Bypass vascular graft

A method for adjusting the fluid flow through a vascular bypass graft comprising:

• monitoring at least one fluid dynamic parameter within the vascular bypass graft, the vascular bypass graft comprising:
• a primary member comprising a primary member wall, an inflow end, and an outflow end, wherein blood flow from a first vessel enters the primary member at the inflow end and exits the primary member at the outflow end;
• and
• a secondary member having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to and extending outward from the primary member wall at the outflow end of the primary member to form a fluid pathway between the primary member and the secondary member, wherein at least a portion of the blood flow through the primary member is diverted to a second vessel through the secondary member;
• accepting blood flow from a first vessel into the inflow end of the primary member from the first vessel;
• routing the blood through the primary member toward the outflow end;
• passing a first portion of the blood flow out the outflow end to the first vessel;
• passing a second portion of the blood flow from the primary member to the secondary member, the secondary member not connecting to the first vessel, wherein the second portion of the flow travels through the secondary member to a second vessel;
• determining one or more fluid flow conditions through the vascular bypass graft based on the at least one fluid dynamic parameter;
• and
• modifying a stenosis restrictor within the secondary member to adjust the pressure at the outflow end of the primary member to be greater than the pressure within the secondary member to maintain a blood flow within the vascular bypass graft that prevents clotting.

An improved vascular bypass graft comprising:

• a primary member, the primary member fabricated from a substantially hollow structure, the primary member having an inflow end and an outflow end wherein the inflow end and the outflow end are configured to connect to a first blood vessel to provide a blood flow path out of and into the first blood vessel;
• and
• a secondary member, the secondary member fabricated from a substantially hollow structure that includes a stenosis restrictor formed within the secondary member, such that the stenosis restrictor controls fluid flow through said secondary member, the secondary member having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to and extending outward from a wall of the primary member at the outflow end of the primary member to form a fluid pathway there between and the second end configured to connect to a second blood vessel to provide a blood flow path into or out of the second blood vessel;
• wherein the secondary member is configured to accept at least a portion of the blood flow through the wall of the primary member at the outflow end of the primary member directly into the secondary member to thereby maintain a blood flow within the vascular bypass graft even if the outflow end of the primary member were blocked to prevent clotting of the primary member.

A method for surgically implanting a vascular bypass graft comprising:

• inserting an vascular bypass graft adjacent a vascular occlusion of a first vessel, wherein said vascular bypass graft comprises:
• a primary bypass fabricated from a substantially hollow member, the graft having a proximal vascular bypass end and a distal vascular bypass end, wherein the blood flow enters the primary bypass at the proximal vascular bypass end and exits the primary bypass at the distal vascular bypass end;
• and
• a venous outflow limb fabricated from a substantially hollow member, the limb having a proximal venous end and a distal venous end, the distal venous end attached to and extending from a wall of the primary bypass at the distal vascular bypass end of the primary bypass to form a fluid pathway between the primary bypass and the venous outflow limb;
• connecting the proximal vascular bypass end of the primary bypass to the first vessel at a point upstream from the vascular occlusion of the first vessel;
• connecting the distal vascular bypass end of the primary bypass to the first vessel at a point downstream from the vascular occlusion of the first vessel;
• and
• connecting the proximal venous end of the venous outflow limb to a second vessel having lower pressure than the first vessel, wherein the venous outflow limb is configured to divert at least a portion of the blood flow through the wall of the primary bypass into the venous outflow limb and then into the second vessel to thereby maintain a blood flow within the vascular bypass graft that prevents clotting.