US6371964B1 — Trocar for use in deploying an anastomosis device…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 152 words

A device for forming an incision in a wall of a target vessel and delivering an anastomosis device for connecting an end of a graft vessel to a target vessel at the site of the incision, the device comprising: a member having a piercing element at a distal end thereof and the member being adapted to cooperate with a deployment tool such that the anastomosis device can be delivered to the incision site by the development tool and the piercing element can be withdrawn from the incision site prior to deployment of the anastomosis device, wherein the piercing element includes a cutting blade which is movable with respect to the member such that the cutting blade can be moved from a cutting position at which the cutting blade is exposed with respect to the member to a retracted position at which the cutting blade is not exposed with respect to the member.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 152 words

A device for forming an incision in a wall of a target vessel and delivering an anastomosis device for connecting an end of a graft vessel to a target vessel at the site of the incision, the device comprising: a member having a piercing element at a distal end thereof and the member being adapted to cooperate with a deployment tool such that the anastomosis device can be delivered to the incision site by the development tool and the piercing element can be withdrawn from the incision site prior to deployment of the anastomosis device, wherein the piercing element includes a cutting blade which is movable with respect to the member such that the cutting blade can be moved from a cutting position at which the cutting blade is exposed with respect to the member to a retracted position at which the cutting blade is not exposed with respect to the member.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

The device of claim 1 , wherein the piercing element comprises a sharpened inclined surface at the distal end of the member.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 44 words

The device of claim 1 , wherein the tubular member includes distal and proximal portions, the distal portion having a smaller diameter than the proximal portion, and the piercing element comprises a sharpened inclined surface being on a free end of the distal portion.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 32 words

The device of claim 3 , wherein the distal portion includes at least one axially extending tear line which allows the distal portion to be split and expanded over the deployment tool.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

The device of claim 1 , wherein the piercing element comprises a cutting blade which forms an elongated slit upon insertion of the piercing element into the vessel wall.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 33 words

The device trocar of claim 3 , wherein the piercing element comprises a tapered tip and anvil surface which forms a rounded incision upon insertion of the piercing element into the vessel wall.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 128 words

A device for forming an incision in a wall of a target vessel and delivering an anastomosis device for connecting an end of a graft vessel to a target vessel at the site of the incision, the device comprising: a member having a piercing element at a distal end thereof and the member being adapted to cooperate with a deployment tool such that the anastomosis device can be delivered to the incision site by the deployment tool and the piercing element can be withdrawn from the incision site prior to deployment of the anastomosis device, wherein the member comprises a tubular member having a passage therein through which the anastomosis device is delivered to the incision site, and wherein the tubular member further includes a deformable tubular wall.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 128 words

A device for forming an incision in a wall of a target vessel and delivering an anastomosis device for connecting an end of a graft vessel to a target vessel at the site of the incision, the device comprising: a member having a piercing element at a distal end thereof and the member being adapted to cooperate with a deployment tool such that the anastomosis device can be delivered to the incision site by the deployment tool and the piercing element can be withdrawn from the incision site prior to deployment of the anastomosis device, wherein the member comprises a tubular member having a passage therein through which the anastomosis device is delivered to the incision site, and wherein the tubular member further includes a deformable tubular wall.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 29 words

The device of claim 7 , wherein the tubular wall includes openings therein which allow the tubular member to be deformed from a smaller configuration to a larger configuration.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 27 words

The device of claim 8 , wherein the openings are defined by a plurality of axially extending wall sections and a plurality of circumferentially extending wall sections.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 34 words

The device of claim 8 , wherein the inclined surface is a continuous surface interrupted by a plurality of slits extending between the inclined surface and the openings located closest to the inclined surface.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 31 words

The device of claim 9 , wherein the openings comprise axially extending slots arranged in a staggered pattern such that the circumferentially extending wall sections intersect a pair of the slots.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 17 words

The device of claim 7 , wherein the deformable tubular wall is made from plastic or metal.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 199 words

A device for forming an incision in a wall of a target vessel and delivering an anastomosis device for connecting an end of a graft vessel to a target vessel at the site of the incision, the device comprising: a member having a piercing element at a distal end thereof and the member being adapted to cooperate with a deployment tool such that the anastomosis device can be delivered to the incision site by the deployment tool and the piercing element can be withdrawn from the incision site prior to deployment of the anastomosis device, wherein the piercing element includes a cutting blade which is movable with respect to the member such that the cutting blade can be moved from a cutting position at which the cutting blade is exposed with respect to the member to a retracted position at which the cutting blade is not exposed with respect to the member, wherein the piercing element includes a vessel wall piercing portion and a trimming portion, the piercing portion forming the incision upon insertion of the distal end of the member into the vessel wall and the trimming portion removing tissue around the incision upon retraction of the member.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 199 words

A device for forming an incision in a wall of a target vessel and delivering an anastomosis device for connecting an end of a graft vessel to a target vessel at the site of the incision, the device comprising: a member having a piercing element at a distal end thereof and the member being adapted to cooperate with a deployment tool such that the anastomosis device can be delivered to the incision site by the deployment tool and the piercing element can be withdrawn from the incision site prior to deployment of the anastomosis device, wherein the piercing element includes a cutting blade which is movable with respect to the member such that the cutting blade can be moved from a cutting position at which the cutting blade is exposed with respect to the member to a retracted position at which the cutting blade is not exposed with respect to the member, wherein the piercing element includes a vessel wall piercing portion and a trimming portion, the piercing portion forming the incision upon insertion of the distal end of the member into the vessel wall and the trimming portion removing tissue around the incision upon retraction of the member.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 32 words

