Connector for hollow anatomical structures and methods of use
First Claim
1. A method for attaching a connector, comprising an annular rigid body and multiple holding members affixed to said annular body along its opening, to a hollow anatomical structure having an opening, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) selecting a connector with an opening of said annular body that corresponds to said opening of said anatomical structure;
(b) adjoining said connector to said anatomical structure in a manner that said opening of said annular body is aligned with said opening of said anatomical structure; and
(c) deforming said holding members of said connector in a manner that the deformed holding members protrude into said opening of said anatomical structure and press said anatomical structure towards said annular body of said connector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Connector and methods for attachment to hollow anatomical structures. The connector consists of an annular rigid body and multiple holding members affixed along its opening. The opening and the inner surface and of the annular body correspond respectively to the opening and the external surface of a hollow anatomical structure. The holding members are deformed by an applied force in a manner that the deformed holding members protrude into the opening of the hollow structure and press it towards the annular rigid body, thus attaching the connector to the hollow anatomical structure. Various embodiments of connectors and methods are provided for attaching the connectors to hollow anatomical structures with different external surfaces.
493 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for attaching a connector, comprising an annular rigid body and multiple holding members affixed to said annular body along its opening, to a hollow anatomical structure having an opening, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) selecting a connector with an opening of said annular body that corresponds to said opening of said anatomical structure; (b) adjoining said connector to said anatomical structure in a manner that said opening of said annular body is aligned with said opening of said anatomical structure; and (c) deforming said holding members of said connector in a manner that the deformed holding members protrude into said opening of said anatomical structure and press said anatomical structure towards said annular body of said connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of attaching a rigid connector to a hollow anatomical structure for the purpose of joining two hollow structures without deforming them by a pair of coupling connectors attached to them, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a rigid connector comprising an annular body with an inner surface conforming to an external surface surrounding an opening of a hollow anatomical structure and multiple holding members affixed to said inner surface of said annular body; (b) positioning said connector over said hollow anatomical structure so said annular body is aligned with said opening of said anatomical structure and said inner surface of said annular body is adjoined to said external surface of said anatomical structure without deforming said anatomical structure; and (c) affixing said connector to said anatomical structure by deforming said holding members so the deformed holding members press said hollow anatomical structure towards said annular body. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method of joining two hollow anatomical structures without deforming them by a pair of connectors attached to them, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a pair of first and second connectors equipped with means for coupling, said first connector comprising an annular body with an inner surface conforming to an external surface surrounding an opening of a first hollow anatomical structure, and multiple holding members affixed to said inner surface of said annular body of said first connector, said second connector comprising an annular body with an inner surface conforming to an external surface surrounding an opening of a second anatomical structure, and multiple holding members affixed to said inner surface of said annular body of said second connector; (a) attaching said first connector to said first anatomical structure by adjoining said first connector to said first anatomical structure and by deforming said holding members of said first connector so the deformed holding members press said first anatomical structure towards said annular body of said first connector; (b) attaching said second connector to said second anatomical structure by adjoining said second connector to said second anatomical structure and by deforming said holding members of said second connector so the deformed holding members press said second anatomical structure towards said annular body of said second connector; and (c) joining the two anatomical structures by coupling the two connectors attached to them. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A pair of two rigid connectors for joining two hollow anatomical structures without deforming them, each connector of said pair comprising:
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(a) an annular body forming an opening that corresponds to an opening of a hollow anatomical structure, said annular body with a microporous inner surface conforming to an external surface surrounding said opening of said hollow anatomical structure so said inner surface can be adjoined to said external surface without deforming said anatomical structure; (b) a plurality of holding members affixed to said inner surface along said opening of said annular body, said holding members capable of being deformed in a manner that the deformed holding members press said hollow anatomical structure towards said annular body; and (c) means for coupling with the other connector of said pair. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A pair of two rigid connectors for joining two hollow anatomical structures without deforming them, each connector of said pair comprising:
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(a) an annular rigid body with an inner surface conforming to an external surface surrounding an opening of a hollow anatomical structure so said inner surface can be adjoined to said external surface without deforming said anatomical structure; (b) a plurality of holding members affixed to said inner surface of said annular body, said holding members capable of being deformed in a manner that the deformed holding members press said hollow anatomical structure towards said annular body, and (c) means for coupling with the other connector of said pair. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. An anastomosing device for joining two hollow anatomical structures without deforming them, said anastomosing device comprising:
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(a) a first rigid connector comprising an annular body with an inner surface conforming to an external surface surrounding an opening of a first hollow anatomical structure so said inner surface can be adjoined to said external surface without deforming said anatomical structure and a plurality of holding members affixed to said inner surface of said annular body, said holding members capable of pressing said first hollow anatomical structure towards said annular body of said first connector; and (b) means for accomplishing a fluid-tight coupling of said first connector with a corresponding second connector, said second connector being attached to a second hollow anatomical structure without deforming said second anatomical structure. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification