Medical grafting methods and apparatus

• US 20020087046A1
• Filed: 03/01/2002
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: St Jude Medical ATG Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: St Jude Medical Cardiovascular Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Sullivan, Daniel J., Bachinski, Thomas J., Goldsteen, David S.
• Application Number:
  US10/090,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20020087046A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32056 Surgical snare instruments for removing or smashing calculi A61B2017/2212; tonsillotomes A61B17/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2939 Details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3614 using optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/064 with special features to facilitate anastomotic coupling anastomosis of natural blood vessels A61B17/11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 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 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/826 more than one stent being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0175 having telescopic features, interengaging nestable members movable in relations to one another
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0233 specifically adapted for attaching to a body wall by means which are on both sides of the wall, e.g. for attaching to an abdominal wall

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.

Claims

1. A vascular attachment device for sealing an opening between two blood conduit lips, comprising:

at least one clip element adapted for sealing at least a portion of an opening between two blood conduit lips; and

at least one puller adapted for pulling, inside the body, at least one of said lips into said clip element.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said puller is attached to said device.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said puller is adapted to remain in a body after use.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said puller is adapted to penetrate said lip.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said puller is adapted to transfix said lip.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one clip comprises a plurality of clips cooperating to seal said opening.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of clips are not connected to each other.

8. A device according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of clips are interconnected .

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of clips are flexibly interconnected.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein said clip distorts to effect said seal.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein said clip comprises two arms that bend towards each other to effect said seal.

12. A device according to claim 10, wherein said clip distorts plastically.

13. A device according to claim 12, comprising a delivery system comprising a contra element and a pressure element, which two elements compress said clip between them.

14. A device according to claim 10, wherein said clip self-distorts.

15. A device according to claim 14, comprising a delivery system comprising a restraining element adapted to selectively release said clip, to self distort.

16. A device according to claim 1, wherein said clip comprises barbs, for engaging said lips.

17. A device according to claim 1, wherein said clip comprises protrusions, for engaging said lips.

18. A device according to claim 1, wherein said clip is adapted to seal said lips against each other.

19. A device according to claim 1, wherein said clip is adapted to seal said lips against a part of said clip.

20. A device according to claim 1, wherein said clip compresses said lips, to effect said seal.

21. A device according to any of claims 1-20, wherein said lips are lips of two different conduits.

22. A device according to any of claims 1-20, wherein at least one of said conduits is an invivo blood vessel.

23. A device according to any of claims 1-20, wherein at least one of said conduits is a synthetic graft.

24. A guided punch, comprising:

a sharp, extendible guide wire; and

a hollow punch mechanism adapted to ride on the guide wire, wherein said guide wire is adapted to extend from said punch, wherein said punch is adapted for injection of contrast material inside of said hollow of said punch mechanism.