Medical grafting methods and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method for installing a tubular graft between first and second spaced locations in a patient'"'"'s tubular body structure comprising:
- inserting an elongated structure into and along a lumen of the tubular body structure so that a distal portion of the elongated structure extends to the first location;
using a distal portion of the elongated structure to make a first aperture through the tubular body structure at the first location;
extending a distal portion of the elongated structure out of the first aperture and to the second location;
using a distal portion of the elongated structure to make a second aperture through the tubular body structure at the second location;
passing the graft along a lumen of the tubular body structure and then out one of said apertures to the other of said apertures; and
attaching axially spaced portions of the graft to the tubular body structure adjacent the first and second locations.
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.
200 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for installing a tubular graft between first and second spaced locations in a patient'"'"'s tubular body structure comprising:
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inserting an elongated structure into and along a lumen of the tubular body structure so that a distal portion of the elongated structure extends to the first location; using a distal portion of the elongated structure to make a first aperture through the tubular body structure at the first location; extending a distal portion of the elongated structure out of the first aperture and to the second location; using a distal portion of the elongated structure to make a second aperture through the tubular body structure at the second location; passing the graft along a lumen of the tubular body structure and then out one of said apertures to the other of said apertures; and attaching axially spaced portions of the graft to the tubular body structure adjacent the first and second locations. - 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)
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Specification