# US 11,938,260 B2 · Apparatus and method for cannulation of vascular access graft

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- Number: US 11,938,260 B2
- Document ID: US11938260B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/379,655
- Filed: 2021-07-19
- Published: 2021-11-11
- Granted: 2024-03-26
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-31
- Assignees: InnAVasc Medical, Inc.
- Applicants: Innavasc Medical, Inc.
- Inventors: Shawn M. Gage; Jeffrey H. Lawson; Joseph Knight; Craig Nichols
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11938260B2

## CPC

- A61M 1/3655: {Arterio-venous shunts or fistulae}
- A61B 17/11: for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
- A61M 25/06: Body-piercing guide needles or the like
- A61M 39/0208: {Subcutaneous access sites (implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276; transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247)}
- A61M 39/0247: {Transcutaneous or percutaneous access sites to the inside of the body}
- A61B 2017/1107: {for blood vessels}
- A61M 2039/0223: {having means for anchoring the subcutaneous access site}
- A61M 2039/0238: {having means for locating the implanted device to insure proper injection, e.g. radio-emitter, protuberances, radio-opaque markers}
- A61M 2039/0258: {for vascular access, e.g. blood stream access}
- A61M 2039/0261: {Means for anchoring port to the body, or ports having a special shape or being made of a specific material to allow easy implantation/integration in the body}
- A61M 2039/0264: {with multiple inlets or multiple outlets}
- A61M 2039/0276: {for introducing or removing fluids into or out of the body}
- A61M 2039/0279: {for introducing medical instruments into the body, e.g. endoscope, surgical tools}
- A61M 2039/0282: {with implanted tubes connected to the port}
- A61M 2039/0288: {protectors, caps or covers therefor}
- A61M 2039/0294: {having a specific shape matching the shape of a tool to be inserted therein, e.g. for easy introduction, for sealing purposes, guide}
- A61M 2205/04: implanted
- A61M 2205/3515: using magnetic means
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

An apparatus for guiding cannulation with a dialysis needle of an arteriovenous dialysis access graft subcutaneously implanted in a body of a subject. The guiding apparatus comprises an elongated body member comprising a base portion terminating in longitudinal edges, a distance between the longitudinal edges of the base portion being substantially equal to a lateral dimension of the aces graft, and an elongated tubular sleeve defining an pocket having a longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension configured to receive the body member. The body member is adapted to be received in the pocket of the sleeve for securing adjacent the subcutaneous access graft such that the inner surface of the base portion is aligned with a cannulation point of the graft for guiding location of a needle insertion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for guiding cannulation with a dialysis needle of an arteriovenous dialysis access graft subcutaneously implanted in a body of a subject, the arteriovenous dialysis graft including a flexible conduit defining a longitudinal flow passageway and having a first end portion configured to connect to an artery of the subject and a second end portion configured to connect to a vein of the subject such that blood flows through the longitudinal flow passageway of the conduit from the first end portion to the second end portion, and a cannulation chamber defining a cannulation port, the conduit extending through the cannulation chamber for receiving the needle inserted through the cannulation port, the guiding apparatus comprising:
an elongated body member having a longitudinal axis and an inner surface, the elongated body member comprising a base portion terminating in longitudinal edges extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis, a distance between the longitudinal edges of the base portion being substantially equal to a lateral dimension of the cannulation chamber, and
legs extending from the longitudinal edges of the base portion, the legs terminating in longitudinal edges, the base portion and legs defining an open longitudinal channel for receiving the cannulation chamber,
wherein the elongated body member is adapted to be secured adjacent the subcutaneous cannulation chamber such that the legs operatively engage the cannulation chamber for aligning the inner surface of the base portion with the cannulation port for guiding location of a dialysis needle insertion through the body member and into the cannulation chamber.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The guiding apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the body member has a first end and a second end, and wherein the body member is adapted to extend from the first end to the second end of the cannulation chamber.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The guiding apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the body member has at least one passage opening into the inner surface of the body member for passing the dialysis needle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The guiding apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the cannulation chamber and the body member comprise a substantially magnetic or paramagnetic material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner surface extends between the longitudinal edges and wherein the elongated body member includes an outer surface extending between the longitudinal edges.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal edges define an outer boundary of the guiding apparatus.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner surface is positioned such that the inner surface is positioned facing toward the flexible conduit when the guiding apparatus is engaged with the cannulation port.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the legs are parallel.