Arrangement and method for vascular anastomosis

Abstract

A method for implementing vascular anastomosis in the attachment of a graft vessel to a target vessel such as a coronary artery, and subsequently creating a passageway between the vessels in order to establish fluid flow communication therebetween. Further is to the provision of novel devices which are utilized in implementing the steps of attaching a graft vessel to a target vessel such as a coronary artery through vascular anastomosis, and thereafter creating a fluid flow passageway therebetween.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] The present application is a continuation application of application Ser. No, 09 / 966,971 filed on Sep. 28, 2001.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a method for implementing vascular anastomosis in the attachment of a graft vessel to a target vessel such as a coronary artery, and subsequently creating a passageway between the vessels in order to establish fluid flow communication therebetween. The invention is further directed to the provision of novel devices which are utilized in implementing the steps of attaching a graft vessel to a target vessel such as a coronary artery through vascular anastomosis, and thereafter creating a fluid flow passageway therebetween. [0004] The concept of anastomosis in implementing the attachment of target vessels, for instance, such as coronary arteries and other body vessels which are subjected to a fluid flow, such as blood to a graft ve...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0027] According to the present invention, the foregoing drawbacks and disadvantages are clearly obviated in that novel methods and devices for anastomosis between a coronary artery or target vessel and a graft vessel are implemented prior to the formation of a fluid flow passageway between the vessels, thereby enabling the maintaining of a continued blood flow during the anastomosis.

[0030] Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel method of implementing anastomosis between two body vessels prior to the formation of a fluid flow passage way therebetween at the location of the anastomosis.

Problems solved by technology

Although numerous publications are currently available which to varying degrees concern themselves with this particular technology, none of them clearly or satisfactorily provide teachings regarding vascular anastomosis methods or devices which will provide for the joining of a target vessel, such as a coronary artery, to a graft vessel prior to the cutting of a fluid flow passageway between the graft vessel and the target vessel so as to generally, to a considerable degree, alleviate the difficulties and shortcomings encountered in the medical technology.

All of the foregoing publications require the termination of blood flow through the target vessel during implementing of the foregoing procedures, or necessitate lengthy surgical procedures which includes considerable risk to patients and which are subject to high degrees of morbidity and potential mortality while necessitating lengthy hospital stays for the patient.

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