Apparatus and methods for fluid occlusion of an access tube anastomosed to an anatomical vessel
First Claim
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1. A method for repeatedly accessing a body fluid such as blood in an anatomical vessel, comprising:
- obtaining an access tube having an access end and an anastomosis end with a conduit extending from the access end to the anastomosis end;
anastomosing the anastomosis end of the access tube to a side of an anatomical vessel;
occluding the conduit of the access tube with a fluid in direct contact with the access tube to act as a fluid occluder which is exposed to the body fluid,wherein the conduit has a perimeter which enables the surface tension of the fluid occluder to prevent intermixing of the fluid occluder and the body fluid along the entire length of the conduit until occlusion is no longer needed;
wherein the fluid occluder has at least one properly, which in cooperation with the perimeter of the conduit, enables a sufficient amount of the fluid occluder to remain in the conduit such that the body fluid is prevented from extending into the entire length of the conduit until occlusion is no longer needed; and
removing the fluid occluder from the access tube to provide fluid communication between the lumen of the vessel and the conduit of the access tube.
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Abstract
The invention provides a vascular access system and methods for facilitating long-term, repeated access to any of a patient'"'"'s vascular systems. This is provided by an access tube apparatus adapted for anastomosis to an anatomical vessel. The access tube is occluded with an fluid occluder that fits within the conduit of the access tube in between treatments or when vascular access is otherwise not needed. When such access is desired, the fluid occluder is withdrawn from the access tube and the body fluid is accessed through the access tube.
133 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method for repeatedly accessing a body fluid such as blood in an anatomical vessel, comprising:
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obtaining an access tube having an access end and an anastomosis end with a conduit extending from the access end to the anastomosis end; anastomosing the anastomosis end of the access tube to a side of an anatomical vessel; occluding the conduit of the access tube with a fluid in direct contact with the access tube to act as a fluid occluder which is exposed to the body fluid, wherein the conduit has a perimeter which enables the surface tension of the fluid occluder to prevent intermixing of the fluid occluder and the body fluid along the entire length of the conduit until occlusion is no longer needed; wherein the fluid occluder has at least one properly, which in cooperation with the perimeter of the conduit, enables a sufficient amount of the fluid occluder to remain in the conduit such that the body fluid is prevented from extending into the entire length of the conduit until occlusion is no longer needed; and removing the fluid occluder from the access tube to provide fluid communication between the lumen of the vessel and the conduit of the access tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for facilitating repeated percutaneous access to a body fluid such as blood in an anatomical vessel, comprising:
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a fluid occluder; an access tube having an access end and an anastomosis end with a conduit extending from the access end to the anastomosis end, wherein the anastomosis end is configured to be attached to a side of an anatomical vessel; and a port coupled to the access tube, wherein the port is configured to allow the fluid occluder to be inserted into the access tube such that the fluid occluder is not contained in another structure, such that said fluid occluder is in direct contact with the access tube, and such that the access tube becomes occluded at its anastomosis end after a sufficient volume of fluid occluder has been inserted into the access tube to contact the body fluid;
wherein the fluid occluder has at least one property which in cooperation with the perimeter of the conduit enables a sufficient amount of the fluid occluder to remain in the conduit such that the body fluid is prevented from extending into the entire length of the conduit until occlusion is no longer needed. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for facilitating repeated percutaneous access to a body fluid such as blood in an anatomical vessel, comprising:
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access tube means for accessing an anastomosed vessel, wherein the access tube means has an access end opposite from an anastomosis end with a conduit extending from the access end to the anastomosis end; fluid occluding means for occluding the access tube means; and port means for accessing the access tube means, wherein the port means is configured to allow the fluid occluding means to be inserted into the access tube means such that the fluid occluding means is in direct contact with the access tube means and the access tube means becomes occluded at its anastomosis end after a sufficient volume of fluid occluding means has been inserted into the access tube means to contact the body fluid;
wherein the fluid occluding means has at least one property, which in cooperation with the perimeter of the conduit, enables a sufficient amount of the fluid occluding means to remain in the conduit such that the body fluid is prevented from extending into the entire length of the conduit until occlusion is no longer needed. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification