Smart textile vascular graft

• US 7,318,838 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2004
• Issued: 01/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lifeshield Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Henderson, Jamie
• Primary Examiner(s): Gherbi; Suzette
• Application Number:
  US11/026,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20060147487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 623 111- 154, 606/505, 606/486
• US Class Current: 623/1.34
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/06 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/008 Phase change materials [PCM], e.g. for storing latent heat

Abstract

The smart textile vascular graft is used with an electrical control unit. The vascular graft includes a tube structure formed of a textile material. At least one active fiber is incorporated in the textile material. The active fiber provides electrical coupling thereof to the electrical control unit to provide for transmission of a control signal between the active fiber and control unit. The active fiber has at least one physical characteristic which is variable and corresponds to the control signal to provide communication between the active fiber and electrical control unit relating to the physical characteristic.

Claims

1. A vascular graft for use with an electrical control unit, said vascular graft comprising:

a tube structure formed of a textile material having an inner surface and outer surface; and

an active fiber extending through said textile material to said inner surface and outer surface, said active fiber providing electrical coupling thereof to the electrical control unit to provide for transmission of a control signal between said active fiber and the control unit, said active fiber having at least one physical characteristic which is variable and corresponds to the control signal to provide communication between said active fiber and the electrical control unit relating to said physical characteristic, said extension of said active fiber to said inner surface and outer surface providing for said control signal to indicate said physical characteristic on said inner surface and outer surface.

2. A vascular graft according to claim 1, wherein said active fiber is formed such that said physical characteristic is in continuous correspondence with said control signal, said transmission of said control signal between said active fiber and the electrical control unit being continuous to provide for continuous communication between said active fiber and the electrical control unit.

3. A vascular graft according to claim 1, wherein said active fiber provides for said physical characteristic comprising a temperature of said active fiber, said control signal being indicative of the temperature such that said electrical coupling of said active fiber to the electrical control unit provides an indication of the temperature to the electrical control unit.

4. A vascular graft according to claim 1, wherein said active fiber is formed such that said physical characteristic comprises a response of said active fiber to a pressure exerted on said active fiber by a fluid or gas to which said active fiber is exposed, said control signal being indicative of said response such that said electrical coupling of said active fiber to the electrical control unit provides an indication of the pressure to the electrical control unit.

5. A vascular graft according to claim 4, wherein said active fiber comprises a pressure transducer.

6. A vascular graft according to claim 1, wherein said active fiber is formed such that said physical characteristic comprises a longitudinal dimension of at least a portion of said active fiber, said control signal being indicative of said longitudinal dimension such that said electrical coupling of said active fiber to the electrical control unit provides an indication of said longitudinal dimension to the electrical control unit.

7. A vascular graft according to claim 6, wherein said incorporation of said active fiber in said textile material of said tube structure provides for the anchoring of said active fiber to a portion of said tube structure which adjoins said active fiber such that said longitudinal dimension of said active fiber corresponds to a dimension of said portion of said tube structure.

8. A vascular graft according to claim 6, wherein said active fiber comprises a strain gauge.

9. A vascular graft according to claim 6, wherein said tube structure has a transverse plane in which said active fiber is contained such that a change in said dimension indicates a transverse deformation of said tube structure.

10. A vascular graft according to claim 6, wherein said active fiber has opposite ends which are located at longitudinal positions along said tube structure, said longitudinal positions differing from one another such that a change in said dimension indicates a longitudinal deformation of said tube structure.

11. A vascular graft according to claim 1, wherein said active fiber is formed such that said physical characteristic comprises a response of said active fiber to a stimuli to which said active fiber is exposed, said control signal being indicative of said response such that said electrical coupling of said active fiber to the electrical control unit provides an indication of the stimuli to the electrical control unit.

12. A vascular graft according to claim 11, wherein said active fiber comprises a fiber optic element such that said response of said active fiber comprises the response of said active fiber to optical signals received by said fiber optic element, said response providing an indication of the optical signals to the electrical control unit.

13. A vascular graft according to claim 1, wherein said active fiber is formed such that said physical characteristic comprises a degree of transmission of an identifier signal directed to said active fiber, said tube structure being partially or completely transparent to the identifier signal, the electrical control unit having a signal generator for directing the identifier signal to said active fiber, the electrical control unit having a signal receiver for sensing the condition of the identifier signal following contact thereof with said tube structure, the sensing by the signal receiver indicating whether the identifier signal contacted said active fiber which provides information relating to the location of said active fiber relative to the signal generator and receiver.

14. A vascular graft for use with an electrical control unit, said vascular graft comprising:

a tube structure formed of a textile material; and

an active fiber incorporated in said textile material, said active fiber providing electrical coupling thereof to the electrical control unit to provide for transmission of a control signal between said active fiber and the control unit, said active fiber having at least one physical characteristic which is variable and corresponds to the control signal to provide communication between said active fiber and the electrical control unit relating to said physical characteristic,

wherein said active fiber provides for said physical characteristic comprising a temperature of said active fiber, said control signal being indicative of the temperature such that said electrical coupling of said active fiber to the electrical control unit provides an indication of the temperature to the electrical control unit,

said active fiber comprising a thermocouple.

15. A vascular graft for use with an electrical control unit, said vascular graft comprising:

a tube structure formed of a textile material; and

an active fiber incorporated in said textile material, said active fiber providing electrical coupling thereof to the electrical control unit to provide for transmission of a control signal between said active fiber and the control unit, said active fiber having at least one physical characteristic which is variable and corresponds to the control signal to provide communication between said active fiber and the electrical control unit relating to said physical characteristic,

wherein said active fiber provides for said physical characteristic comprising a temperature of said active fiber, said control signal being indicative of the temperature such that said electrical coupling of said active fiber to the electrical control unit provides an indication of the temperature to the electrical control unit,

said incorporation of said active fiber in said textile material of said tube structure providing for thermal conductivity between said active fiber and a portion of said tube structure which adjoins said active fiber such that said temperature of said active fiber corresponds to a temperature of said portion of said tube structure.

16. A vascular graft for use with an electrical control unit, said vascular graft comprising:

a tube structure formed of a textile material; and

an active fiber incorporated in said textile material, said active fiber providing electrical coupling thereof to the electrical control unit to provide for transmission of a control signal between said active fiber and the control unit, said active fiber having a physical hardness which is variable and corresponds to said control signal such that said electrical coupling of said active fiber to the electrical control unit provides for variation of said physical hardness by adjustment of said control signal by the electrical control unit.

17. A vascular graft according to claim 16, wherein said adjustment of said control signal provides for an increase in said physical hardness.

18. A vascular graft for use with an electrical control unit, said vascular graft comprising:

a tube structure formed of a textile material; and

an active fiber incorporated in said textile material, said active fiber providing electrical coupling thereof to the electrical control unit to provide for transmission of a control signal between said active fiber and the control unit, said active fiber having a shape which is variable and corresponds to said control signal such that said electrical coupling of said active fiber to the electrical control unit provides for variation of said shape by adjustment of said control signal by the electrical control unit, said incorporation of said active fiber in said tube structure provides for said variation of said shape of said active fiber to produce a corresponding change in a shape of said tube structure.

19. A vascular graft according to claim 18, wherein said incorporation of said active fiber in said textile material of said tube structure provides for a correspondence between said shape of said active fiber and a shape of a portion of said tube structure which adjoins said active fiber such that a change in said shape of said active fiber produces a corresponding change in said shape of said portion of said tube structure.

20. A vascular graft for use with an electrical control unit, said vascular graft comprising:

a tube structure formed of a textile material; and

an active fiber incorporated in said textile material, said active fiber providing electrical coupling thereof to the electrical control unit to provide for transmission of a control signal between said active fiber and the control unit, said active fiber having at least one physical characteristic which is variable and corresponds to the control signal to provide communication between said active fiber and the electrical control unit relating to said physical characteristic,

wherein said active fiber is formed such that said physical characteristic comprises a degree of transmission of an identifier signal directed to said active fiber, said tube structure being partially or completely transparent to the identifier signal, the electrical control unit having a signal generator for directing the identifier signal to said active fiber, the electrical control unit having a signal receiver for sensing the condition of the identifier signal following contact thereof with said tube structure, the sensing by the signal receiver indicating whether the identifier signal contacted said active fiber which provides information relating to the location of said active fiber relative to the signal generator and receiver,

said physical characteristic comprising an opacity to the identifier signal directed to said active fiber such that transmission of the identifier signal through said active fiber is obstructed.

21. A vascular graft for use with an electrical control unit, said vascular graft comprising:

a tube structure formed of a textile material; and

an active fiber incorporated in said textile material, said active fiber providing electrical coupling thereof to the electrical control unit to provide for transmission of a control signal between said active fiber and the control unit, said active fiber having at least one physical characteristic which is variable and corresponds to the control signal to provide communication between said active fiber and the electrical control unit relating to said physical characteristic,

wherein said active fiber is formed such that said physical characteristic comprises a degree of transmission of an identifier signal directed to said active fiber, said tube structure being partially or completely transparent to the identifier signal, the electrical control unit having a signal generator for directing the identifier signal to said active fiber, the electrical control unit having a signal receiver for sensing the condition of the identifier signal following contact thereof with said tube structure, the sensing by the signal receiver indicating whether the identifier signal contacted said active fiber which provides information relating to the location of said active fiber relative to the signal generator and receiver,

said physical characteristic comprising interference with the identifier signal directed to said active fiber such that the identifier signal is altered by contact with said active fiber.

22. A vascular graft for use with an electrical control unit, said vascular graft comprising:

a tube structure formed of a textile material; and

an active fiber incorporated in said textile material, said active fiber providing electrical coupling thereof to the electrical control unit to provide for transmission of a control signal between said active fiber and the control unit, said active fiber having at least one physical characteristic which is variable and corresponds to the control signal to provide communication between said active fiber and the electrical control unit relating to said physical characteristic,

wherein said active fiber is formed such that said physical characteristic comprises a degree of transmission of an identifier signal directed to said active fiber, said tube structure being partially or completely transparent to the identifier signal, the electrical control unit having a signal generator for directing the identifier signal to said active fiber, the electrical control unit having a signal receiver for sensing the condition of the identifier signal following contact thereof with said tube structure, the sensing by the signal receiver indicating whether the identifier signal contacted said active fiber which provides information relating to the location of said active fiber relative to the signal generator and receiver,

said physical characteristic comprising a reluctance to the identifier signal directed to said active fiber such that the identifier signal is reflected from said active fiber.

23. A vascular graft for use with an electrical control unit, said vascular graft comprising:

a tube structure formed of a textile material; and

an active fiber incorporated in said textile material, said active fiber providing electrical coupling thereof to the electrical control unit to provide for transmission of a control signal between said active fiber and the control unit, said active fiber having at least one physical characteristic which is variable and corresponds to the control signal to provide communication between said active fiber and the electrical control unit relating to said physical characteristic;

said vascular graft further comprising a plurality of active fibers incorporated in said textile material, each said active fiber providing electrical coupling thereof to the electrical control unit to provide for transmission of a control signal between said active fibers and the control unit, said active fibers having at least one physical characteristic which is variable and corresponds to the control signal to provide communication between said active fibers and the electrical control unit relating to said physical characteristic.