Method and apparatus for monitoring the patency of vascular grafts
First Claim
1. Implantable flow meter apparatus for monitoring vascular graft patency comprising:
- (a) at least one ring member for surrounding a blood vessel graft intermediate its ends, said at least one ring member supporting transducer means thereon to define an axis extending internal of said blood vessel graft when said at least one ring member is installed on said blood vessel graft;
(b) implantable electrical means positionable subcutaneously at a predetermined access site displaced from said one at least one ring member;
(c) conductor means coupling said transducer means to said electrical means; and
(d) barrier patch means having an area much greater than the cross-sectional area of said conductor means, said conductor means passing generally through the center of said patch means for inhibiting passage of infection producing organisms from said access site along said conductor means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implanted flow meter device for monitoring blood flow through a vascular graft is described. At the time that the vascular graft is implanted, a ring-like clip having Doppler crystal transducers mounted thereon is made to surround the graft with the acoustic axis of the transducers being generally longitudinally and internally directed relative to the graft. At the same time, an electrical plug-type connector is subcutaneously implanted at a desirable access site and electrical conductors connect terminals on that plug to the Doppler crystal transducers. When a blood flow reading is desired, a small incision can be made at the implant site to provide access to the plug-type connector, allowing a Doppler transmitter/receiver to be connected to that transducers via the plug connection.
232 Citations
15 Claims
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1. Implantable flow meter apparatus for monitoring vascular graft patency comprising:
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(a) at least one ring member for surrounding a blood vessel graft intermediate its ends, said at least one ring member supporting transducer means thereon to define an axis extending internal of said blood vessel graft when said at least one ring member is installed on said blood vessel graft; (b) implantable electrical means positionable subcutaneously at a predetermined access site displaced from said one at least one ring member; (c) conductor means coupling said transducer means to said electrical means; and (d) barrier patch means having an area much greater than the cross-sectional area of said conductor means, said conductor means passing generally through the center of said patch means for inhibiting passage of infection producing organisms from said access site along said conductor means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Implantable Doppler flow meter apparatus for monitoring potency of coronary artery bypass grafts post surgery, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of ring members equal in numbers to the number of grafts to be placed on the heart for individually surrounding said grafts intermediate their ends, each of said ring members supporting Doppler crystal transducing means thereon to define an acoustic axis extending generally longitudinally and internally of the artery bypass graft with which it becomes associated; (b) an implantable connector means having a plurality of contacts, said connector means being positionable subcutaneously at a predetermined access site remote from said ring members; (c) conductor means coupling said Doppler crystal transducing means to said contacts of said connector means; and (d) infection barrier patch means having an area much greater than the cross-sectional area of said conductor means, said conductor means passing generally centrally through said patch means at a point between said connector means and said transducing means for preventing infection producing organisms from migrating along said conductor means to the site of said ring members. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification