Vessel sealing devices

• US 8,454,634 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2006
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Jahns, Scott E., Pignato, Paul A., Olig, Christopher P., Montpetit, Karen P., Clague, Cynthia T., Usher, Raymond W., Haarstad, Philip J., Guenst, Gary W., Keogh, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): BACHMAN, LINDSEY MICHELE
• Application Number:
  US11/604,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20070073344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,380 Days
• Field of Search: 606/153, 606/213, 606/215, 606/151, 606154-156, 606/191
• US Class Current: 606/153
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32053 Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695; for use on the cornea A61F9/007
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1107 for blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1135 End-to-side connections, e.g. T- or Y-connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1139 Side-to-side connections, e.g. shunt or X-connections

Abstract

A device for temporarily sealing an opening in a blood vessel is provided. The device comprises a cutting mechanism for creating an opening in a blood vessel and a seal for sealing the opening in the blood vessel. The seal is delivered through an inner lumen of a tool body coupled to the cutting mechanism. Methods for using the device to construct an anastomosis between two vessels are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of constructing an anastomosis between a first vessel and a second vessel comprising:

providing a device comprising an electrode for creating an opening in a vessel and a seal having a plurality of seal members for sealing the opening in the vessel;

positioning the electrode adjacent a wall of the first vessel;

applying sufficient energy to the electrode to form an opening in the first vessel;

delivering the seal into the opening in the first vessel wherein the plurality of seal members are in a stacked first configuration;

rotating a handle coupled to a shaft and to the seal members in a first direction to radially spread the plurality of seal members about an axis of the opening into a fanned-out second configuration to seal the opening;

attaching the second vessel to the first vessel to form the anastomosis;

rotating the handle in a second direction to arrange the plurality of seal members in the stacked first configuration; and

removing the seal from the opening.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first configuration is a low-profile configuration.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second configuration is an expanded-profile configuration.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising delivering one or more fluids to the first vessel while the seal is in a second configuration.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising delivering one or more agents to the first vessel while the seal is in a second configuration.

6. A method of constructing an anastomosis between a first vessel and a second vessel comprising:

providing a sealing assembly comprising a seal and a shaft wherein the seal includes a plurality of seal members;

positioning the shaft so that at least a portion of the shaft is positioned within the second vessel;

creating an opening in the first vessel;

inserting the seal through the opening wherein the plurality of seal members are in a stacked first configuration;

rotating a handle coupled to the shaft and to the seal members in a first direction to radially spread the plurality of seal members about an axis of the opening into a fanned-out second configuration to seal the opening;

attaching the second vessel to the first vessel to form the anastomosis;

rotating the handle in a second direction to arrange the plurality of seal members in the stacked first configuration; and

removing the seal through the second vessel.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the first configuration is a low-profile configuration.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the second configuration is an expanded-profile configuration.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising delivering one or more fluids to the first vessel while the seal is in a second configuration.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising delivering one or more agents to the first vessel while the seal is in a second configuration.