Apparatus and methods for providing selectively adjustable blood flow through a vascular graft

Abstract

Apparatus for adjusting blood flow through a graft is provided comprising a balloon disposed against the exterior surface of the graft by a substantially rigid sheath, so that when the balloon is inflated with an inflation medium it causes constriction of blood flow through the graft without creating potentially thrombogenic crimps or infolds in the graft material. The balloon is adjusted by connecting an infusion device to a subcutaneously implanted balloon access port. A pair of ultrasonic elements may be optionally provided to measure blood flow through the graft and to optimize the extent of constriction of the graft. Electrical connection between the ultrasonic elements and external ultrasound processing circuitry is established via a subcutaneously implanted electrical access port that enables multiple electrical connections to be made using a single needle stick.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.