Surgical shunt for liver isolation

Claim 1

A shunt for use in human surgical operations for isolating the liver and its hepatic veins from reperfusion of blood through the inferior vena cava, the shunt comprising: an outer tube having a leading end for insertion into and advancement through the inferior vena cava from a selected venotomy location downstream of the hepatic veins to a location upstream of the hepatic veins and having a trailing end for disposition outside the inferior vena cava, a first radially outwardly expansible cuff affixed to the outer tube adjacent the leading end thereof for sealing engagement with the inferior vena cava at the upstream location, a second radially outwardly expansible cuff affixed to the outer tube at an intermediate location therealong spaced from the first cuff for sealing engagement with the inferior vena cava at a location downstream of the hepatic veins and upstream of the venotomy location, the outer tube having at least one opening formed therethrough between the second cuff and the trailing end of the outer tube for disposition within the inferior vena cava, an inner tube telescopically movable within the outer tube and having an operating end extending outwardly from the trailing end of the outer tube for actuating movement of the inner tube relative to the outer tube, and at least a pair of annular sealing rings respectively attached exteriorly to the inner tube at a spacing therealong greater than the lengthwise extent of the opening in the outer tube, whereby the cuffs prevent blood reperfusion through the inferior vena cava between the hepatic veins and the heart as well as backflow of blood downstream from the hepatic veins and selective movement of the inner tube with respect to the outer tube opens and closes the opening in the outer tube to selectively control fluid communication between the inferior vena cava and the interior of the outer tube for controlling normal blood reperfusion from the lower extremities.