US 6,309,416 B1 · Medical anastomosis apparatus

Abstract

A connector for use in providing an anastomotic connection between two tubular body fluid conduits in a patient. The connector is preferably a single, integral, plastically deformable structure that can be cut from a tube. The connector has axial spaced portions that include members that are radially outwardly deflectable from other portions of the connector. The connector is annularly enlargeable so that it can be initially delivered and installed in the patient in a relatively small annular size and then annularly enlarged to provide the completed anastomosis. The radially outwardly deflected members of the first and second portions respectively engage the two body fluid conduits connected at the anastomosis and hold those two conduits together in fluid-tight engagement. Apparatus for use in delivering and deploying a connector is also disclosed.

Claims15

Dependent claims

Apparatus for inserting an annular graft connector, to which an axial end portion of a tubular graft is attached, into a side wall of a tubular body tissue conduit from outside the conduit comprising:

a substantially conical tip structure having a cone angle less than about 15°, configured for passage through the side wall from outside the conduit starting with an apex of the cone and configured to receive and annularly surround at least a portion of the connector while leaving a proximal portion of the graft exposed and thus external to the confines of the tip structure;
and
a shaft structure extending from the tip structure in a direction away from the apex and configured to receive the connector and graft annularly around the shaft structure.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Medical anastomosis apparatus

Life of this patent

Medical anastomosis apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15