Dialysis valve and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An implantable dialysis valve for fluid connection between an artery and a vein, comprising:
- an implantable tube to convey blood from an arterial connection end to a venous connection end, the tube extending for a longitudinal length;
an actuation port to receive a fluid through a self-sealing membrane for adjustment of the longitudinal length of the tube; and
a hydraulically actuated bellows in fluid communication with the actuation port so as to adjust from a first length to a second length when the fluid is received through the membrane in the actuation port, the bellows being coupled with the tube so that when the bellows adjusts from the first length to the second length, the tube contemporaneously increases in longitudinal length and decreases in diameter at a narrowed portion, wherein the narrowest portion of the tube decreases in diameter while not fully closing.
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Abstract
A dialysis valve includes a tube attached between an artery and a vein which, when elongated, simultaneously narrows in diameter at at least one location. The narrowed portion of the tube decreases the volume and velocity between the arterial and venous side of the patient to prevent damage or intimal hyperplasia on the venous side between dialysis treatments. When the valve is opened for dialysis, an unrestricted blood flow exists between the arterial and venous side, permitting a controlled, open blood flow during dialysis.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An implantable dialysis valve for fluid connection between an artery and a vein, comprising:
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an implantable tube to convey blood from an arterial connection end to a venous connection end, the tube extending for a longitudinal length; an actuation port to receive a fluid through a self-sealing membrane for adjustment of the longitudinal length of the tube; and a hydraulically actuated bellows in fluid communication with the actuation port so as to adjust from a first length to a second length when the fluid is received through the membrane in the actuation port, the bellows being coupled with the tube so that when the bellows adjusts from the first length to the second length, the tube contemporaneously increases in longitudinal length and decreases in diameter at a narrowed portion, wherein the narrowest portion of the tube decreases in diameter while not fully closing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An implantable dialysis valve for fluid connection between an artery and a vein, comprising:
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an implantable housing sized to fit between an artery and a vein; an arterial fistula graft connected with the housing to attach with the artery when the housing is implanted; a venous fistula graft connected with the housing to attach with the vein when the housing is implanted; an adjustable tube arranged in the implantable housing to convey blood from the arterial fistula graft to the venous fistula graft, the tube extending for a longitudinal length and defining an inner surface that is substantially smooth and is coated with an anti-thrombogenic coating, wherein the tube comprises a braided nitinol structure having an elastomeric coating; an actuator to selectively adjust from a first length to a second length in response to fluid or electric control, the actuator being coupled with the tube so that when the actuator adjusts from the first length to the second length, the tube contemporaneously increases in longitudinal length and decreases in diameter at a narrowed portion. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of controlling blood flow between and during dialysis treatments, comprising:
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a. implanting a dialysis valve comprising a tube between a patient'"'"'s vein and an artery, the tube operable to convey fluids and defining a longitudinal dimension, a diameter and an inner surface, wherein the dialysis valve further comprises a bellows capable of being held at varying lengths, the bellows defining an interior chamber wherein the tube is mounted in the chamber so that when the bellows adjustably increases in length, the tube simultaneously increases in longitudinal dimension and at least a portion of the tube decreases in diameter; b. narrowing the diameter of the tube in an adjustable manner between dialysis treatments at at least one location along the longitudinal dimension, wherein the diameter of the tube is narrowed while not fully closing the diameter to thereby provide blood flow through the tube between dialysis treatments; and c. opening the diameter of the tube at the narrowed location by adjustably changing the longitudinal dimension of the tube to conduct a dialysis treatment, wherein the diameter of the tube is opened to thereby provide increased blood flow through the tube during the dialysis treatment. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification