# US 2014/0155983 A1 · Method and apparatus for effecting an aortic valve bypass, including the provision and use of a t-stent for effecting a distal anastomosis for the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155983 A1 - Document ID: US20140155983A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/915,875 - Filed: 2013-06-12 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2009-07-01 - Assignees: Correx, Inc. - Applicants: Correx, Inc. - Inventors: Richard M. Beane; John W. Brown; James Alan Crunkleton; James S. Gammie; Anthony G. Liepert; Joseph L. Smith, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155983A1 ## CPC - A61F 2/2418: {Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents} - A61B 17/11: for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis - A61B 17/12045: {double occlusion, e.g. during anastomosis} - A61B 17/12109: {in a blood vessel} - A61B 17/12136: {Balloons} - A61F 2/06: Blood vessels - A61F 2/064: {with special features to facilitate anastomotic coupling (anastomosis of natural blood vessels A61B17/11)} - A61F 2/07: Stent-grafts - A61F 2/2412: {with soft flexible valve members, e.g. tissue valves shaped like natural valves} - A61F 2/856: Single tubular stent with a side portal passage - A61B 2017/00252: {for by-pass connections, i.e. connections from heart chamber to blood vessel or from blood vessel to blood vessel} - A61B 2017/1107: {for blood vessels} - A61B 2017/1135: {End-to-side connections, e.g. T- or Y-connections} - A61F 2002/061: {provided with means for allowing access to secondary lumens} - A61F 2002/065: {Y-shaped blood vessels} - A61M 25/09: Guide wires - A61M 25/10: Balloon catheters ({A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02;} inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 {; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00}) - A61M 2025/1052: {for temporarily occluding a vessel for isolating a sector} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - 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)} ## Abstract A connector for joining first and second hollow structures, comprising a fluid-constraining tube having a fluid-constraining neck extending therefrom, wherein the tube and the neck each comprise a lumen having first and second openings, the neck being joined to the tube such that fluid entering the first opening of the tube can exit the second opening of the tube, and fluid entering the first opening of the neck can exit the second opening of the tube; at least the portions of the tube adjacent to the first and second openings of the tube being biased radially outwardly so that they normally assume a radially-expanded configuration, but being capable of being restrained in a radially-contracted configuration, wherein the tube is sized so that, when it is in its radially-expanded configuration, it has an outer diameter which is larger than the inner diameter of the second hollow structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connector for joining a first hollow structure to the side wall of a second hollow structure, the connector comprising: a fluid-constraining tube having a fluid-constraining neck extending therefrom, wherein the tube comprises a lumen having a first opening and a second opening and the neck comprises a lumen having a first opening and a second opening, the neck being joined to the tube so that the neck is in fluid communication with the tube intermediate the length of the tube, such that fluid entering the first opening of the tube can exit the second opening of the tube, and fluid entering the first opening of the neck can exit the second opening of the tube; at least the portions of the tube adjacent to the first opening of the tube and the second opening of the tube being biased radially outwardly so that they normally assume a radially-expanded configuration, but being capable of being restrained in a radially-contracted configuration, wherein the tube is sized so that, when it is in its radially-expanded configuration, it has an outer diameter which is larger than the inner diameter of the second hollow structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A connector according to claim 1 wherein a spring is disposed adjacent to at least the portions of the tube adjacent to the first opening of the tube and the second opening of the tube so as to bias at least those portions of the tube radially outwardly so that they normally assume a radially-expanded configuration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A connector according to claim 2 wherein the spring comprises a first cylindrical portion adjacent to the first opening of the tube and a second cylindrical portion adjacent to the second opening of the tube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A connector according to claim 3 wherein the spring comprises a substantially straight portion connecting the first cylindrical portion to the second cylindrical portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) A connector according to claim 2 wherein at least one of the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion comprises a Z-stent. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A connector according to claim 5 wherein the Z-stent comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a superelastic alloy and stainless steel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A connector according to claim 1 wherein the connector comprises woven polyester graft material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A connector according to claim 7 wherein the tube comprises uncrimped woven polyester graft material and the neck comprises crimped woven polyester graft material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A connector according to claim 1 further comprising a restraint for holding the tube in its radially-contracted configuration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A connector according to claim 9 wherein the restraint comprises at least one from the group consisting of a tear-away sheath, a rip cord and external mechanical clamps. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A connector according to claim 1 wherein a side branch provides access to the interior of the neck. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A connector according to claim 11 wherein the side branch has a diameter significantly smaller than the diameter of the neck. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A connector according to claim 11 further comprising a removable clamp pre-installed on the side branch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A connector according to claim 1 wherein a prosthetic valve is disposed in the neck. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A connector according to claim 14 wherein the prosthetic valve is arranged to permit fluid to flow from the first opening of the neck to the second opening of the neck but to prevent fluid from flowing in the reverse direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A connector according to claim 1 wherein a removable clamp is pre-installed on the neck. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A connector according to claim 1 wherein the neck comprises a connector for connecting the neck to the first hollow structure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A connector according to claim 1 wherein the first hollow structure comprises a bypass conduit and the second hollow structure comprises the descending aorta. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A connector according to claim 1 wherein the first hollow structure comprises the left ventricle of the heart, the neck comprises a bypass conduit, and the second hollow structure comprises the descending aorta. ### Claim 20 A method for joining a first hollow structure to the side wall of a second hollow structure, the method comprising: providing a connector comprising: a fluid-constraining tube having a fluid-constraining neck extending therefrom, wherein the tube comprises a lumen having a first opening and a second opening and the neck comprises a lumen having a first opening and a second opening, the neck being joined to the tube so that the neck is in fluid communication with the tube intermediate the length of the tube, such that fluid entering the first opening of the tube can exit the second opening of the tube, and fluid entering the first opening of the neck can exit the second opening of the tube; at least the portions of the tube adjacent to the first opening of the tube and second opening of the tube being biased radially outwardly so that they normally assume a radially-expanded configuration, but being capable of being restrained in a radially-contracted configuration, wherein the tube is sized so that, when it is in its radially-expanded configuration, it has an outer diameter which is larger than the inner diameter of the second hollow structure; restraining the tube in its radially-contracted configuration; selecting a location on the side wall of the second hollow structure; forming an opening in the side wall of the second hollow structure at the selected location; positioning the connector so that the tube resides within the interior of the second hollow structure and the neck extends out of the side wall of the second hollow structure; allowing the tube to expand back into its radially-expanded configuration; and connecting the neck to the first hollow structure. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20 wherein fluid flow through the second hollow structure is blocked upstream of the selected location prior to positioning the tube in the interior of the second hollow structure. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A method according to claim 21 wherein a balloon is erected in the second hollow structure to block fluid flow. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A method according to claim 22 wherein the balloon is inserted into the interior of the second hollow structure via the opening. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20 wherein fluid flow through the second hollow structure is blocked downstream of the selected location prior to positioning the tube in the interior of the second hollow structure. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) A method according to claim 24 wherein a balloon is erected in the second hollow structure to block fluid flow. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) A method according to claim 24 wherein the balloon is inserted into the interior of the second hollow structure via a second opening. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20 wherein the first hollow structure comprises a bypass conduit and the second hollow structure comprises the descending aorta. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20 wherein the first hollow structure comprises the left ventricle of the heart, the neck comprises a bypass conduit, and the second hollow structure comprises the descending aorta.