Components, systems, and methods for forming anastomoses using magnetism or other coupling means

Abstract

Anastomotic components may be attached to hollow bodies or vessels by magnetic or mechanical force to create an anastomosis, form a port in a vessel, or repair a diseased vessel lumen. Anastomoses are created by coupling a first connection to an end of a vessel and then attracting it to a second connector secured to the side wall of another vessel. The connection between the first and second connectors may be solidly magnetic, solely mechanical, or a combination thereof. Also disclosed are methods and devices for treating diseased vessel lumens, for example abdominal aortic aneurysm. A plurality of docking members is attached to the vessel at solicited positions, and then one or more grafts is secured to the docking members in any suitable manner.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09 / 638,805, filed Aug. 12, 2000, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09 / 562,599, filed Apr. 29, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,352,543. This application also claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 255,635, filed Dec. 13, 2000, and application Ser. No. 09 / 851,400, filed May 7, 2001. The entire disclosure of each of the above-referenced patent applications is expressly incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The invention relates to treating hollow anatomical structures having a lumen. More specifically, the invention relates to treating one or more diseased body lumens, creating anastomoses between such hollow body structures, and using magnetism to secure anastomotic components to such structures, for example, in conjunction with creating an anastomosis. [0004] 2. Descrip...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016] Still another embodiment of the invention provides a method for repairing an aneurysm located in a patient's body lumen and includes steps of providing a prosthesis having an outer surface and a lumen, locating a body lumen having an aneurysm, placing the prosthesis in a desired position with respect to the aneurysm so that the prosthesis lumen sealingly engages the body lumen, and using magnetism to secure the prosthesis in the selected position.

Problems solved by technology

Despite the considerable advances that have been realized in both interventional cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, heart disease remains the leading cause of death throughout much of the world.

Clamping or otherwise manipulating the aorta places the patient at risk in some cases due to the likelihood that such manipulation will release embolic material into the bloodstream.

Some challenges associated with this procedure include delivering and deploying the conduit in the patient's body in proper position with respect to the heart chamber and the coronary vessel.

A particularly challenging task that must be performed during many of these and other revascularization procedures is suturing one hollow structure to another hollow structure.

The small diameter of the hollow structures involved, typically from 1 mm to 4 mm, makes forming a handsewn anastomosis a highly technical and time-consuming procedure.

The difficulty in forming the sutured anastomosis is exacerbated when access to the target vessel is restricted or limited, as in a minimally invasive or percutaneous procedure.

This problem can also arise in non-cardiovascular applications that utilize handsewn anastomoses, for example, treating peripheral vascular disease or injury, creating AV (arteriovenous) shunts, etc.

While those in the art have proposed various anastomotic coupling, none has performed well enough to receive any significant level of acceptance in the field.

Many of the proposed couplings penetrate or damage the wall of the hollow structures, do not remain patent, fail to produce a fluid-tight seal between the conduit and vessel, or are simply too cumbersome and difficult to deliver or deploy.

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