Method of inserting an implant into a portion of a tubular organ whose mucous lining has been partially removed

Claim 2

In a method for introducing into the lumen of a tubular organ of a living being an implant which carries at least at part of its exterior a means for promoting the ingrowth of tissue into intimate contact with the exterior surface of the implant, the steps of cutting the tubular organ at least up to the lumen thereof so as to give access to the lumen, removing a layer of mucosa from the interior of the lumen at least at the part thereof which will be situated at the means for promoting ingrowth of tissue when the implant is subsequently introduced into the lumen, and then introducing the implant into the lumen so that the tissue of the tubular organ engages the means for promoting the ingrowth of tissue without interposition of a mucosa layer between the tissue and the means for promoting the ingrowth of tissue.

Claim 3

In a method as recited in claim 1 and wherein the implant has an exterior surface area which does not carry means for promoting the ingrowth of tissue, the removal of the layer of mucosa being carried out only at that part of the lumen which will be situated at the means for promoting the ingrowth of tissue when the implant is subsequently introduced into the lumen, so that an exterior surface area of the implant which does not carry the means for promoting the ingrowth of tissue will be engaged by a layer of mucosa.

Claim 4

In a method as recited in claim 1 and wherein the layer of mucosa is removed by reaming.

Claim 5

In a method as recited in claim 1 and including the additional step of fastening the tubular organ to the implant so that the tissue of the tubular organ which engages the means for promoting the ingrowth of tissue will have an opportunity to grow into said means for additionally securing the tubular organ to the implant.

Claim 6

In a method as recited in claim 1 and wherein the tubular organ is a vas deferens while the implant is a valve having tubular extensions received in the lumen of the vas deferens and carrying at least at part of the exterior surface thereof said means for promoting the ingrowth of tissue which is engaged by the tissue of the vas deferens.

Claim 7

In a method as recited in claim 5 and wherein each of said tubular extensions of the valve has an elongated free end portion extending beyond the means for promoting ingrowth of tissue, and the removal of the layer of mucosa being carried out only where the means for promoting the ingrowth of tissue is situated so that the free end portions of the tubular extensions of the valve are engaged by mucosa layers.

Claim 8

In a method as recited in claim 1 and wherein the tubular organ is a vas deferens while the implant is a valve having tubular extensions extending in opposite directions from an intermediate part of the valve and respectively carrying means for promoting the ingrowth of tissue, the cutting of the vas deferens being carried out with removal of an elongated portion of the vas deferens extending up to the lumen thereof so as to leave at the vas deferens a continuous portion thereof extending between free ends of the lumen into which the tubular extensions are respectively inserted, the step of deflecting the continuous portion of the vas deferens outwardly away from the lumen thereof while drawing the free ends of the lumen toward each other to locate the free ends of the luman directly next to the intermediate portion of the valve while forming from the continuous portion of the vas deferens a pair of flaps which remain integral with each other and which are situated one beside the other extending laterally away from the lumen, and fastening said flaps to each other so that the free ends of the vas will remain at the intermediate portion of the valve while the tissue of the vas grows into the means for promoting the ingrowth of tissue.