Connector for blood pumps and the like

Claim 1

IN APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING BLOOD FROM A BLOOD VESSEL SUCH AS AN ARTERY OR VEIN IN A LIVING BODY AND HAVING A SMOOTH INNER SURFACE EXPOSED TO AND ACCEPTABLE TO SAID BLOOD AND ON WHICH CLOTS AND TISSUE WILL NOT FORM, SAID SURFACE DEFINING A CYLINDRICAL INLET OPENING AN A CYLINDRICAL OUTLET OPENING, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: (A) A FIRST AERTERIAL GRAFT SECTION HAVING AN EFFECTIVE DIAMETER GREATER THAN THAT OF SAID INLET OPENING; AND (B) FIRST SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL CONNECTOR MEANS FOR MAINTAINING ARTERIAL GRAFT SECTION IN CONTACT WITH SAID SURFACE DEFINING SAID INLET OPENING, SAID CONNECTOR MEANS SUBSTANTIALLY MAINTAINING THE SAID EFFECTIVE DIAMETER OF SAID GRAFT MATERIAL UP TO ITS POINT OF CONTACT WITH SAID SURFACE WHEREBY THE VELOCITY OF SAID BLOOD ADJACENT SAID INNER SURFACE OF SAID GRAFT SECTION IS INCREASED AT SAID POINT OF CONTACT, SAID CONNECTOR MEANS BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS ADJACENT THE JUNCTION OF SAID SURFACE AND SAID GRAFT SECTION; AND FIRST PERFORATE MEANS HAVING A LARGE NUMBER OF INTERSTICES OF A SIZE TO PROMOTE CLOTTING DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CONNECTOR MEANS ADJACENT SAID JUNCTION AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID OPENINGS AND SAID GRAFT SECTION.