Blood vessel connectors and methods for blood vessel connection

Inventors

Tulleken, Cornelis Antonius Franciscus • Noest, Jappe Onno Tunnis • Mansvelt Beck, Hendricus Jacobus • Van Thoor, Alexander Cornelis Elisabeth • Stecher, David • Bronkers, Glenn

Assignees

Amt Medical Bv

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure include an apparatus comprising a clip which includes a first side including a first ring configured to pass over an end of a first vessel, the first ring configured to engage the first side with the first vessel, and a second side coupled to the first side, the second side including a second ring configured to pass over an end of a second vessel, the second ring being configured to engage the second side with the second vessel. The first and second sides, when in a closed position, are configured to maintain the first and second vessels in substantially end-to-end contact.

Core Innovation

The invention provides an anastomosis clip for connecting a first vessel with a second vessel. The first and second vessels each have a vessel wall with an outer surface, and the clip includes a first attachment portion, a second attachment portion, and a hinge. The hinge couples the first attachment portion to the second attachment portion so the attachment portions are movable relative to one another between a closed position and an open position around a pivot axis.

In the closed position, the first and second attachment portions are arranged substantially parallel to each other, and a retainer ring is interposed between the first and second attachment portions. The retainer ring is moveable relative to both the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion, and is configured to lie, in use, between the outer surfaces of the vessel walls of the first and second vessels. In the open position, the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion are arranged at a non-zero angle with respect to each other.

When in the closed position, the first attachment portion extends parallel to a first reaction surface of the retainer ring to engage, in use, the wall of the first vessel between the parallel portions, and the second attachment portion extends parallel to a second reaction surface of the retainer ring to engage, in use, the wall of the second vessel between its corresponding parallel portions. The first reaction surface and the second reaction surface face in mutually opposite directions. In the provided description content, the invention further addresses blood vessel anastomosis clip apparatus and associated connection methods that enable end-to-end or side-to-side vessel alignment in a closed state.

The described configurations also include features that resist slippage and facilitate hemostasis by attachment features puncturing vessel walls with puncture points and forks, and by nested ring-on-ring or fork nesting for fixation. The described configurations also include an interposable retainer member that enables independent opening/closing of donor vs recipient connections while supporting formation of vessel openings through the retainer center.

Claims Coverage

The partial claim set provides one independent claim (clm-00001). It contains an anastomosis clip architecture with a hinge-linked dual attachment arrangement and a moveable retainer ring configured to lie between vessel-wall outer surfaces in use, with specific closed-position engagement relationships to retainer reaction surfaces and mutually opposite facing reaction surfaces.

Across the independent claim, the inventive coverage centers on a hinge-driven clip with dual attachment portions and a moveable retainer ring that lies between vessel-wall outer surfaces, where the closed position defines parallel engagement between attachment portions and retainer reaction surfaces that face mutually opposite directions, and where specified portions of the attachment portions lie within the retainer ring while one attachment portion can move away from the retainer ring.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications