Methods to increase the overall diameter of donating veins and arteries
AssigneeFlow Forward Medical, Inc.
InventorF. Nicholas Franano
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for increasing the speed of blood and the wall shear stress in a peripheral artery or peripheral vein to a sufficient level and for a sufficient period of time to result in a persistent increase in the overall diameter and lumen diameter of the donating artery or donating vein is provided. The method includes systems and methods to effect the movement of blood at the desired rate and in the desired direction. The movement of blood is monitored and adjusted, as necessary, to maintain the desired blood speed and wall shear stress in the peripheral artery or vein in order to optimize the rate and extent of persistent diameter increase of the peripheral artery or peripheral vein.
Claims73
A method for creating an arteriovenous fistula or an arteriovenous graft in a human patient, the method comprising:
- fluidly connecting one end of a pump-conduit assembly to the donating vein or location;
- fluidly connecting another end of the pump-conduit assembly to an accepting vein;
- and,
- pumping venous blood from the donating vein or location into the accepting vein, wherein:
- the pumping of blood results in a mean wall shear stress in the accepting vein of greater than or equal to 0.76 Pa;
- the pumping of blood results in a mean pulse pressure in the accepting vein of less than 40 mmHg;
- and
- the pumping of blood results in an increase in the lumen diameter and overall diameter of the accepting vein which persists after pumping has ceased;
- and,
- creating the arteriovenous fistula or arteriovenous graft in the patient using at least a portion of the accepting vein with the persistently-increased lumen diameter and overall diameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.