Correction of incompetent venous valves
AssigneeVaso Products Australia Pty. Limited
InventorRodney J. Lane
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cuff for restoring competence to an incompetent venous valve consists of a band of biocompatible implantable material that is not stretchable at blood flow pressures. The band is of sufficient length to encompass the vein at the site of the venous valve with the ends of the band overlapping. In one form of attachment, the end 22 passes over the loop 23 and is stapled thereto. The cuff can be attached to an applicator by means of the loop 23. A portion 26 of reduced thickness extends from the bottom face of the band to reduce any inner surface discontinuities with respect to the wall of the vein. The cuff is placed around the vein at the site of the valve and the circumference of the cuff (and hence the diameter of the vein at the valve site) is reduced until competency of the valve in the vein is restored.
Claims18
A cuff for restoring competence to an incompetent venous valve, said cuff comprising a band of biocompatible implantable material that is not stretchable at blood flow pressures, the band being of sufficient length to encompass the vein at the site of the venous valve with portions of the band overlapping, the overlapping portions being joinable together to form a cuff of desired circumference small enough to restore competence yet not too tight to decrease blood flow;
- and said band being notched to accommodate application at a venous junction.
A cuff for restoring competence to an incompetent venous valve, said cuff comprising a band of biocompatible implantable material that is not stretchable at blood flow pressures, the band being of sufficient length to encompass the vein at the sight of the venous vale, with portions of the band overlapping, means for securing the overlapping portions together to form a cuff of desired circumference small enough to restore competence yet not too tight to decrease blood flow;
- and said band being notched to accommodate application at a venous junction.
A method of restoring competency to incompetent venous valves comprising the steps of:
- (i) placing a cuff of biocompatible material around the vein at the site of the valve,
- (ii) reducing the circumference of the cuff (and hence the diameter of the vein at the valve site) until competency of the valve in the vein is restored, and,
- (iii) fixing the diameter of the cuff at the point where the diameter of the vein is reduced to restore competency of the valve without impairing blood flow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.