Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
Suturing means for connecting a tubular vascular prosthesis ( 40 ) to a vessel ( 50 ) in a body, said suturing means comprising an internal, substantially annular member ( 10 ) intended to be received inside the vessel and an external annular member ( 20 ) intended to be applied around the vessel essentially at the location of the internal annular member, in order to receive a vessel wall between both annular members, in which at least one of the two annular members is provided with suturing members ( 20 ) which at, least in use, grip in the vessel wall, fixating at least the internal annular member, characterized in that the internal annular member ( 10 ), at least in use, is firmly connected to an extreme end of the prosthesis, in that the internal annular member defines a sealing surface extending substantially continuously over an annular circumference of said internal annular member and in that the external annular member, at least in use, substantially surrounds the internal annular member at least at an area of said sealing surface defined by said internal annular member, clamping the vessel wall there between in a substantially leak free manner.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
Suturing means for connecting a tubular vascular prosthesis ( 40 ) to a vessel ( 50 ) in a body, said suturing means comprising an internal, substantially annular member ( 10 ) intended to be received inside the vessel and an external annular member ( 20 ) intended to be applied around the vessel essentially at the location of the internal annular member, in order to receive a vessel wall between both annular members, in which at least one of the two annular members is provided with suturing members ( 20 ) which at, least in use, grip in the vessel wall, fixating at least the internal annular member, characterized in that the internal annular member ( 10 ), at least in use, is firmly connected to an extreme end of the prosthesis, in that the internal annular member defines a sealing surface extending substantially continuously over an annular circumference of said internal annular member and in that the external annular member, at least in use, substantially surrounds the internal annular member at least at an area of said sealing surface defined by said internal annular member, clamping the vessel wall there between in a substantially leak free manner.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
Suturing means as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the suturing members ( 12 ), at least in use, extend radially from a first of the two annular members ( 10 , 20 ) and are received in the other of the two annular members ( 20 , 10 ) in order to effect a firm mutual connection while enclosing the wall of the vascular prosthesis ( 40 ) and the vessel wall ( 50 ).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
Suturing means as claimed in claim 2 , characterized in that the first annular member comprises a metal ring ( 10 ) with lips ( 12 ) which can be pressed radially outward and are provided with sharp protrusions ( 13 ), which are capable of penetrating through the wall material of the prosthesis ( 40 ), through the wall of the vessel ( 50 ) and into the material of the other of the two annular members ( 20 , 10 ).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
Suturing means as claimed in claim 3 , characterized in that the protrusions ( 13 ) are provided with one or more barbed hooks ( 14 ).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
Suturing means as claimed in claim 2 or 3 or 4 , characterized in that the suturing members ( 12 ) extend from the internal annular member ( 10 ) and that the external annular member ( 20 ) comprises at least a core of plastic for receiving the suturing members therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
Suturing means as claimed in claim 2 , characterized in that the means also comprise a clamping ring ( 30 ) which, at least in use, lies against an outer wall of the prosthesis ( 40 ) essentially at the position of the internal annular member ( 10 ), exerting at least locally a radially inward directed force.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
Suturing means as claimed in claim 6 , characterized in that the clamping ring comprises a crimp ring ( 30 ) which can permanently decrease in diameter at elevated temperature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
Suturing means as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the suturing members ( 12 ) comprise protrusions ( 13 ) which protrude outward from the internal annular member and are capable, at least under the influence of a radially directed force, of penetrating at least partially in the vessel wall to anchor the prosthesis ( 40 ).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
Suturing means as claimed in claim 8 , characterized in that the suturing members ( 12 ) comprise a regular pattern of crater-like openings ( 14 ), the walls ( 15 ) of which form of protrusions ( 13 ).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
Suturing means as claimed in any of claim 8 or 9 , characterized in that the internal annular member ( 10 ) has an inner diameter which is at least practically equal to an outer diameter of the vascular prosthesis ( 40 ) and that the internal annular member is intended to lie against an outer wall of the vascular prosthesis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
