Medical grafting methods
US5976178A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 7, 1996 |
| Grant date | Nov 2, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 7, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S623/903
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for delivering and installing a new Length of tubing between two sections of a patient's existing body organ tubing and at least partly outside of that existing structure. For example, the new length of tubing may be for the purpose of providing the patient with a coronary bypass. The new tubing may be an artificial graft, a natural graft (harvested elsewhere from the patient), or both. The new tubing is delivered to and installed at the operative site primarily by working through the patient's existing tubular body organ structure. This avoids the need for any significant surgery on the patient. The artificial grafts may have shapes other than tubular. Certain procedural and apparatus aspects of the invention have uses other than in connection with grafting in general or tubular grafting in particular.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.