Catheter system with stent device for connecting adjacent blood vessels

A catheter system for piercing a first wall of a first blood vessel and a second wall of a second blood vessel to create a fistula between the blood vessels, the system comprising:

• a first catheter having a distal end insertable to a position wherein the distal end is adjacent a site within the first blood vessel for the fistula, the first catheter including a piercing tool adjacent the distal end;
• a second catheter having a distal end insertable to a position wherein the distal end is adjacent a site within the second blood vessel for the fistula, the second catheter including adjacent the distal end a receptor having a distal opening, a proximal end, and a guide surface disposed between the distal opening and the proximal end;
• one or more magnets disposed on at least one of the catheters to draw the piercing tool along the guide surface of the receptor;
• and
• an expandable tubular stent with a first section having a first radial strength, a second section having a second radial strength, and a third section, positioned between the first and second sections, having a third radial strength which is stronger than the first or second radial strengths and at least one bend, the tubular stent being insertable to a position wherein the first section extends through the first blood vessel to a position adjacent to the fistula, the third section extends through the fistula, and the second section extends from a position adjacent the fistula into the second blood vessel.

A catheter system for piercing a first wall of a first blood vessel and a second wall of a second blood vessel to create a fistula between the blood vessels, the system comprising:

• a first catheter having a distal end insertable to a position wherein the distal end is adjacent a site within the first blood vessel for the fistula, the first catheter including a piercing tool adjacent the distal end;
• a second catheter having a distal end insertable to a position wherein the distal end is adjacent a site within the second blood vessel for the fistula, the second catheter including adjacent the distal end a receptor having a distal opening, a proximal end, and a guide surface disposed between the distal opening and the proximal end;
• one or more magnets disposed on at least one of the catheters to draw the piercing tool along the guide surface of the receptor;
• an expandable tubular portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the expandable tubular portion being insertable to a position wherein it extends from the first vessel through the fistula into the second vessel, with the proximal end in the first blood vessel and the distal end in the second blood vessel;
• and
• a stabilizing portion, adjacent to the distal end of the expandable tubular portion, being manipulable between a nominal configuration and an active configuration, the nominal configuration having a diameter which is less than the diameter of the second blood vessel and the active configuration having a diameter that is substantially equal to the diameter of the second blood vessel.