Arteriovenous graft for hemodialysis with puncture-resistant posterior and side walls

A cannulation chamber for use with a dialysis access graft configured to be implanted in a subject and including a flexible conduit defining a longitudinal flow passageway between a first blood vessel and a second blood vessel of the subject such that blood flows through the longitudinal flow passageway of the conduit from the first blood vessel to the second blood vessel, the cannulation chamber comprising:

• an elongated chamber body defining an opening adapted to receive and surround a portion of the conduit, the chamber body comprising:
• an annular inner layer including self-sealing material surrounding the conduit, and
• an outer layer around the inner layer and defining a cannulation port that exposes the self-sealing material;
• and
• an elongated shell embedded in the chamber body between the inner layer of the chamber body and the outer layer of the chamber body and extending generally parallel to the longitudinal flow passageway of the conduit, the shell including:
• a posterior wall, and
• a pair of sidewalls defining an open anterior portion facing the cannulation port of the chamber body,
• wherein the shell is formed of a substantially rigid material such that, when a dialysis needle is inserted through the cannulation port and the self-sealing material, the needle is inhibited or prevented from extending through the posterior wall or the sidewalls of the shell.

A cannulation chamber for use with a dialysis access graft including a flexible conduit defining a longitudinal flow passageway between a first blood vessel and a second blood vessel of the subject such that blood flows through the longitudinal flow passageway of the conduit from the first blood vessel to the second blood vessel, the cannulation chamber comprising:

• an elongated chamber body defining an opening adapted to receive and surround a portion of the conduit, the chamber body comprising:
• self-sealing material, and
• a cannulation port that exposes the self-sealing material;
• and
• an elongated shell embedded in the self-sealing material of the chamber body and extending generally parallel to the longitudinal flow passageway of the conduit, the shell including:
• a posterior wall, and
• a pair of sidewalls defining an open anterior portion facing the cannulation port of the chamber body,
• wherein the self-sealing material surrounds each of the conduit and the shell and is received in the open anterior portion of the shell,
• and wherein the shell is formed of a substantially rigid material such that, when a dialysis needle is inserted through the cannulation port and the self-sealing material, the needle is inhibited or prevented from extending through the posterior wall or the sidewalls of the shell.