Connector for small conduits

• US 6,277,133 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2000
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Uni-Cath, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Uni-Cath, Inc.
• Inventors: Kanesaka, Nozomu
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US09/527,821
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151-154
• US Class Current: 606/153
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1107 for blood vessels

Abstract

A connector of the invention is used to easily connect small conduits, such as blood vessel. The connector is formed of an elongated hollow support member to be located inside the small conduits, and a holding device disposed outside the support member for holding the small conduits together with the support member. The holding device includes cylindrical portions, which are disposed outside the support member and shrinkable when a radially inward force is applied, and a plurality of connecting portions situated between the cylindrical portions and extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical portions. The connecting portions are bent and disposed over one of the cylindrical portions when the holding device holds the small conduits at the cylindrical portions.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting small conduits, comprising:

an elongated hollow support member adapted to be located inside the small conduits so that end portions of the small conduits are disposed over the support member, and

a holding device disposed outside the support member for holding the small conduits together with the support member, said holding device including cylindrical portions to be disposed outside the support member and being shrinkable when a radially inward force is applied, and a plurality of connecting portions situated between the cylindrical portions and extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical portions, said connecting portions being bent and disposed over at least one of the cylindrical portions when the holding device holds the small conduits between the cylindrical portions and the support member.

2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein each cylindrical portion includes a plurality of first elongated members to form a cylindrical net, at least a part of the first elongated members being bent when the radially inward force is applied.

3. A connector according to claim 2, wherein said support member includes a plurality of second elongated members to form a cylindrical net, said second elongated members being arranged so that the second elongated members do not substantially bend when the radially inward force is applied.

4. A connector according to claim 2, wherein each connecting portion is formed of two legs connected to the cylindrical portions, and a pre-bent portion situated between the two legs.

5. A connector according to claim 4, wherein portions of the legs connected to the cylindrical portions in each connecting portion are situated away from each other when the holding device is prepared, said legs being closely contacted to each other when the connecting portion is disposed over at least one of the cylindrical portions.

6. A connector according to claim 5, wherein one of the connecting portions is disposed over one of the cylindrical portions, and another of the connecting portions is disposed over the other of the cylindrical portions to prevent separation of the cylindrical portions.

7. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said cylindrical portions have a plurality of projections at inner surfaces thereof to grip the small conduits.