Methods and systems for making a blood vessel sleeve

• US 8,478,437 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Boyden, Edward S., Dacey, Ralph G. Jr., Derdeyn, Colin P., Dowling, Joshua L., Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Leuthardt, Eric C., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Wood, Victoria Y. H., Zipfel, Gregory J.
• Primary Examiner(s): VON BUHR, MARIA N
• Application Number:
  US11/982,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20080201007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,071 Days
• Field of Search: 700 28- 30, 700 94- 98, 700117-119, 700/123, 700/166, 700/174, 700/175, 700180-182, 700213-215, 700/225, 600/36, 623/1.1, 623 111- 123, 623/1.34, 623/1.36, 623 149- 154, 623/23.64, 623/23.7, 623/901, 623/903, 623/916, 623/921, 434/262, 434/267, 434/272
• US Class Current: 700/119
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/06 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30942 for designing or making customized prostheses, e.g. using templates, CT or NMR scans, finite-element analysis or CAD-CAM techniques
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/061 provided with means for allowing access to secondary lumens
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/065 Y-shaped blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/067 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30065 thermoplastic, i.e. softening or fusing when heated, and hardening and becoming rigid again when cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30075 swellable, e.g. when wetted
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30077 shrinkable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30087 piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30088 Phase change materials [PCM], e.g. for storing latent heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3009 Transparent or translucent
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30199 Three-dimensional shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30617 Visible markings for adjusting, locating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3067 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3071 Identification means; Administration of patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0061 swellable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0066 shrinkable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0071 thermoplastic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/008 : Phase change materials [PCM], e.g. for storing latent heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/005 : Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0063 : Three-dimensional shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2240/002 : Designing or making customized prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 : for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0085 : Identification means; Administration of patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0091 : transparent or translucent
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0097 : Visible markings, e.g. indicia
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 70/00 : Materials specially adapted for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 : Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 : Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, computer program products, devices and systems are described that include accepting one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions based on blood vessel data from an individual; and making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

extracting two or more sets of data, each data set defining a contour of a blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the blood vessel data from an individual;

interpolating data that represent one or more regions between two or more contours of a blood vessel sleeve to specify one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, including applying at least one sleeve-fitting algorithm to the blood vessel data to obtain the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions; and

making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the extracting two or more sets of data, each data set defining a contour of a blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the blood vessel data from an individual comprises:

extracting two or more sets of data, each data set defining a contour of a blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on at least one of a light intensity matrix or a color intensity matrix.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel dimensions comprises:

making a multiple-layered rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

making the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly made of biocompatible materials.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

making a coated rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve including at least one of extensions positioned for closure, suturing tabs, detents, hooks, Velcro, glue, or interlocking closure ridges.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

making a set of rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeves at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

making a set of rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeves that each has at least one of different dimensions, a different material composition, different closure means, or a different coating as the set of rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeves at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

making the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve having at least one of a GoreTex, Teflon, or titanium alloy surface.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

making the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve having at least one of a substantially polymer composition, a substantially plastic composition, a substantially thermoplastic composition, a substantially photopolymer composition, or a substantially elastomeric composition.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve having at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve having at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve comprises:

making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve having at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve corresponding to a dimension of the blood vessel sleeve.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve having at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve comprises:

making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve having at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve corresponding to individual-characterizing data.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve having at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve comprises:

at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve relating to a color coding of the blood vessel sleeve as the at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the at least one indicator on the blood vessel relating to a color coding of the blood vessel sleeve as the at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve comprises:

at least one color coding corresponding to patient data as the at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve relating to a color coding of the blood vessel sleeve.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve relating to a color coding of the blood vessel sleeve as the at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve comprises:

at least one color coding corresponding to at least one of material type, material thickness, material stiffness, sleeve size, thickness of the blood vessel sleeve, or sleeve coating as the at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve relating to a color coding of the blood vessel sleeve.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the wherein the making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve having at least one contrast agent within the material of the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel dimensions comprises:

making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve having at least one indicator of deformation or wear in or on the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve using a laser-cutting device at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve using a three-dimensional printing device at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