The device of claim 13 , wherein the member comprises a tubular member and the piercing portion comprises a plurality of axially extending tines at the distal end of the tubular member.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 53 words

The device of claim 13 , wherein the piercing portion comprises a plurality of axially extending tines and the trimming portion comprises cutting edges on outer surfaces of the tines or the piercing portion comprises a tapered tip and the trimming portion comprises an anvil surface at one end of the tapered tip.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 50 words

The device of claim 14 , wherein distal ends of the tines are biased in close proximity to each other such that the incision can be formed by advancing the tines into the vessel wall, the incision being expanded by spreading of the tines upon delivery of the anastomosis device.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 149 words

A device for forming an incision in a wall of a target cessel and delivering an anastomosis device for connecting an end of a graft vessel to a target vessel at the site of the incision, the device comprising: a member having a piercing element at a distal end thereof and the member being adapted to cooperate with a deployment tool such that the anastomosis device can be delivered to the incision site by the deployment tool and the piercing element can be withdrawn from the incision site prior to deployment of the anastomosis device, wherein the piercing element comprises a cutting blade which forms an elongated slit upon insertion of the piercing element into the vessel wall, and the member comprises a tubular member which includes tines at the distal end thereof, the tines being separated from each other and from the cutting blade by axially extending slits.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 149 words

A device for forming an incision in a wall of a target cessel and delivering an anastomosis device for connecting an end of a graft vessel to a target vessel at the site of the incision, the device comprising: a member having a piercing element at a distal end thereof and the member being adapted to cooperate with a deployment tool such that the anastomosis device can be delivered to the incision site by the deployment tool and the piercing element can be withdrawn from the incision site prior to deployment of the anastomosis device, wherein the piercing element comprises a cutting blade which forms an elongated slit upon insertion of the piercing element into the vessel wall, and the member comprises a tubular member which includes tines at the distal end thereof, the tines being separated from each other and from the cutting blade by axially extending slits.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 32 words

The device of claim 17 , wherein distal ends of the tines are biased in close proximity to each other at a location spaced from the distal end of the cutting blade.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 133 words

A method of performing anastomosis comprising: using a device to form an incision in a wall of a target vessel, the device comprising: a member having a piercing element at a distal end thereof, the member adapted to cooperate with a deployment tool such that an anastomosis device can be delivered to an incision site; inserting the anastomosis device with the deployment tool into the incision, the anastomosis device having an end of a graft vessel everted around a first portion of the anastomosis device; and manipulating the first portion of the anastomosis device with respect to a second portion of the anastomosis device to capture edges of the incision in the target vessel with the anastomosis device such that a fluid passage is established between the graft vessel and the target vessel.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 133 words

A method of performing anastomosis comprising: using a device to form an incision in a wall of a target vessel, the device comprising: a member having a piercing element at a distal end thereof, the member adapted to cooperate with a deployment tool such that an anastomosis device can be delivered to an incision site; inserting the anastomosis device with the deployment tool into the incision, the anastomosis device having an end of a graft vessel everted around a first portion of the anastomosis device; and manipulating the first portion of the anastomosis device with respect to a second portion of the anastomosis device to capture edges of the incision in the target vessel with the anastomosis device such that a fluid passage is established between the graft vessel and the target vessel.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 19 , wherein the target vessel is an aorta and the method is performed without clamping of the aorta.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 78 words

The method of claim 19 , wherein the end of the graft vessel and the edges of the incision in the target vessel are captured between the first portion and the second portion and the end of the graft vessel abuts an outside of the target vessel, the first portion comprising an inner flange formed by radial expansion of the anastomosis device and the second portion comprising an outer flange formed by axial compression of the anastomosis device.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 66 words

The method of claim 19 , wherein the anastomosis device is expandable from a first configuration to a larger second configuration, the method including expanding the anastomosis device with an expander to cause a portion of the anastomosis device to extend outward forming the first flange, the first flange holding a portion of the graft vessel in contact with an inner surface of the target vessel.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 22 , further comprising retracting the device over the anastomosis device and along the expander prior to expanding the anastomosis device with the expander, the device being deformed during the retracting step.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 23 , wherein the second portion of the anastomosis device is formed by axially compressing the anastomosis device with a deployment tool.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 24 , wherein the deployment tool comprises a tube which engages a proximal end of the anastomosis device, the compressing step being carried out by moving the expander relative to the tube.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 25 , wherein a groove on the expander engages the anastomosis device during formation of the second portion.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method of claim 19 , wherein the piercing element includes a plurality of cutting edges which form small slits around the incision or the piercing element includes a tapered tip which forms the incision and an anvil surface which enlarges and rounds the incision.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 54 words

The method of claim 19 , wherein the anastomosis device comprises an expandable linkage which is delivered through the device to the site of the incision, the linkage being deformed to an expanded size during formation of the first and second portions, the incision formed by the device being smaller than the expanded size.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 19 , wherein the first and second portions form an angle between about 40 and 140 degrees with an axis of the anastomosis device.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-04-15	2005-10-15	2006-04-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-04-15	2009-10-15	2010-04-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-04-15	2013-10-15	2014-04-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Trocar for use in deploying an anastomosis device and method of performing anastomosis

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