Wire connector structures for tubular grafts

• US 6,451,048 B1
• Filed: 02/17/2000
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: St Jude Medical ATG Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: St Jude Medical ATG Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Berg, Todd Allen, Hindrichs, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blanco, Javier G.
• Application Number:
  US09/505,540
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.13, 623/1.14, 623/1.36, 606/153, 604/8
• US Class Current: 623/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/064 with special features to facilitate anastomotic coupling anastomosis of natural blood vessels A61B17/11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/848 having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0008 Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable

Abstract

Connector structures are provided for attaching elongated flexible tubular grafts to the body organ tubing of a patient. The connector structures are formed from wire. A first set of connector wires may be disposed around the periphery of one end of an elongated flexible tubular graft. A second set can be disposed around the periphery of the elongated flexible tubular graft spaced sufficiently from the first set of connector wires to define a gap. The portion of body organ tubing to which the elongated flexible tubular graft is to be attached is received in the gap and engaged by the first and second sets of connector wires. The wires may be formed in the shape of loops. If desired, hooks may be provided on the ends of the wires. The wires may be curved to accommodate attachment of the graft to tubular body organ tubing. The wires may also be formed in annular shapes. The connector structures may be formed as stand-alone ring-shaped connectors. Obliquely-angled connections between grafts and body organ tubing may be made using the connector structures.

Claims

1. A graft structure for attachment to the body organ tubing of a patient, wherein the body organ tubing has a wall, comprising:

an elongated flexible tubular graft having two ends;

a ring member attached to the tubular graft at one end of the two ends of the graft; and

a first plurality of radially self-expandable wires that are disposed around the periphery of one end of the ring member and a second plurality of radially self-expandable wires that are disposed around the periphery of the other end of the ring member, the first and second pluralities of wires being separated by a gap in which a portion of the body organ tubing is engaged between the first and second pluralities of wires thereby connecting the one end of the graft to the wall of the body organ tubing.

2. The graft structure defined in claim 1 wherein the elongated flexible tubular graft is a length of natural body organ tubing.

3. The graft structure defined in claim 1 further comprising:

a second ring member attached to the tubular graft at the end of the two ends of the graft opposite the ring member; and

a first plurality of radially self-expandable wires that are disposed around the periphery of one end of the second ring member and a second plurality of radially self-expandable wires that are disposed around the periphery of the other end of the second ring member, the first and second pluralities of wires being separated by a gap in which a portion of the body organ tubing is engaged between the first and second pluralities of wires thereby connecting the end of the graft to which the second ring member is attached to the wall of the body organ tubing.

4. The graft structure defined in claim 3 wherein:

the portion of the body organ tubing that is engaged between the first and second pluralities of wires of the ring member is a portion of a first body organ tubing; and

the portion of the body organ tubing that is engaged between the first and second pluralities of wires of the second ring member is a portion of a second body organ tubing.

5. The graft structure defined in claim 1 wherein:

the portion of the body organ tubing has a compliance; and

the ring member has a compliance that is substantially similar to the compliance of the portion of the body organ tubing.

6. The graft structure defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second pluralities of wires are disposed around the ends of the ring member and are separated by a gap so that a portion of the body organ tubing is engaged between the first and second pluralities of wires and connects the one end of the graft to the wall of the body organ tubing at an oblique angle.

7. A method for attaching a graft structure to the body organ tubing of a patient, wherein the body organ tubing has a wall, comprising:

attaching a ring member to an elongated flexible tubular graft, wherein;

the elongated flexible tubular graft has two ends;

the ring member is attached at one end of the two ends of the graft; and

a first plurality of radially self-expandable wires are disposed around the periphery of one end of the ring member and a second plurality of radially self-expandable wires are disposed around the periphery of the other end of the ring member;

inserting the ring member and the end of the elongated flexible tubular graft into the wall of the body organ tubing; and

allowing the first and second pluralities of wires to radially self-expand and engage the wall of the portion of the body organ tubing in a space between the first and second plurality of wires, thereby connecting the one end of the graft to the wall of the body organ tubing.

8. The method defined in claim 7 further comprising:

attaching a second ring member at least near the end of the elongated flexible tubular graft opposite the ring member, wherein a first plurality of radially self-expandable wires are disposed around the periphery of one end of the second ring member and a second plurality of radially self-expandable wires are disposed around the periphery of the other end of the second ring member;

inserting the second ring member and end of the elongated flexible tubular graft opposite the ring member into the wall of the body organ tubing; and

allowing the first and second pluralities of wires of the second ring member to radially self-expand and-engage the wall of the portion of the body organ tubing in a space between the first and second plurality of wires, thereby connecting the end of the graft to which the second ring member is attached to the wall of the body organ tubing.

9. The method defined in claim 8 wherein:

the portion of the body organ tubing that is engaged between the first and second pluralities of wires of the ring member is a portion of a first body organ tubing; and

the portion of the body organ tubing that is engaged between the first and second pluralities of wires of the second ring member is a portion of a second body organ tubing.

10. The method defined in claim 7 wherein allowing the first and second pluralities of wires of the ring member to radially self-expand and engage the portion of the body organ tubing in a gap defined by a space defined by the first and second plurality of wires, thereby connecting the end of the graft opposite the ring member to the wall of the body organ tubing comprises connecting the end graft to the wall of the body organ tubing at an oblique angle.

11. A method for providing ring members for attachment to a graft, wherein the graft is part of a graft structure for attachment to the body organ tubing of a patient, wherein the body organ tubing has a wall, comprising:

providing a ring member for attachment to an elongated flexible tubular graft, wherein;

the elongated flexible tubular graft has two ends;

the ring member is attached at one end of the two ends of the graft; and

a first plurality of radially self-expandable wires are disposed around the periphery of one end of the ring member and a second plurality of radially self-expandable wires are disposed around the periphery of the other end of the ring member, wherein the first and second pluralities of wires are configured to radially self-expand and engage the wall of the portion of the body organ tubing in a space between the first and second plurality of wires, thereby connecting the one end of the graft to the wall of the body organ tubing; and

providing the ring member to medical personnel for attachment to the elongated flexible tubular graft structure.

12. A method for configuring a graft structure for attachment to the body organ tubing of a patient, wherein the body organ-tubing has a wall, comprising:

attaching a ring member to an elongated flexible tubular graft, wherein;

the elongated flexible tubular graft has two ends;

the ring member is attached at one end of the two ends of the graft; and

a first plurality of radially self-expandable wires are disposed around the periphery of one end of the ring member and a second plurality of radially self-expandable wires are disposed around the periphery of the other end of the ring member, wherein the first and second pluralities of wires are configured to radially self-expand and engage the wall of the portion of the body organ tubing in a space between the first and second plurality of wires, thereby connecting the one end of the graft to the wall of the body organ tubing; and

providing the ring member and elongated flexible tubular graft structure to medical personnel for attachment to the body organ tubing of the patient.