Medical grafting methods
First Claim
1. The method for forming a tubular graft connection between first and second sections of a patient'"'"'s existing tubular body organ structure comprising the steps of:
- passing a length of graft tubing axially along an interior lumen of a portion of said existing structure to place a first end portion of said length of qraft tubing inside said first section of said existing structure;
causing said first end portion of said length of graft tubing to emerge from inside to outside of said first section of said existing structure via an aperture in a wall of said first section;
extending said first end portion of said length of graft tubing outside of said existing structure to an aperture in a wall of said second section of said existing structure;
securing said first end portion of said length of graft tubing to said second section of said existing structure; and
securing a portion of said length of graft tubing which is axially spaced from said first end portion to said first section of said existing structure.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
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 delivered to and installed at the operative site primarily by working through the patient'"'"'s existing tubular body organ structure. This avoids the need for any significant surgery on the patient. The artificial grafts may have shapes other than tubular. Certain procedural and apparatus aspects of the invention have uses other than in connection with grafting in general or tubular grafting in particular.
537 Citations
40 Claims
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1. The method for forming a tubular graft connection between first and second sections of a patient'"'"'s existing tubular body organ structure comprising the steps of:
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passing a length of graft tubing axially along an interior lumen of a portion of said existing structure to place a first end portion of said length of qraft tubing inside said first section of said existing structure; causing said first end portion of said length of graft tubing to emerge from inside to outside of said first section of said existing structure via an aperture in a wall of said first section; extending said first end portion of said length of graft tubing outside of said existing structure to an aperture in a wall of said second section of said existing structure; securing said first end portion of said length of graft tubing to said second section of said existing structure; and securing a portion of said length of graft tubing which is axially spaced from said first end portion to said first section of said existing structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of providing a tubular graft connection between first and second tubular bode organ sections in a patient comprising the steps of:
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inserting a first elongated instrument substantially coaxially into said first tubular body organ section; inserting a second elongated instrument substantially coaxially into said second tubular body organ section; extending a first longitudinal structure from said first instrument so that a distal portion of said first structure passes through a wall of said first tubular body organ section; extending a second longitudinal structure from said second instrument so that a distal portion of said second structure passes through a wall of said second tubular body organ section; interengaging said distal portions of said first and second structures outside of said first and second tubular body organ sections; and extending a length of graft tubing along at least one of said first and second structures so that said length of graft tubing extends between said first and second body organ sections outside of said first and second body organ sections. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification