Graft apparatus
First Claim
1. A method for preparing an arteriovenous access conduit, said method comprising:
- providing a connection forming a fluid passageway between an arterial lumen of an arterial vessel and a venous lumen of a venous vessel, the arterial vessel having a first radial compliance and the venous vessel having a second radial compliance that is different from the first radial compliance, said connection having an ablumenal surface;
providing a radially resilient external support; and
positioning said external support at said ablumenal surface of said connection to form a supported connection, wherein the support has resilient radial expansion and contraction characteristics to provide the supported connection with radial compliance properties mimicking the first radial compliance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Stents and methods of using stents are provided. Stents of the invention provide external support structure for a blood vessel segment disposed within, wherein the stents are capable of resilient radial expansion in a manner mimicking the compliance properties of an artery. The stent may be formed of a knitted or braided mesh formed so as to provide the needed compliance properties. A venous graft with the stent and a vein segment disposed within is provided, wherein graft is capable of mimicking the compliance properties of an artery. Methods of selecting stents for downsizing and methods of using the stents of the invention in downsizing and smoothening are provided. Methods of replacing a section of an artery with a venous graft including a stent of the invention are provided. Methods of reducing intimal hyperplasia in implanted vein segment in a venous graft using stents of the invention are provided.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for preparing an arteriovenous access conduit, said method comprising:
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providing a connection forming a fluid passageway between an arterial lumen of an arterial vessel and a venous lumen of a venous vessel, the arterial vessel having a first radial compliance and the venous vessel having a second radial compliance that is different from the first radial compliance, said connection having an ablumenal surface; providing a radially resilient external support; and positioning said external support at said ablumenal surface of said connection to form a supported connection, wherein the support has resilient radial expansion and contraction characteristics to provide the supported connection with radial compliance properties mimicking the first radial compliance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for preparing an exterior access vessel for repeated access to a patient'"'"'s vascular system, said method comprising:
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providing a connection forming a fluid passageway between an arterial lumen of an arterial vessel and a venous lumen of a venous vessel; providing a radially resilient, generally tubular external support; positioning said external support in contact with an ablumenal surface of said venous vessel to form the exterior access vessel, the support having resilient radial expansion and contraction characteristics that provide said exterior access vessel with a compliance ranging from 3 to 30%/100 mm Hg. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification