distally extending an elongated member from the distal portion of the elongated structure through the piercing and into the lumen of the tubular body structure adjacent the second location.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method defined in claim 13 wherein the distally extending includes: further extending a distal portion of the elongated member along the lumen of the tubular body structure leading away from the second location.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method defined in claim 14 wherein the distal portion of the elongated member is threaded and wherein said further extending comprises: rotating the elongated member about its longitudinal axis to cause threads on the distal portion of the elongated member to threadedly engage the interior of the lumen into which the distal portion of the elongated member is extended.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method defined in claim 13 wherein the using of a distal portion of the elongated structure to make a second aperture includes: radially enlarging the aperture made by the piercing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method defined in claim 16 wherein the radially enlarging includes: inserting an enlarging structure into the aperture made by the piercing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method defined in claim 17 wherein the enlarging structure substantially concentrically surrounds the elongated member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method defined in claim 17 wherein the passing includes: following the enlarging structure into the second aperture with an axial portion of the graft.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the attaching includes: radially expanding the graft inside the tubular body structure adjacent the second aperture to help prevent the graft from being pulled out of the second aperture.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the attaching includes: radially expanding the graft inside the tubular body structure adjacent the first aperture to help prevent the graft from being pulled out of the first aperture.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the attaching includes: extending hooks from the graft into the tubular body structure around the second aperture.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the attaching includes: extending hooks from the graft into the tubular body structure around the first aperture.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein in the passing the one of said apertures is the first aperture and the other of said apertures is the second aperture.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE1954942A1
Cited
US4459252A
Cited
US4214587A
Cited
US4418693A
Cited
US4503569A
Cited
US4592754A
Cited
US4665906A
Cited
US4787899A
Cited
US5275622A
Cited
US5397345A
Cited
US4617932A
Cited
US4651733A
Cited
US4705517A
Cited
US4733665A
Cited
US4733665C2
Cited
US4733665B1
Cited
US4665918A
Cited
US5061275A
Cited
US5104399A
Cited
US4748984A
Cited
US4795458A
Cited
US4969890A
Cited
US5201901A
Cited
US5451204A
Cited
US5061245A
Cited
US5180362A
Cited
US5171233A
Cited
US5360443A
Cited
US5522880A
Cited
US5035702A
Cited
EP0680734A2
Cited
US5122154A
Cited
US5509931A
Cited
US5496364A
Cited
US5554152A
Cited
US5489295A
Cited
US5147370A
Cited
US5226429A
Cited
US5211683A
Cited
US5304220A
Cited
US5456712A
Cited
WO1993000868A1
Cited
US5545214A
Cited
US5354309A
Cited
EP0539237A1
Cited
US5387235A
Cited
US5211658A
Cited
US5395349A
Cited
US5256150A
Cited
US5209731A
Cited
US5484418A
Cited
US5316023A
Cited
US5334217A
Cited
GB2269104A
Cited
AU670239B2
Cited
US5496365A
Cited
US5297564A
Cited
US5437288A
Cited
US5562725A
Cited
WO1994006372A1
Cited
US5522834A
Cited
US5287861A
Cited
US5429144A
Cited
US5409019A
Cited
US5443499A
Cited
US5306240A
Cited
US5452733A
Cited
US5480423A
Cited
US5425765A
Cited
EP0637454A1
Cited
US5443497A
Cited
US5419324A
Cited
EP0684022A2
Cited
WO1996001591A1
Cited
WO1996001599A1
Cited
US5433727A
Cited
US5507769A
Cited
EP0712614A1
Cited
WO1996018361A1
Cited
WO1996022745A1
Cited
US5695504A
Cited
WO1997013471A1
Cited
WO1997013463A1
Cited
US5676670A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-09-19 | 2004-03-20 | 2004-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-09-19 | 2008-03-20 | 2008-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-09-19 | 2012-03-20 | 2012-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |