Method and apparatus for performing coronary artery bypass surgery

• US 20020049486A1
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Published: 04/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Heartstent Corp.
• Original Assignee: Heartstent Corp.
• Inventors: Knudson, Mark B., Giese, William L.
• Application Number:
  US09/845,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20020049486A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12022 Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12045 double occlusion, e.g. during anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12131 characterised by the type of occluding device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3415 for introducing tubes or catheters, e.g. gastrostomy tubes, drain catheters A61B17/3417 takes precedence; body piercing catheter guide needles A61M25/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00247 Making holes in the wall of the heart, e.g. laser Myocardial revascularization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1107 for blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1135 End-to-side connections, e.g. T- or Y-connections Y-shaped blood vessel prostheses A61F2002/065
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12127 Double occlusion, e.g. for creating blood-free anastomosis site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00392 Transmyocardial revascularisation
• 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 2/2493 Transmyocardial revascularisation [TMR] devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/856 Single tubular stent with a side portal passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/954 for placing stents or stent-grafts in a bifurcation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/061 : provided with means for allowing access to secondary lumens
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/065 : Y-shaped blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/068 : Modifying the blood flow model, e.g. by diffuser or deflector
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/821 : Ostial stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2240/008 : Means for testing implantable prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/903 : Blood vessel

Abstract

A method and apparatus for performing coronary artery bypass surgery establishes a channel leading directly from a chamber of a heart into a coronary artery with said channel retained open during both diastole and systole. The coronary artery bypass procedure may be performed with or without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Claims

1. A method for performing a coronary artery bypass procedure for supplementing a flow of blood to a coronary artery, said method comprising:

forming a blood flow path from a heart chamber directly to said coronary artery and maintaining said blood flow path open during both systole and diastole.

2. A method according to claim 1 comprising selecting a blood conduit having a first end and a second end and placing said first end in blood flow communication with said chamber and placing said second end in blood flow communication with said coronary artery.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said conduit is selected with a cross-sectional area sufficient for blood to flow through said conduit at a volumetric flow rate to effectively reduce signs and symptoms of reduced coronary blood flow.

4. A method according to claim 2 comprising:

a. inserting said first end into said chamber through a wall of said chamber and retaining said first end in said wall and in blood flow communication with said blood within said chamber; and

b. inserting said second end into said coronary artery and retaining said second end in said coronary artery and in blood flow communication with a lumen of said coronary artery.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said coronary artery is at least partially obstructed at a predetermined site, said method further comprising forming said path directly to said coronary artery downstream of said site.

6. A method according to claim 1 further comprising reducing but not blocking blood flow through said path during diastole.

7. A method according to claim 1 comprising directing blood flow through said path to reduce direct impingement of said blood flow upon a wall of the coronary artery.

8. A method according to claim 1 comprising forming said path through said wall and through a lower wall of said artery.

9. An apparatus for use in a coronary artery bypass procedure for supplementing a flow of blood to a coronary artery, said apparatus comprising:

a. a blood flow conduit having a first end adapted to be inserted into and retained within a wall of a heart chamber containing oxygenated blood with said first end in blood flow communication with blood contained within said chamber;

b. said conduit having a second end adapted to be inserted into and retained within said coronary artery with said second end in blood flow communication with a lumen of said coronary artery; and

c. said conduit adapted to define an open blood flow path during both diastole and systole.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said conduit has a cross-sectional area sufficient to pass blood at a volumetric flow rate to supply blood to cardiac musculature served by said coronary artery in an amount to reduce signs and symptoms of reduced coronary blood flow.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said conduit has a geometry selected to bias forward flow of blood from said first end toward said second end while not blocking blood flow from a direction from said second end toward said first end.

12. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said second end is sized to be inserted into and retained within said coronary artery on a downstream side of a predetermined obstruction site.

13. An apparatus according to claim 9 comprising a deflection surface for blocking blood flow through said conduit from impinging directly upon said coronary artery.

14. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said conduit is sized to extend through said heart chamber wall and a lower wall of said coronary artery.

15. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said conduit is biased for a net volumetric blood flow from said first end toward said second end.