Medical grafting methods and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method for installing a tubular graft between first and second spaced locations in a patient'"'"'s tubular body structure comprising:
- providing an aperture through a wall of the tubular body structure at the first location with a distal portion of an elongated structure inserted into and along a lumen of the tubular body structure to the first location;
providing a surgical access opening in the patient adjacent one of the first and second locations;
inserting an elongated guide member through the surgical access opening;
moving one of the end portions of the elongated guide member into the tubular body structure by piercing the tubular body structure at the second location;
moving the other end portion of the elongated guide member into the tubular body structure via the aperture at the first location;
passing the graft along the lumen of the tubular body structure and over the elongated guide member, through the wall at one of the first and second locations to the other of the locations; and
attaching axially spaced portions of the graft to the tubular body structure adjacent the first and second locations.
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Accused Products
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 installed at the operative site primarily by providing at least one graft location with instrumentation inserted through the patient'"'"'s existing tubular body organ structure. Assistance in installing the new tubing may be provided by minimally invasive surgical access openings in the patient'"'"'s chest. The tubing may be delivered through the patient'"'"'s existing tubular body structure or, alternatively, through the surgical access openings.
146 Citations
80 Claims
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1. A method for installing a tubular graft between first and second spaced locations in a patient'"'"'s tubular body structure comprising:
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providing an aperture through a wall of the tubular body structure at the first location with a distal portion of an elongated structure inserted into and along a lumen of the tubular body structure to the first location;
providing a surgical access opening in the patient adjacent one of the first and second locations;
inserting an elongated guide member through the surgical access opening;
moving one of the end portions of the elongated guide member into the tubular body structure by piercing the tubular body structure at the second location;
moving the other end portion of the elongated guide member into the tubular body structure via the aperture at the first location;
passing the graft along the lumen of the tubular body structure and over the elongated guide member, through the wall at one of the first and second locations to the other of the locations; and
attaching axially spaced portions of the graft to the tubular body structure adjacent the first and second locations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for installing a tubular graft between first and second spaced locations in a patient'"'"'s tubular body structure comprising:
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providing an aperture through a wall of the tubular body structure at the first location with a distal portion of an elongated structure inserted into and along a lumen of the tubular body structure to the first location;
advancing an elongated guide member along and through the interior of the elongated structure such that a distal portion of the elongated guide member is positioned adjacent the first location;
providing a surgical access opening in the patient adjacent one of the first and second locations;
moving the distal portion of the elongated guide member into the tubular body structure by piercing the tubular body structure at the second location;
passing the graft along the lumen of the tubular body structure and over the elongated guide member, through the wall at one of the first and second locations to the other of the locations; and
attaching axially spaced portions of the graft to the tubular body structure adjacent the first and second locations. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32-49. -49. (canceled)
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50. A method for installing a tubular graft between first and second spaced locations in a patient'"'"'s tubular body structure comprising:
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providing an aperture through a wall of the tubular body structure at the first location with a distal portion of an elongated structure inserted into and along a lumen of the tubular body structure to the first location;
providing a surgical access opening in the patient adjacent one of the first and second locations;
inserting the graft through the surgical access opening;
moving a first end portion of the graft to the first location;
moving a second end portion of the graft to the second location; and
attaching axially spaced portions of the graft to the tubular body structure adjacent the first and second locations. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66-75. -75. (canceled)
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76. A method of providing a tubular connection between a patient'"'"'s first tubular body conduit and a second tubular body conduit via an aperture in a side wall of the second tubular body conduit, comprising the steps of:
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providing a surgical access opening in the patient adjacent the aperture;
providing an annular cut in the first conduit, thereby forming a free end portion thereof;
inserting an elongated structure into and axially along the first conduit such that a distal portion extends to the free end portion of the first conduit;
providing an aperture in the side wall of the second tubular body conduit;
advancing the distal portion of the elongated structure to the second tubular body conduit adjacent the aperture in the side wall thereof;
attaching a connector to the end portion of the first conduit;
shifting the free end portion of the first conduit and the connector to a new location in the patient'"'"'s body adjacent the aperture in the second conduit with instrumentation inserted in the surgical access opening; and
attaching the end portion of the first conduit to the aperture of the second conduit with the connector. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80)
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Specification