21. A system comprising:

means for extracting two or more sets of data, each data set defining a contour of a blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the blood vessel data from an individual;

means for interpolating data that represent one or more regions between two or more contours of a blood vessel sleeve to specify one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, including means for applying at least one sleeve-fitting algorithm to the blood vessel data to obtain the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions; and

means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the means for extracting two or more sets of data, each data set defining a contour of a blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the blood vessel data from an individual comprises:

means for extracting two or more sets of data, each data set defining a contour of a blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on at least one of a light intensity matrix or a color intensity matrix.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

means for making the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly made of biocompatible materials.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein the means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

means for making the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly made of biocompatible materials.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein the means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

means for making a coated rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

26. The system of claim 21 wherein the means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve including at least one of extensions positioned for closure, suturing tabs, detents, hooks, Velcro, glue, or interlocking closure ridges.

27. The system of claim 21 wherein the means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

means for making a set of rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeves at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

28. The system of claim 21 wherein the means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

means for making a set of rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeves that each has at least one of different dimensions, a different material composition, different closure means, or a different coating as the set of rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeves at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

29. The system of claim 21 wherein the means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

means for making the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve having at least one of a GoreTex, Teflon, or titanium alloy surface.

30. The system of claim 21 wherein the means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

means for making the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve having at least one of a substantially polymer composition, a substantially plastic composition, a substantially thermoplastic composition, a substantially photopolymer composition, or a substantially elastomeric composition.

31. The system of claim 21 wherein the means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve having at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve having at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve comprises:

means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve having at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve corresponding to a dimension of the blood vessel sleeve.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein the means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve having at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve comprises:

means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve having at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve corresponding to individual-characterizing data.

34. The system of claim 31 wherein the means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve having at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve comprises:

means for at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve relating to a color coding of the blood vessel sleeve as the at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the means for at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve relating to a color coding of the blood vessel sleeve as the at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve comprises:

means for at least one color coding corresponding to patient data as the at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve relating to a color coding of the blood vessel sleeve.

36. The system of claim 34 wherein the means for at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve relating to a color coding of the blood vessel sleeve as the at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve comprises:

means for at least one color coding corresponding to at least one of material type, material thickness, material stiffness, sleeve size, thickness of the blood vessel sleeve, or sleeve coating as the at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve relating to a color coding of the blood vessel sleeve.

37. The system of claim 21 wherein the means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve having at least one contrast agent within the material of the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

38. The system of claim 21 wherein the means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve having at least one indicator of deformation or wear in or on the rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

39. The system of claim 21 wherein the means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve using a laser-cutting device at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

40. The system of claim 21 wherein the means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions comprises:

means for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve using a three-dimensional printing device at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

41. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory signal-bearing medium bearing

(a) one or more instructions for extracting two or more sets of data, each data set defining a contour of a blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the blood vessel data from an individual;

(b) one or more instructions for interpolating data that represent one or more regions between two or more contours of a blood vessel sleeve, including one or more instructions for applying at least one sleeve-fitting algorithm to the blood vessel data to obtain one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions; and

(c) one or more instructions for making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

42. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the non-transitory signal-bearing medium includes a computer-readable medium.

43. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the non-transitory signal-bearing medium includes a recordable medium.

44. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the non-transitory signal-bearing medium includes a communications medium.

45. A system comprising:

a computing device; and

instructions that when executed on the computing device cause the computing device to

(a) extract two or more sets of data, each data set defining a contour of a blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the blood vessel data from an individual;

(b) interpolate data that represent one or more regions between two or more contours of a blood vessel sleeve to specify one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions, including apply at least one sleeve-fitting algorithm to the blood vessel data to obtain one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions; and

(c) make a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

46. The system of claim 45 wherein the computing device comprises:

one or more of a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a tablet personal computer, a networked computer, a computing system comprised of a cluster of processors, a computing system comprised of a cluster of servers, a workstation computer, and/or a desktop computer.

47. The system of claim 45 wherein the computing device is operable to make a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions from at least one memory.