US6451048B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wire connector structures for tubular grafts
Assignee: St Jude Medical ATG Inc
•
Filing: 2000-02-17
•
Granted: 2002-09-17
•
Expires: 2020-02-17
Abstract
Abstract Connector structures are provided for attaching elongated flexible tubular grafts to the body organ tubing of a patient. The connector structures are formed from wire. A first set of connector wires may be disposed around the periphery of one end of an elongated flexible tubular graft. A second set can be disposed around the periphery of the elongated flexible tubular graft spaced sufficiently from the first set of connector wires to define a gap. The portion of body organ tubing to which the elongated flexible tubular graft is to be attached is received in the gap and engaged by the first and second sets of connector wires. The wires may be formed in the shape of loops. If desired, hooks may be provided on the ends of the wires. The wires may be curved to accommodate attachment of the graft to tubular body organ tubing. The wires may also be formed in annular shapes. The connector structures may be formed as stand-alone ring-shaped connectors. Obliquely-angled connections between grafts and body organ tubing may be made using the connector structures.
Inventors
- 👤 Todd Allen Berg
- 👤 Paul J. Hindrichs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:52
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/04; A61F2/06; A61F2/07; A61F2/064; A61F2/82; A61F2/848; A61F2/86; A61F2/90; A61F2002/075; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0008; A61F2220/0016; A61F2220/0025; A61F2220/005; A61F2220/0058; A61F2220/0075
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A graft structure for attachment to the body organ tubing of a patient, wherein the body organ tubing has a wall, comprising: an elongated flexible tubular graft having two ends; a ring member attached to the tubular graft at one end of the two ends of the graft; and a first plurality of radially self-expandable wires that are disposed around the periphery of one end of the ring member and a second plurality of radially self-expandable wires that are disposed around the periphery of the other end of the ring member, the first and second pluralities of wires being separated by a gap in which a portion of the body organ tubing is engaged between the first and second pluralities of wires thereby connecting the one end of the graft to the wall of the body organ tubing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A graft structure for attachment to the body organ tubing of a patient, wherein the body organ tubing has a wall, comprising: an elongated flexible tubular graft having two ends; a ring member attached to the tubular graft at one end of the two ends of the graft; and a first plurality of radially self-expandable wires that are disposed around the periphery of one end of the ring member and a second plurality of radially self-expandable wires that are disposed around the periphery of the other end of the ring member, the first and second pluralities of wires being separated by a gap in which a portion of the body organ tubing is engaged between the first and second pluralities of wires thereby connecting the one end of the graft to the wall of the body organ tubing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The graft structure defined in claim 1 wherein the elongated flexible tubular graft is a length of natural body organ tubing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
131 words
The graft structure defined in claim 1 further comprising: a second ring member attached to the tubular graft at the end of the two ends of the graft opposite the ring member; and a first plurality of radially self-expandable wires that are disposed around the periphery of one end of the second ring member and a second plurality of radially self-expandable wires that are disposed around the periphery of the other end of the second ring member, the first and second pluralities of wires being separated by a gap in which a portion of the body organ tubing is engaged between the first and second pluralities of wires thereby connecting the end of the graft to which the second ring member is attached to the wall of the body organ tubing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
The graft structure defined in claim 3 wherein: the portion of the body organ tubing that is engaged between the first and second pluralities of wires of the ring member is a portion of a first body organ tubing; and the portion of the body organ tubing that is engaged between the first and second pluralities of wires of the second ring member is a portion of a second body organ tubing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The graft structure defined in claim 1 wherein: the portion of the body organ tubing has a compliance; and the ring member has a compliance that is substantially similar to the compliance of the portion of the body organ tubing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
The graft structure defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second pluralities of wires are disposed around the ends of the ring member and are separated by a gap so that a portion of the body organ tubing is engaged between the first and second pluralities of wires and connects the one end of the graft to the wall of the body organ tubing at an oblique angle.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for attaching a graft structure to the body organ tubing of a patient, wherein the body organ tubing has a wall, comprising: attaching a ring member to an elongated flexible tubular graft, wherein: the elongated flexible tubular graft has two ends; the ring member is attached at one end of the two ends of the graft; and a first plurality of radially self-expandable wires are disposed around the periphery of one end of the ring member and a second plurality of radially self-expandable wires are disposed around the periphery of the other end of the ring member; inserting the ring member and the end of the elongated flexible tubular graft into the wall of the body organ tubing; and allowing the first and second pluralities of wires to radially self-expand and engage the wall of the portion of the body organ tubing in a space between the first and second plurality of wires, thereby connecting the one end of the graft to the wall of the body organ tubing.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for attaching a graft structure to the body organ tubing of a patient, wherein the body organ tubing has a wall, comprising: attaching a ring member to an elongated flexible tubular graft, wherein: the elongated flexible tubular graft has two ends; the ring member is attached at one end of the two ends of the graft; and a first plurality of radially self-expandable wires are disposed around the periphery of one end of the ring member and a second plurality of radially self-expandable wires are disposed around the periphery of the other end of the ring member; inserting the ring member and the end of the elongated flexible tubular graft into the wall of the body organ tubing; and allowing the first and second pluralities of wires to radially self-expand and engage the wall of the portion of the body organ tubing in a space between the first and second plurality of wires, thereby connecting the one end of the graft to the wall of the body organ tubing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
158 words
The method defined in claim 7 further comprising: attaching a second ring member at least near the end of the elongated flexible tubular graft opposite the ring member, wherein a first plurality of radially self-expandable wires are disposed around the periphery of one end of the second ring member and a second plurality of radially self-expandable wires are disposed around the periphery of the other end of the second ring member; inserting the second ring member and end of the elongated flexible tubular graft opposite the ring member into the wall of the body organ tubing; and allowing the first and second pluralities of wires of the second ring member to radially self-expand and-engage the wall of the portion of the body organ tubing in a space between the first and second plurality of wires, thereby connecting the end of the graft to which the second ring member is attached to the wall of the body organ tubing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method defined in claim 8 wherein: the portion of the body organ tubing that is engaged between the first and second pluralities of wires of the ring member is a portion of a first body organ tubing; and the portion of the body organ tubing that is engaged between the first and second pluralities of wires of the second ring member is a portion of a second body organ tubing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method defined in claim 7 wherein allowing the first and second pluralities of wires of the ring member to radially self-expand and engage the portion of the body organ tubing in a gap defined by a space defined by the first and second plurality of wires, thereby connecting the end of the graft opposite the ring member to the wall of the body organ tubing comprises connecting the end graft to the wall of the body organ tubing at an oblique angle.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
185 words
A method for providing ring members for attachment to a graft, wherein the graft is part of a graft structure for attachment to the body organ tubing of a patient, wherein the body organ tubing has a wall, comprising: providing a ring member for attachment to an elongated flexible tubular graft, wherein: the elongated flexible tubular graft has two ends; the ring member is attached at one end of the two ends of the graft; and a first plurality of radially self-expandable wires are disposed around the periphery of one end of the ring member and a second plurality of radially self-expandable wires are disposed around the periphery of the other end of the ring member, wherein the first and second pluralities of wires are configured to radially self-expand and engage the wall of the portion of the body organ tubing in a space between the first and second plurality of wires, thereby connecting the one end of the graft to the wall of the body organ tubing; and providing the ring member to medical personnel for attachment to the elongated flexible tubular graft structure.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
185 words
A method for providing ring members for attachment to a graft, wherein the graft is part of a graft structure for attachment to the body organ tubing of a patient, wherein the body organ tubing has a wall, comprising: providing a ring member for attachment to an elongated flexible tubular graft, wherein: the elongated flexible tubular graft has two ends; the ring member is attached at one end of the two ends of the graft; and a first plurality of radially self-expandable wires are disposed around the periphery of one end of the ring member and a second plurality of radially self-expandable wires are disposed around the periphery of the other end of the ring member, wherein the first and second pluralities of wires are configured to radially self-expand and engage the wall of the portion of the body organ tubing in a space between the first and second plurality of wires, thereby connecting the one end of the graft to the wall of the body organ tubing; and providing the ring member to medical personnel for attachment to the elongated flexible tubular graft structure.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for configuring a graft structure for attachment to the body organ tubing of a patient, wherein the body organ-tubing has a wall, comprising: attaching a ring member to an elongated flexible tubular graft, wherein: the elongated flexible tubular graft has two ends; the ring member is attached at one end of the two ends of the graft; and a first plurality of radially self-expandable wires are disposed around the periphery of one end of the ring member and a second plurality of radially self-expandable wires are disposed around the periphery of the other end of the ring member, wherein the first and second pluralities of wires are configured to radially self-expand and engage the wall of the portion of the body organ tubing in a space between the first and second plurality of wires, thereby connecting the one end of the graft to the wall of the body organ tubing; and providing the ring member and elongated flexible tubular graft structure to medical personnel for attachment to the body organ tubing of the patient.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for configuring a graft structure for attachment to the body organ tubing of a patient, wherein the body organ-tubing has a wall, comprising: attaching a ring member to an elongated flexible tubular graft, wherein: the elongated flexible tubular graft has two ends; the ring member is attached at one end of the two ends of the graft; and a first plurality of radially self-expandable wires are disposed around the periphery of one end of the ring member and a second plurality of radially self-expandable wires are disposed around the periphery of the other end of the ring member, wherein the first and second pluralities of wires are configured to radially self-expand and engage the wall of the portion of the body organ tubing in a space between the first and second plurality of wires, thereby connecting the one end of the graft to the wall of the body organ tubing; and providing the ring member and elongated flexible tubular graft structure to medical personnel for attachment to the body organ tubing of the patient.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-09-16 | 2006-03-18 | 2006-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-16 | 2010-03-18 | 2010-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-09-16 | 2014-03-18 | 2014-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |