US6440163B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Medical anastomosis apparatus
Assignee: St Jude Medical ATG Inc
•
Filing: 2001-09-17
•
Granted: 2002-08-27
•
Expires: 2021-09-17
Abstract
Abstract A connector for use in providing an anastomotic connection between two tubular body fluid conduits in a patient. The connector is preferably a single, integral, plastically deformable structure that can be cut from a tube. The connector has axial spaced portions that include members that are radially outwardly deflectable from other portions of the connector. The connector is annularly enlargeable so that it can be initially delivered and installed in the patient in a relatively small annular size and then annularly enlarged to provide the completed anastomosis. The radially outwardly deflected members of the first and second portions respectively engage the two body fluid conduits connected at the anastomosis and hold those two conduits together in fluid-tight engagement. Apparatus for use in delivering and deploying a connector is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 William J. Swanson
- 👤 Mark D. Wahlberg
- 👤 Jason A. Galdonik
- 👤 Todd Allen Berg
- 👤 Scott P. Thome
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:31
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/82; A61F2/86; A61F2/88; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/11; A61B17/064; A61B2017/0641; A61B2017/1135; A61B2017/1139; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0008; A61F2220/0016; A61F2220/0025; A61F2220/0075; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0028; A61F2230/005; A61F2230/0054; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0058; A61F2250/0067
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
Apparatus for inserting an annular graft connector, to which graft tissue is attached, into a side wall of a tubular body tissue conduit from outside the conduit comprising: a substantially conical tip structure having a cone angle less than about 15°, configured for passage through the side wall from outside the conduit starting with an apex of the cone, and further configured to receive and annularly surround at least a portion of the connector while leaving at least a portion of the graft tissue exposed and thus external to the confines of the tip structure; and a shaft structure extending from the tip structure in a direction away from the apex and configured to receive the connector annularly around the shaft structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
Apparatus for inserting an annular graft connector, to which graft tissue is attached, into a side wall of a tubular body tissue conduit from outside the conduit comprising: a substantially conical tip structure having a cone angle less than about 15°, configured for passage through the side wall from outside the conduit starting with an apex of the cone, and further configured to receive and annularly surround at least a portion of the connector while leaving at least a portion of the graft tissue exposed and thus external to the confines of the tip structure; and a shaft structure extending from the tip structure in a direction away from the apex and configured to receive the connector annularly around the shaft structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the cone angle is in the range from about 5° to less than about 15°.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the cone angle is in the range from about 5° to about 10°.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the tip structure is configured to receive and annularly surround at least a portion of the connector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein an axial portion of the connector is configured to extend through the side wall of the conduit, and wherein the tip structure is configured to axially receive and annularly surround said axial portion of the connector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising: a longitudinal guide structure extending axially from the apex in a direction away from the connector, the guide structure being configured to extend through an aperture in the side wall and then axially along a lumen inside the conduit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein the guide structure is axially fixed to the tip structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein the tip structure and the shaft structure are axially reciprocable along the guide structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein the guide structure extends axially along a lumen through the tip structure and the shaft structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the shaft structure is configured to extend axially from the tip structure farther than the connector, and wherein the shaft structure is connected to the tip structure so that the shaft structure can be used to push the tip structure in the direction of the apex.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising: a radially expandable structure configured for disposition annularly around the shaft structure and inside the connector around the shaft structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus defined in claim 11 further comprising: a tubular member configured for disposition around the shaft structure, the radially expandable structure being secured to the tubular member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus defined in claim 12 wherein the tubular member and the radially expandable structure are reciprocable axially along the shaft structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus defined in claim 11 wherein the radially expandable structure comprises: an inflatable annular balloon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus defined in claim 4 further comprising: a tubular member configured for disposition around the shaft structure and further configured for use in keeping the connector received by the tip structure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus defined in claim 15 wherein the tubular member is further configured to be movable axially along the shaft structure.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
125 words
The method of producing a hollow annular anastomotic connection between a first aperture in a side wall of a body tissue conduit in a patient and a second aperture in a side wall of a graft conduit relocated from elsewhere in the patient's body comprising: introducing a hollow annular connector into the graft conduit so that a first axial portion of the connector is disposed inside the graft conduit and a second axial portion of the connector extends out of the graft conduit via the second aperture and into the body tissue conduit via the first aperture; and deforming the connector so that it presses together the side walls of the body tissue conduit and the graft conduit annularly around the first and second apertures.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
125 words
The method of producing a hollow annular anastomotic connection between a first aperture in a side wall of a body tissue conduit in a patient and a second aperture in a side wall of a graft conduit relocated from elsewhere in the patient's body comprising: introducing a hollow annular connector into the graft conduit so that a first axial portion of the connector is disposed inside the graft conduit and a second axial portion of the connector extends out of the graft conduit via the second aperture and into the body tissue conduit via the first aperture; and deforming the connector so that it presses together the side walls of the body tissue conduit and the graft conduit annularly around the first and second apertures.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method defined in claim 17 further comprising: shielding the second axial portion of the connector during at least part of the introducing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method defined in claim 18 further comprising: unshielding the second axial portion of the connector after the shielding but prior to the deforming.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method defined in claim 17 wherein the deforming comprises: annularly enlarging the connector.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method defined in claim 17 wherein the deforming comprises: axially shortening the connector.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method defined in claim 17 wherein the connector is disposed annularly around a selectively inflatable balloon, and wherein the deforming comprises: inflating the balloon.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method defined in claim 22 further comprising: after the deforming, deflating the balloon.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method defined in claim 23 further comprising: after the deflating, removing the balloon from inside the connector and from the patient.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-08-26 | 2006-02-25 | 2006-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-08-26 | 2010-02-25 | 2010-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-08-26 | 2014-02-25 | 2014-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |