Great vessel graft suturing aid

• US 10,531,947 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2017
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Terumo Cardiovascular Systems Corporation (Terumo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Terumo Cardiovascular Systems Corporation (Terumo Corporation)
• Inventors: Tsubouchi, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Stransky, Katrina M
• Application Number:
  US15/679,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20180055621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/04 for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials suture materials A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1107 for blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1125 Forceps, specially adapted for performing or assisting anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1132 End-to-end connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/06 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/064 with special features to facilitate anastomotic coupling anastomosis of natural blood vessels A61B17/11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/061 provided with means for allowing access to secondary lumens

Abstract

A stabilization tool supports a blood vessel for suturing during cardiovascular surgery. The support vessel may typically be part of an artificial graft used in replacing an aortic arch. The stabilization tool has a central shaft with a mounting element at a first end. A plurality of retractable arms have their distal ends affixed to a second end of the central shaft. The retractable arms are movable between a nested position flanking the central shaft and a range of extended positions wherein proximal ends of the retractable arms are spaced away from the central shaft. A closing ring is slidable over the retractable arms from a deployed position adjacent the second end of the central shaft to a retracted position spaced away from the second end to move the retractable arms.

Claims

1. A stabilization tool for suturing a vessel, comprising:

a central shaft having a mounting element at a first end;

a plurality of retractable arms having distal ends affixed to a second end of the central shaft, wherein the retractable arms are each comprised of a resilient beam having a natural curved shape corresponding to a maximum extended position, wherein the retractable arms are movable between a nested position flanking the central shaft and a range of extended positions wherein proximal ends of the retractable arms are spaced away from the central shaft, wherein the second end is configured to be inserted inside the vessel in the nested position, wherein the retractable arms are configured to support an inside diameter of the vessel when in the range of extended positions during suturing, and wherein the second end is configured to be removed from the vessel in the nested position after suturing;

a closing ring slidable over the retractable arms from a deployed position adjacent the second end of the central shaft to a retracted position spaced away from the second end;

a control ring mounted on the central shaft between the retractable arms and the first end adapted to slide along the central shaft under manual control; and

a push-pull cable connecting the control ring and the closing ring so that motion of the control ring is replicated by the closing ring to reconfigure the retractable arms between the nested position and an extended position within the range of extended positions.

2. The stabilization tool of claim 1 wherein the retractable arms are comprised of spring grade stainless steel.

3. The stabilization tool of claim 1 wherein the retractable arms are comprised of plastic.

4. A stabilization tool for suturing a vessel, comprising:

a central shaft having a mounting element at a first end;

a plurality of retractable arms having distal ends affixed to a second end of the central shaft, wherein the retractable arms are movable between a nested position flanking the central shaft and a range of extended positions wherein proximal ends of the retractable arms are spaced away from the central shaft;

a closing ring slidable over the retractable arms from a deployed position adjacent the second end of the central shaft to a retracted position spaced away from the second end;

a control ring mounted on the central shaft between the retractable arms and the first end adapted to slide along the central shaft under manual control; and

a push-pull cable connecting the control ring and the closing ring so that motion of the control ring is replicated by the closing ring to reconfigure the retractable arms between the nested position and an extended position within the range of extended positions.

5. The stabilization tool of claim 4 wherein the central shaft includes an intermediate bend between the retractable arms and the control ring.

6. The stabilization tool of claim 5 further comprising:

a cable guide projecting from the central shaft at the intermediate bend for slidably receiving the push-pull cable.

7. The stabilization tool of claim 4 further comprising:

a second push-pull cable connecting the control ring and the closing ring and placed symmetrically on an opposite side of the central shaft.

8. The stabilization tool of claim 4 wherein the push-pull cable is comprised of a metallic wire.

9. The stabilization tool of claim 8 wherein the metallic wire is comprised of stainless steel.

10. The stabilization tool of claim 4 adapted to expand a vascular graft having a predetermined inside diameter, and wherein the retractable arms are configured to provide a maximum extended position defining a perimeter at the proximal ends corresponding to the predetermined inside diameter.

11. The stabilization tool of claim 10 wherein the predetermined inside diameter is between about 25 mm and about 35 mm.

12. The stabilization tool of claim 10 wherein the predetermined inside diameter is about 30 mm.