Abstract:
Methods and apparatus are provided for such uses as attaching grafts of tubing (e.g., lengths of saphenous vein) between sites in a patient's body via the patient's existing arteries and veins. Grafts may be held in place during graft delivery using a partially inflated proximal balloon and a partially inflated distal balloon which frictionally engage axially spaced portions of the graft (e.g., pronged attachment rings that pierce the graft adjacent its ends). After aligning the distal balloon and distal end of the graft with the distal attachment site, the distal balloon may be further inflated to help attach the distal end of the graft to the distal attachment site (e.g., by driving the prongs of the distal attachment ring into the distal attachment site). The proximal balloon may then be inflated to similarly help attach the proximal end of the graft to the proximal attachment site. The balloons are deflated to facilitate withdrawal of the apparatus from the installed graft. The insertion instrument allows the distance between the distal and proximal balloons to be adjusted, thereby accommodating grafts of various lengths. The separation between distal and proximal balloons may be fixed or substantially fixed using a locking mechanism.
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. The artificial grafts may have shapes other than tubular. Certain procedural and apparatus aspects of the invention have uses other than in connection with grafting in general or tubular grafting in particular.
Abstract:
A bodily fluid filter has an elastic tubular framework and a plurality of filter filaments extending from the surface of the tubular framework in toward the longitudinal axis to trap objects to be filtered. The elastic framework is deformable to facilitate deployment and removal, but resumes its operational shape once deployed. The filter can be installed intralumenally and/or remotely if desired.
Abstract:
A distensible artificial tubular graft structure is provided that has a compliance gradient. The graft may be used to repair a patient's body organ tubing. For example, the graft may be used to replace or supplement portions of a patient's vascular system. The ends of the graft structure may have compliances that are matched to the compliances of the body organ tubing to which they are attached. Distensible compliance-matched connector structures may be used to attach the graft to the body organ tubing.
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. The artificial grafts may have shapes other than tubular. Certain procedural and apparatus aspects of the invention have uses other than in connection with grafting in general or tubular grafting in particular.
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. The artificial grafts may have shapes other than tubular. Certain procedural and apparatus aspects of the invention have uses other than in connection with grafting in general or tubular grafting in particular.
Abstract:
A body tissue graft for use in a patient includes a frame structure made of a first elastic material, a covering of a second elastic material on the frame structure, the covering substantially filling openings in the frame structure, and a connector connected to the frame structure. Projections are secured to the connector structure. The projections facilitate attachment of the tubular graft in a patient by securing the graft to the body tissue with which the graft is employed. The connector selectively circumferentially expands, and the projections selectively circumferentially expand. This may be done using an inflatable balloon to circumferentially expand the projections. A restraining member may be provided to restrain the projections in a cone shape so that an end of the graft may be used to open an aperture through a side wall of existing body organ tubing, and a portion of the projections may enter the aperture.
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.
Abstract:
A body tissue graft for use in a patient includes a frame structure made of a first elastic material, a covering of a second elastic material on the frame structure, the covering substantially filling openings in the frame structure, and a connector connected to the frame structure. Projections are secured to the connector structure. The projections facilitate attachment of the tubular graft in a patient by securing the graft to the body tissue with which the graft is employed. The connector selectively circumferentially expands and the projections selectively circumferentially expand. This may be done using an inflatable balloon to circumferentially expand the projections. A restraining member may be provided to restrain the projections in a cone shape so that an end of the graft may be used to open an aperture through a side wall of existing body organ tubing and a portion of the projections may enter the aperture.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus are provided for attaching grafts of tubing between sites in a patient's body via the patient's existing arteries and veins. Grafts may be held in place during graft delivery using a partially inflated proximal balloon and a partially inflated distal balloon which frictionally engage axially spaced portions of the graft (e.g., pronged attachment rings that pierce the graft adjacent its ends). After aligning the distal end of the graft with the distal attachment site, the distal balloon may be further inflated to help attach the distal end of the graft to the distal attachment site (e.g., by driving the prongs of the distal attachment ring into the distal attachment site). The proximal balloon may then be inflated to attach the proximal end of the graft to the proximal attachment site. The insertion instrument allows the distance between the distal and proximal balloons to be adjusted, thereby accommodating grafts of various lengths. The separation between distal and proximal balloons may be fixed using a locking mechanism.