Apparatus and methods for providing selectively adjustable blood flow through a vascular graft
First Claim
1. Apparatus for adjusting blood flow within a vascular graft, the vascular graft being formed of a compliant material having an exterior surface and a cross-section, the apparatus comprising:
- a balloon disposed against the exterior surface of the vascular graft;
a sheath disposed around the balloon and the vascular graft, the sheath being substantially less compliant than the vascular graft, the sheath having a portion forming an aperture adjacent to the balloon;
a first subcutaneously implantable access port; and
a substantially non-distendable lumen disposed through the aperture in the sheath to provide fluid communication between the balloon and the first subcutaneously implantable access port;
wherein inflation of the balloon to constrict the vascular graft causes substantially no crimping or infolding of the compliant material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for adjusting blood flow through a graft is provided comprising a balloon disposed against the exterior surface of the graft by a substantially rigid sheath, so that when the balloon is inflated with an inflation medium it causes constriction of blood flow through the graft without creating potentially thrombogenic crimps or infolds in the graft material. The balloon is adjusted by connecting an infusion device to a subcutaneously implanted balloon access port. A pair of ultrasonic elements may be optionally provided to measure blood flow through the graft and to optimize the extent of constriction of the graft. Electrical connection between the ultrasonic elements and external ultrasound processing circuitry is established via a subcutaneously implanted electrical access port that enables multiple electrical connections to be made using a single needle stick.
154 Citations
6 Claims
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1. Apparatus for adjusting blood flow within a vascular graft, the vascular graft being formed of a compliant material having an exterior surface and a cross-section, the apparatus comprising:
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a balloon disposed against the exterior surface of the vascular graft; a sheath disposed around the balloon and the vascular graft, the sheath being substantially less compliant than the vascular graft, the sheath having a portion forming an aperture adjacent to the balloon; a first subcutaneously implantable access port; and a substantially non-distendable lumen disposed through the aperture in the sheath to provide fluid communication between the balloon and the first subcutaneously implantable access port; wherein inflation of the balloon to constrict the vascular graft causes substantially no crimping or infolding of the compliant material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification