Prosthetic shunt

Claim 2

A prosthetic device for human implantation, comprising: a U-shaped arterio-venous shunt tube of resiliently yieldable material and having juxtaposed ends extending in similar directions for subcutaneous flow connection to an artery and to a vein and said shunt tube also having an intermediate portion in unbroken and continuous flow connection with such juxtaposed ends to constantly circulate blood between such ends; and an access tube having a proximal end interlumenally and fixedly connected in continuous free flow communication to said shunt tube and a distal end through which access to the blood may be obtained, and a closure for the access tube situated thereon.

Claim 3

The prosthetic device according to claim 1 and said ends having means including stiff tubular tips on the ends of the shunt tube, the distal ends of said tips being convergently tapered toward the ends thereof to fit within the lumens of the artery and vein.

Claim 4

The prosthetic device according to claim 1 and wherein said ends have means including a skirt of flexible materIal attached to the ends of the shunt tube and adapted for direct connection to the walls of the vein and artery.

Claim 5

The prosthetic device according to claim 1 and including a second such access tube adjacent said first mentioned access tube and also having a proximal end interlumenally and fixedly connected in continuous free flow communication to said shunt tube and a distal end through which access to the blood may be obtained, and a second closure for the second access tube situated thereon.

Claim 6

A prosthetic device for human implantation, comprising: a preshaped arterio-venous shunt tube having juxtaposed ends extending in generally similar directions with means for subcutaneous flow connection to an artery and to a vein and having an intermediate portion in unbroken and continuous flow connection with such ends to constantly circulate blood between such ends; and an access tube having a proximal end interlumenally and fixedly connected in continuous free flow communication to said shunt tube and a distal end through which access to the blood may be obtained, and operable closure means for said access tube located thereon and effective at the interlumenal connection between the access tube and the shunt tube to alternately exclude blood from and allow flow of blood through the proximal end of the access tube while permitting continuous circulation of blood through said intermediate portion of the shunt tube and between the ends thereof.

Claim 7

A prosthetic device for human implantation, comprising: a preshaped arterio-venous shunt tube having juxtaposed ends extending in generally similar directions with means for subcutaneous flow connection to an artery and to a vein and having an intermediate portion in unbroken and continuous flow connection with such ends to constantly circulate blood between such ends; and an access tube having a proximal end interlumenally and fixedly connected in continuous free flow communication to said shunt tube and a distal end through which access to the blood may be obtained, and operable closure means for said access tube located thereon and effective at the interlumenal connection between the access tube and the shunt tube to alternately exclude blood from and allow flow of blood through the proximal end of the access tube while permitting continuous circulation of blood through said intermediate portion of the shunt tube and between the ends thereof.

Claim 8

A prosthetic device for human implantation, comprising: a U-shaped arterio-venous shunt tube with juxtaposed ends extending in similar directions for subcutaneous flow connection to an artery and to a vein, and the U-shaped shunt tube having a bight intermediate the juxtaposed ends and also having an offset between the bight and the ends to permit superficial positioning of the bight; and an access tube having a proximal end interlumenally and fixedly connected in continuous free flow communication to the bight of the shunt tube and a distal end through which access may be obtained, and a closure for the access tube situated thereon.

Claim 9

A prosthetic device for human implantation, comprising: a U-shaped arterio-venous shunt tube with juxtaposed ends extending in similar directions for subcutaneous flow connection to an artery and to a vein, and the U-shaped shunt tube having a bight intermediate the juxtaposed ends and also having an offset between the bight and the ends to permit superficial positioning of the bight; and an access tube having a proximal end interlumenally and fixedly connected in continuous free flow communication to the bight of the shunt tube and a distal end through which access may be obtained, and a closure for the access tube situated thereon.

Claim 10

A prosthetic device for human implantation, comprising: an implantable U-shaped arterio-venous shunt tube of resiliently yieldable material with juxtaposed ends for subcutaneous flow connection to an artery and to a vein, the U-shaped shunt tube having a bight intermediate said juxtaposed ends and the bight of the shunt tube lying substantially in a plane oblique to the juxtaposed ends; an access tube having a subcutaneous proximal end connected in free flow communication to the shunt tube and to extend through the skin to the open distal end through which access to the circulation may be obtained, the access tube extending substantially in said plane to permit superficial positioning of the distal end of the access tube; and a closure for the access tube situated thereon.

Claim 11

A prosthetic device for human implantation, comprising: an implantable U-shaped arterio-venous shunt tube of resiliently yieldable material with juxtaposed ends for subcutaneous flow connection to an artery and to a vein, the U-shaped shunt tube having a bight intermediate said juxtaposed ends and the bight of the shunt tube lying substantially in a plane oblique to the juxtaposed ends; an access tube having a subcutaneous proximal end connected in free flow communication to the shunt tube and to extend through the skin to the open distal end through which access to the circulation may be obtained, the access tube extending substantially in said plane to permit superficial positioning of the distal end of the access tube; and a closure for the access tube situated thereon.

Claim 12

The prosthetic device according to claim 7 and including a second access tube lying substantially in said plane in spaced relation with said first mentioned access tube and also connected in free flow communication to the shunt tube.

Claim 13

A prosthetic device for human implantation, comprising: an implantable U-shaped arteriovenous shunt tube of resiliently yieldable material having juxtaposed ends for subcutaneous flow connection to an artery and to a vein and having a bight intermediate said ends, each of the ends and the bight of the shunt tube carrying continuous blood flow; and an access tube connected in free flow communication to the shunt tube adjacent the bight and having a distal end offset with respect to the juxtaposed ends of the shunt tube to remain superficially of the person and provide access to the blood continuously flowing in the shunt tube.

Claim 14

A prosthetic device for human implantation, comprising: an implantable U-shaped arteriovenous shunt tube of resiliently yieldable material having juxtaposed ends for subcutaneous flow connection to an artery and to a vein and having a bight intermediate said ends, each of the ends and the bight of the shunt tube carrying continuous blood flow; and an access tube connected in free flow communication to the shunt tube adjacent the bight and having a distal end offset with respect to the juxtaposed ends of the shunt tube to remain superficially of the person and provide access to the blood continuously flowing in the shunt tube.

Claim 15

The prosthetic device according to claim 9 and the distal end of the access tube being disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the juxtaposed ends of the shunt tube.

Claim 16

The prosthetic dEvice according to claim 9 and the distal end of the access tube being oriented generally parallel to the juxtaposed ends of the shunt tube and being spaced to one side of said juxtaposed ends to remain superficially of the person.

Claim 17

The prosthetic device according to claim 9 and including a second access tube also connected in free flow communication to the shunt tube and adjacent the bight thereof and also spaced from said first mentioned access tube, the distal end of the second access tube also being offset with respect to the juxtaposed ends of the shunt tube.

Claim 18

In the art of obtaining access to the blood in a human body, the method steps consisting of subcutaneously implanting a U-shaped arterio-venous shunt tube of resiliently yieldable material having juxtaposed ends extending in similar directions and an intermediate portion in unbroken and continuous flow connection with such juxtaposed ends and also having an access tube with a proximal end interlumenally and fixedly connected in continuous free flow communication to said shunt tube and a distal end through which access into the shunt tube may be obtained and a closure for the access tube and situated thereon, entirely in the body and anastomosing the juxtaposed ends of the shunt tube to an artery and to an adjacent vein respectively while allowing the distal end of the access tube and at least a portion of the closure therefor to remain superficially of the body for connection to external blood-receiving or supply means.

Claim 19

In the art of obtaining access to the blood in a human body, the method steps consisting of subcutaneously implanting a U-shaped arterio-venous shunt tube of resiliently yieldable material having juxtaposed ends extending in similar directions and an intermediate portion in unbroken and continuous flow connection with such juxtaposed ends and also having an access tube with a proximal end interlumenally and fixedly connected in continuous free flow communication to said shunt tube and a distal end through which access into the shunt tube may be obtained and a closure for the access tube and situated thereon, entirely in the body and anastomosing the juxtaposed ends of the shunt tube to an artery and to an adjacent vein respectively while allowing the distal end of the access tube and at least a portion of the closure therefor to remain superficially of the body for connection to external blood-receiving or supply means.