ARTERIOVENOUS SHUNT

• US 3,882,862 A
• Filed: 01/11/1974
• Issued: 05/13/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ING Limited (ANZ Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Olga Berend
• Inventors: Berend, Olga
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US05/432,462
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 128/214R,214.2,334C,348,35R 138/39 73/202
• US Class Current: 604/8
• 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: A61M 1/3655 Arterio-venous shunts or fistulae

Abstract

An arteriovenous shunt is provided which utilizes Venturi principles to provide a turbulent-free blood flow of virtually constant velocity through the shunt for hemodialysis, or other purposes. The embodiment to be described uses inlet and outlet cuffs which are sown to a severed artery and to a severed vein respectively, so as to receive blood from the artery and return the blood to the vein. Venturi tubes are coupled to the cuffs, and associated tubing completes the shunt. The Venturi tubes are located adjacent the inlet and outlet cuffs to provide turbulence-free blood flow at both ends of the shunt, thereby preventing clotting of the blood, and permitting the shunt to be used for extended periods of time.

Claims

1. An arteriovenous shunt for hemodialysis patients, and the like, comprising:

elongated tubular means having an entrance end and an exit end creating a fluid-circulating path between the entrance end and the exit end;

an elongated tube having one end attached to the entrance end of said elongated tubular means and having an inner surface flared outwardly from the other end thereof towards said one end to create a Venturi effect and thereby prevent turbulence in the fluid circulating therethrough; and

a flexible tubular cuff having one end attached to the other end of said elongated tube and having an outwardly flared opposite end to be sutured to a severed duct in the body of the patient.

2. The arteriovenous shunt defined in claim 1, in which said tubular means is formed of flexible silastic tubing and said tube is formed of hard silastic material, and in which said cuff is formed of a plastice fabric material.

3. The arteriovenous shunt defined in claim 1, and which includes a second elongated tube having one end connected to the exit end of said tubular means, and having an inner surface flared outwardly toward the other end thereof to create a Venturi effect and thereby prevent turbulence in the fluid circulating therethrough.

4. The arteriovenous shunt defined in claim 1, in which said tubular means comprises a first tubular member and a second tubular member, and separable connector means intercoupling said first and second tubular members.

5. The arteriovenous shunt defined in claim 1, and which includes at least one outlet formed in said tubular means.