Method and system for bypassing an artery block

A method of bypassing a block in an artery which extends along a vein, comprising

• providing a covered stent having a proximal end and a distal end,
• positioning the covered stent within said vein having its proximal end introduced into said artery proximal to the block therein and having its distal end introduced into said artery distal to the block therein, the covered stent being positioned within said vein such that an effective blood flow through the vein is still allowed,
• connecting the proximal end of the covered stent to the artery proximal to the block, and
• connecting the distal end of the covered stent to the artery distal to the block.

A catheter system for use in bypassing a block in a human body vessel, comprising

• a guiding catheter adapted for introduction into the human body vessel, said catheter comprising:
• a distal lateral opening adapted to be positioned proximal to the block in said artery, and
• a longitudinal guiding lumen,
• wherein said catheter during introduction into the human body vessel has a first configuration in which said lateral opening is essentially blocked and
• wherein said catheter when positioned in the human body vessel has a second configuration in which said lateral opening is unblocked and said lumen ends in said lateral opening,
• a transfer from the first configuration to the second configuration being controllable by a longitudinal movement of a wire extending through said longitudinal lumen.

A method of forming a connection between a first and a second human body vessel, said method comprising:

• advancing a guiding catheter through the first body vessel to a site where the connection is to be formed, said guiding catheter comprising a longitudinal lumen and a distal lateral opening, said lateral opening being essentially blocked during said advancing,
• positioning said lateral opening so as to face said second body vessel,
• transferring the lateral opening to an unblocked state by longitudinal movement of a wire extending through said longitudinal lumen such that the longitudinal lumen ends in the lateral opening,
• advancing a cutting wire having a cutting tip out through said lateral opening, whereby the cutting wire is directed towards said second body vessel, and
• further advancing said cutting wire through walls of said first and second body vessels, whereby a connection between the first and the second body vessels is formed.