US5234448A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for connecting and closing severed blood vessels
Assignee: Shadyside Hospital
•
Filing: 1992-02-28
•
Granted: 1993-08-10
•
Expires: 2012-02-28
Abstract
Abstract A fastener for closing or connecting blood vessels (21,22) has a plurality of miniature barbs (10,37) which pierce the wall (20,26) of the blood vessel (21,22) and anchor the fastener in place. In one embodiment the fastener comprises a sheet (30) provided on one of its surfaces (32) with a plurality of barbs (10); the sheet (30) can be rolled to a diameter smaller than that of the blood vessel (21,22), inserted into the blood vessel (21,22) and unrolled so that the barbs (10) pierce and anchor in the inner wall (20) of the blood vessel (21,22). The sheet can alternatively be wrapped round the blood vessel (21,22) so that the barbs (10) pierce and anchor in the outer wall (26) of the blood vessel (21,22). In another embodiment the fastener comprises a ring (36) with the miniature barbs (37) on both surfaces; it is used between the splayed ends of a severed blood vessel (21,22). The device can also be used for opening a blood vessel (51) which has been narrowed by disease or trauma. <IMAGE> <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Mark H. Wholey
- 👤 William E. Novogradac, deceased
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:57
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/11; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/04; A61F2/06; A61F2/064; A61B2017/1107; A61F2/82; A61F2/848
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A closure for blood vessel openings comprised of a ring having opposite faces each face having an outer surface, the ring being sized and adapted to conform to splayed ends of a blood vessel, each face having a plurality of barbs attached to the outer surface of each face, the barbs sized and configured to pierce and anchor in a blood vessel wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
A closure for blood vessel openings comprised of a ring having opposite faces each face having an outer surface, the ring being sized and adapted to conform to splayed ends of a blood vessel, each face having a plurality of barbs attached to the outer surface of each face, the barbs sized and configured to pierce and anchor in a blood vessel wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The closure of claim 1 wherein the barbs extend 50 μm to 100 μm from each outer surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The micro fastener of claim 1 wherein the barbs contain a passageway through which a fluid may flow from a reservoir.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of a closing and connecting blood vessel segments comprised of the steps of: a. rolling a closure around a balloon portion of a balloon catheter, the closure comprised of a sheet having an inner surface and an outer surface, the sheet being adapted to conform to a wall of a blood vessel and a plurality of barbs attached to the outer surface, the barbs sized and configured to pierce and anchor in a blood vessel wall; b. inserting the rolled closure into a blood vessel to a desired position adjacent a blood vessel incision; and c. expanding the balloon portion of the balloon catheter thereby causing the closure to unroll and anchor in an inner wall portion of the blood vessel to make at least one of a closure and a connection of blood vessel segments.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of a closing and connecting blood vessel segments comprised of the steps of: a. rolling a closure around a balloon portion of a balloon catheter, the closure comprised of a sheet having an inner surface and an outer surface, the sheet being adapted to conform to a wall of a blood vessel and a plurality of barbs attached to the outer surface, the barbs sized and configured to pierce and anchor in a blood vessel wall; b. inserting the rolled closure into a blood vessel to a desired position adjacent a blood vessel incision; and c. expanding the balloon portion of the balloon catheter thereby causing the closure to unroll and anchor in an inner wall portion of the blood vessel to make at least one of a closure and a connection of blood vessel segments.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of a closing and connecting blood vessel segments comprised of the steps of: a. compressing a closure to a diameter smaller than a blood vessel inner diameter, the closure having an inner surface and an outer surface the closure being adapted to conform to a wall of a blood vessel and a plurality of barbs attached to the outer surface, the barbs sized and configured to pierce and anchor in a blood vessel wall; b. inserting the compressed closure into a blood vessel to a desired position adjacent a blood vessel incision; and c. allowing the closure to expand thereby causing the closure to anchor in an inner wall portion of the blood vessel to make at least one of a closure and connection of blood vessel segments.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of a closing and connecting blood vessel segments comprised of the steps of: a. compressing a closure to a diameter smaller than a blood vessel inner diameter, the closure having an inner surface and an outer surface the closure being adapted to conform to a wall of a blood vessel and a plurality of barbs attached to the outer surface, the barbs sized and configured to pierce and anchor in a blood vessel wall; b. inserting the compressed closure into a blood vessel to a desired position adjacent a blood vessel incision; and c. allowing the closure to expand thereby causing the closure to anchor in an inner wall portion of the blood vessel to make at least one of a closure and connection of blood vessel segments.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the closure is ring shaped and also comprising the steps of: a. positioning a balloon catheter within the ringshaped closure; and b. expanding the balloon portion of the balloon catheter thereby causing the closure to expand and anchor in an inner wall portion of the blood vessel to make at least one of a closure and a connection of blood vessel segments.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the closure is comprised of a female member and a male member each having an outer surface portion having a plurality of said barbs, the female member and male member being separately rolled, inserted and expanded.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the closure is comprised of a female member and a male member each having an outer surface portion having a plurality of said barbs, the female member and male member being separately compressed, inserted and expanded.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of connecting blood vessel segments comprised of the steps of: a. splaying ends of the blood vessel segments; and b. pressing the splayed ends against opposite faces of a ring sized to receive the splayed ends, the faces having a plurality of barbs, the barbs sized and configured to pierce and anchor in a blood vessel wall.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of connecting blood vessel segments comprised of the steps of: a. splaying ends of the blood vessel segments; and b. pressing the splayed ends against opposite faces of a ring sized to receive the splayed ends, the faces having a plurality of barbs, the barbs sized and configured to pierce and anchor in a blood vessel wall.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of opening a portion of a blood vessel which has been narrowed by disease or trauma comprising the steps of: a. compressing a collar to a diameter smaller than a blood vessel inner diameter, the collar having an inner surface and an outer surface the collar being adapted to conform to a wall of a blood vessel and a plurality of barbs attached to the outer surface, the barbs sized and configured to pierce and anchor in a blood vessel wall; b. inserting the compressed collar into a blood vessel to a desired position within a narrowed portion of a blood vessel; and c. allowing the collar to expand thereby causing the collar to anchor in an inner wall portion of the blood vessel to provide lumen through the narrowed portion.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of opening a portion of a blood vessel which has been narrowed by disease or trauma comprising the steps of: a. compressing a collar to a diameter smaller than a blood vessel inner diameter, the collar having an inner surface and an outer surface the collar being adapted to conform to a wall of a blood vessel and a plurality of barbs attached to the outer surface, the barbs sized and configured to pierce and anchor in a blood vessel wall; b. inserting the compressed collar into a blood vessel to a desired position within a narrowed portion of a blood vessel; and c. allowing the collar to expand thereby causing the collar to anchor in an inner wall portion of the blood vessel to provide lumen through the narrowed portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3221746A
Cited
US3266113A
Cited
US3981051A
Cited
US4169303A
Cited
US4214587A
Cited
US4917087A
Cited
US4665917A
Cited
US4593693A
Cited
US4920235A
Cited
US5047047A
Cited
US4997439A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-08-09 | 1997-02-08 | 1997-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-09 | 2001-02-08 | 2001-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-09 | 2005-02-08 | 2005-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |