Devices and methods for performing a vascular anastomosis

• US 6,491,705 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2001
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Heartport, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Heartport, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Gifford, Hanson S. III, Stein, Jeffrey A., Bolduc, Lee R., Costa, Peter F., Holmes, William A., DiCesare, Paul C.
• Primary Examiner(s): REIP, DAVID OWEN
• Application Number:
  US09/915,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20010047179A1
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151-155, 606/213, 606/219, 606/220
• US Class Current: 606/153
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12036 partial occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12045 double occlusion, e.g. during anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1135 End-to-side connections, e.g. T- or Y-connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12127 Double occlusion, e.g. for creating blood-free anastomosis site
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol

Abstract

A system for performing an end-to-side vascular anastomosis, including an anastomosis device, an application instrument and methods for performing a vascular anastomosis. The system is applicable for performing an anastomosis between a vascular graft and the ascending aorta in coronary artery bypass surgery, particularly in port-access CABG surgery. A first aspect of the invention includes a vascular anastomosis staple. A first configuration has two parts: an anchor member, forming the attachment with the target vessel wall and a coupling member, forming the attachment with the bypass graft vessel. The anastomosis is completed by inserting the coupling member, with the graft vessel attached, into the anchor member. A second configuration combines the functions of the anchor member and the coupling member into a one-piece anastomosis staple. A second aspect of the invention includes an anastomotic fitting, having an inner flange over which the graft vessel is everted and an outer flange which contacts the exterior surface of the target vessel. A tailored amount of compression applied by the inner and outer flanges grips the target vessel wall and creates a leak-proof seal between the graft vessel and the target vessel. A third aspect of the invention has a flange to which the graft vessel attaches, by everting the graft vessel over the flange, and a plurality of staple-like members which attach the flange and the everted end of the graft vessel to the wall of the target vessel to form the anastomosis.

Claims

1. A method of performing an anastomosis to connect a graft vessel to a wall of a target vessel such that a lumen in the graft vessel is in fluid communication with a lumen in the target vessel through an opening in the wall of the target vessel, the method comprising:

creating an opening in the wall of the target vessel;

providing an anchor member having a ring-shaped frame configured to encircle the opening in the wall of the target vessel;

attaching the anchor member to the target vessel such that the anchor member encircles the opening in the wall of the target vessel, without everting the wall of the target vessel over the anchor member,

attaching a coupling member to the graft vessel; and

connecting the coupling member to the anchor member so as to hold the coupling member proximate the wall of the target vessel such that the graft vessel is sealingly connected to the wall of the target vessel and the lumen of the graft vessel is in fluid communication with the lumen of the target vessel through the opening in the wall of the target vessel.