Patent US6371981B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6371981B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vascular graft assemblies and methods for implanting same
Assignee: HILLVIEW PTY Ltd
•
Filing: 1999-11-02
•
Granted: 2002-04-16
•
Expires: 2019-11-02
Abstract
Abstract A graft system is provided that includes either a support ring or a support sleeve that is used in providing transitional support to either an end or a side of a graft or a host vessel. The support ring is provided with a generally cylindrical wall and defining a passageway that is adapted for receiving an end of a vein graft or an end of a host vessel. The support ring has a first end and a second end, with the thickness of the wall being greater at the first end than at the second end. The support sleeve is provided with a first side edge, a second side edge, and an opening. The support sleeve surrounds a side opening of a graft or host vessel so that the opening of the support sleeve is aligned with the side opening of the graft or host vessel. The thickness of the support sleeve is greater at the opening than at the first and second side edges.
Inventors
- 👤 Jun Yang
- 👤 George Guo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:36
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/11; A61B2017/1107; A61B2017/1135
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A graft system, comprising: a vein graft having a side opening; and a support sleeve having a thickness, a first side edge, a second side edge, and an opening, the support sleeve surrounding the vein graft so that the opening of the support sleeve is aligned with the side opening of the vein graft, with the thickness of the support sleeve being greater at the opening than at the first and second side edges.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
A graft system, comprising: a vein graft having a side opening; and a support sleeve having a thickness, a first side edge, a second side edge, and an opening, the support sleeve surrounding the vein graft so that the opening of the support sleeve is aligned with the side opening of the vein graft, with the thickness of the support sleeve being greater at the opening than at the first and second side edges.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The graft system of claim 1 , wherein the vein graft is a host saphenous vein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The graft system of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the support sleeve gradually decreases from the opening of the support sleeve to the first and second edges thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The graft system of claim 3 , wherein the thickness of the support sleeve gradually decreases in a linear manner from the opening of the support sleeve to the first and second edges thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The graft system of claim 1 , wherein the support sleeve is provided in the form of a sheet having opposing third and fourth edges, and wherein the sheet is wrapped around the vein graft and the third and fourth edges are stitched together.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The graft system of claim 1 , wherein the support sleeve is made of an elastic material having sufficient stiffness so that it will not expand beyond a certain limit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
96 words
A support sleeve for providing side-to-side transitional support to the side of either a graft or a host vessel that has a side opening, the support sleeve having a thickness and comprising: a first side edge, a second side edge, and an opening, the support sleeve surrounding a side opening of a graft or host vessel so that the opening of the support sleeve is aligned with the side opening of the graft or host vessel, with the thickness of the support sleeve being greater at the opening than at the first and second side edges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
96 words
A support sleeve for providing side-to-side transitional support to the side of either a graft or a host vessel that has a side opening, the support sleeve having a thickness and comprising: a first side edge, a second side edge, and an opening, the support sleeve surrounding a side opening of a graft or host vessel so that the opening of the support sleeve is aligned with the side opening of the graft or host vessel, with the thickness of the support sleeve being greater at the opening than at the first and second side edges.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The support sleeve of claim 7 , wherein the thickness of the support sleeve gradually decreases from the opening of the support sleeve to the first and second edges thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The support sleeve of claim 8 , wherein the thickness of the support sleeve gradually decreases in a linear manner from the opening of the support sleeve to the first and second edges thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The support sleeve of claim 7 , wherein the support sleeve is provided in the form of a sheet having opposing third and fourth edges that are stitched together.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The support sleeve of claim 7 , wherein the support sleeve is made of an elastic material having sufficient stiffness so that it will not expand beyond a certain limit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2127903A
Cited
US2453056A
Cited
US3254651A
Cited
US3496939A
Cited
US3626947A
Cited
US3713441A
Cited
US3818511A
Cited
US3828764A
Cited
US4267842A
Cited
US4352358A
Cited
US4313231A
Cited
WO1982004390A1
Cited
US4585458A
Cited
US4503568A
Cited
US4470415A
Cited
US4743251A
Cited
US4917087A
Cited
US4873975A
Cited
US4778467A
Cited
US4728328A
Cited
US4586504A
Cited
US4693720A
Cited
US4883453A
Cited
EP0302088A1
Cited
US4856504A
Cited
US4938740A
Cited
US5425739A
Cited
US5609626A
Cited
US5084064A
Cited
US5156619A
Cited
US5078735A
Cited
FR2676355A1
Cited
US5456712A
Cited
US5456714A
Cited
GB2269104A
Cited
US5766246A
Cited
US5628782A
Cited
US5693088A
Cited
US5645581A
Cited
US5486187A
Cited
US5817100A
Cited
US5522881A
Cited
WO1996009800A1
Cited
WO1996018360A1
Cited
US5591226A
Cited
US5667523A
Cited
US5665117A
Cited
WO1997031591A1
Cited
US6001124A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| 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 |