Suturing means as claimed in claim 8 , characterized in that the internal annular member ( 10 ) comprises a deformable ring which in a first contracted state has a diameter which falls within the diameter of the vessel ( 50 ) and in a second expanded state is able to lie against an inner wall of the vessel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
Suturing means as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the external annular member ( 20 ) comprises a ring which comprises an interruption in at least one position and that at the location of the interruption ( 21 ) closing means ( 22 , 23 ) are provided to mutually connect adjacent ring parts.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
Suturing means as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the external annular member ( 20 ) comprises at least internally a regular pattern of cams ( 24 ) intended to be received on the vessel wall, and in that said cams mutually leave free interspaces ( 25 ), which extend over a full width of the member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
Vascular prosthesis comprising a flexible tubular body ( 40 ) of which at least a first end is intended to be connected to a vessel ( 50 ), characterized in that the tubular body is provided on at least the first end with the internal annular member ( 10 ) of the suturing means as claimed in claim 1 .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
Vascular prosthesis as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that at the location of the internal annular member ( 10 ) a clamping ring ( 30 ) lies clampingly on an outer wall of the tubular body ( 40 ) while enclosing the wall of the tubular body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
Vascular prosthesis as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that the internal annular member ( 10 ) lies on an outer wall of the tubular body ( 40 ) via a suitable glue connection.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
Vascular prosthesis as claimed in claim 14 or 15 or 16 , characterized in that a second end of the tubular body ( 40 ) is provided with coupling means ( 70 ) which are capable of a liquid-tight coupling to a free end of a further vascular prosthesis ( 80 ).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
72 words
Vascular prosthesis as claimed in claim 17 , characterized in that the coupling means ( 70 ) comprise a rigid, tubular coupling element ( 90 ) which is firmly connected on a first side to the second end of the tubular body ( 40 ) and comprises on a second side a tapered portion ( 91 ) intended for clampingly receiving said free end of said further vascular prosthesis ( 80 ).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
Vascular prosthesis as claimed in claim 15 , characterized in that said tapered portion comprises a rib which extends over at least a part of an outer periphery of the tapered portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
71 words
Vascular prosthesis as claimed in claim 19 , characterized in that the coupling element ( 90 ) comprises at the location of the tapered portion ( 91 ) at least two external ribs which leave a certain interspace, which interspace is intended for receiving a clamping ring ( 30 ) which fixedly clamps the free end of the further vascular prosthesis ( 80 ) onto the tapered portion ( 91 ).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
99 words
Vascular prosthesis as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that the tubular body ( 40 ) comprises a main leg ( 45 ), and at least one side leg ( 46 ) between opposite ends of said main leg ( 45 ), and that at least one of the free ends of the tubular body carries either the internal annular member ( 10 ) associated with the suturing means as claimed in claim 1 , or coupling means ( 70 ) capable of a liquid-tight connection to a free end of a further vascular prosthesis ( 80 ).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
Vascular prosthesis as claimed in claim 21 , characterized in that the main leg ( 45 ) is provided on either side with an internal annular member ( 10 ).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
Vascular prosthesis as claimed in claim 21 or 22 , characterized in that two side legs ( 46 ) extend from the main leg ( 45 ) which are each provided on a free end with coupling means ( 70 ).
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
108 words
Vascular prosthesis as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that the tubular body ( 40 ) comprises a primary leg ( 47 ) with a first free end and a second end which divides into at least two secondary legs ( 48 ), each providing the tubular body with a further free end, and that at least one free end of the tubular body carries either the internal annular member ( 10 ) associated with the suturing means as claimed in claim 1 , or coupling means ( 70 ) capable of a liquid-right connection to a free end of a further vascular prosthesis ( 80 ).
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
Vascular prosthesis as claimed in claim 24 , characterized in that the primary leg ( 47 ) is provided on the first end with the internal annular member ( 10 ) and that secondary legs ( 48 ) each carrying coupling means ( 70 ) on their further free end.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
Vascular prosthesis system comprising mutually connectable vascular prosthesis modules which each comprise a vascular prosthesis as claimed in claim 14 .