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Catheter apparatus and method for creating a vascular bypass in-vivo

  • US 5,676,670 A
  • Filed: 06/14/1996
  • Issued: 10/14/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A catheter apparatus for creating a vascular bypass on-demand between an unobstructed blood vessel and an obstructed blood vessel in-vivo using a previously excised vascular segment as a conduit, said vascular bypass catheter apparatus comprising:

  • a catheter suitable for introduction into and extension through the body in-vivo, said catheter being comprised of(a) a hollow tube of fixed axial length having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one internal lumen of predetermined diameter, and(b) a distal end tip adapted for guidance of said catheter in-vivo to a chose site wherein an unobstructed blood vessel is in anatomic proximity to an obstruction lying within another blood vessel;

    an obturator for on-demand introduction and passage through said catheter to a chosen site on the unobstructed blood vessel in-vivo, said obturator comprising(1) an expandable and contractible puncturing headpiece for puncture of and entry into the lumen of an unobstructed blood vessel, said puncturing headpiece being expandable on-demand to a size greater than the diameter of said internal lumen of said catheter and being contractible on-demand to a size less than the diameter of said internal lumen of said catheter,(2) a perforating end tip on said puncturing headpiece to facilitate the perforation of a blood vessel wall at the chosen vascular site in-vivo(3) an elongated shaft of fixed axial length integrated with said puncturing headpiece, said elongated shaft being configured for the carrying and transport of the previously excised vascular segment with said internal lumen of said catheter to the chosen site on the unobstructed blood vessel in-vivo,(4) means for expanding and contracting said puncturing headpiece of said obturator on-demand; and

    a deformable cuff for positioning over said elongated shaft adjacent to said puncturing headpiece of said obturator together with a previously excised vascular segment(i) wherein, prior to the perforation of the unobstructed blood vessel in-vivo by said puncturing headpiece of said obturator, at least a portion of said deformable cuff has been engaged and joined to one end of the excised vascular segment then carried by said elongated shaft of said obturator,(ii) and wherein, after the perforation of the unobstructed blood vessel in-vivo by said puncturing headpiece of said obturator, at least part of said engaged cuff is extended into the lumen of the unobstructed blood vessel, is partially deformed in-situ by an expansion of said puncturing headpiece of said obturator, and said engaged cuff becomes attached via said partial deformation to the interior of the unobstructed blood vessel,(iii) and whereby said cuff engaged one end of the previously excised vascular segment become secured to and placed in blood flow communication with the unobstructed blood vessel and serves as vascular conduit means for bypassing an obstruction and restoring blood flow from the unobstructed blood vessel to the obstructed blood vessel.

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