Surgery – Instruments – Surgical mesh – connector – clip – clamp or band
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-17
2001-08-21
Jackson, Gary (Department: 3731)
Surgery
Instruments
Surgical mesh, connector, clip, clamp or band
Reexamination Certificate
active
06277133
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT
The present invention relates to a connector for small conduits for easily connecting two small conduits together. In particular, the connector is suitable for connecting small blood vessels.
In a surgery, blood vessels and conduits are often cut in treating or removing a diseased portion of a patient. In this case, after the necessary treatment has been completed, the blood vessels and conduits are connected as they were before or to other blood vessels and conduits. Also, the blood vessels and conduits may have diseases by themselves, such as weakened blood vessel wall, clogging, tumor and so on. In this case, the blood vessel and conduit including the diseased portion is cut to remove the diseased portion, and the healthy portions of the blood vessel and conduit are connected together.
In case the blood vessel and conduit are connected to other blood vessel and conduit in a surgery, the blood vessels and conduits are sewed together even if the blood vessels and conduits are small. Sewing the small blood vessels and conduits is very troublesome and time consuming. However, there is no other method in connecting the two small conduits together.
The present invention has been made in view of the trouble in connecting two small conduits including the blood vessel in a surgery, and an object of the invention is to provide a connector for connecting two small conduits easily in a short period of time.
Another object of the invention is to provide a connector for small conduits as stated above, wherein the connector can securely connect the small conduits without looseness for a long period of time.
A further object of the invention is to provide a connector for small conduits as stated above, wherein the connector can help connecting the conduits naturally.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a connector for small conduits as stated above, wherein the connector can be manufactured easily at a low cost.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A connector of the invention is designed to connect two small conduits, such as blood vessels, in an operation or surgery. The connector is formed of an elongated hollow support member to be located inside the small conduits, and a holding device disposed outside the support member for holding the small conduits together with the support member.
The holding device includes cylindrical portions, preferably two cylindrical portions, and a plurality of connecting portions situated between the cylindrical portions. The cylindrical portions are shrinkable when a radially inward force is applied. The connecting portions extend radially outwardly from the cylindrical portions, and can be bent to be disposed on the cylindrical portions. The support member is relatively rigid. Thus, even if a radially inward force is applied to the support member, the support member is not substantially deformed or collapsed.
In use, the holding device is slidably disposed over one of the small conduits to be connected, and the support member is inserted into the small conduits to bridge the small conduits. Then, the cylindrical portions are moved to be located above the support member with the small conduits therebetween. Then, the cylindrical portions are pushed radially inwardly to hold the small conduit between the cylindrical portion and the support portion. Thereafter, the cylindrical portions are moved to contact each other to thereby allow the ends of the small conduits to contact with each other. Then, the connecting portions are bent and disposed over one of the cylindrical portions to lock the connecting portions. Preferably, the connecting portions are disposed on both cylindrical portions.
In the invention, the relatively large and shrinkable cylindrical portions are disposed over the small conduits, and the rigid support member is disposed inside the small conduits. Thus, the support member and the holding device can be easily arranged over the small conduits to be connected. Also, when the cylindrical portions are pushed, the small conduits can be held surely between the cylindrical portions and the support member.
In the invention, the connecting portions are formed between the cylindrical portions to allow the cylindrical portions to contact with each other. When the cylindrical portions are contacted by squeezing the connecting portions, the end portions of the small conduits or blood vessels are contacted with each other, as well. Since the end portions of the blood vessels contact with each other, the end portions can be naturally cured or connected in the future. Thus, the connector can help curing the blood vessels naturally.
Also, in the invention, the connecting portions are bent over the cylindrical portions. Thus, the cylindrical portions moved close to each other are not separated. In case the connecting portions are bent onto two cylindrical portions, i.e. in opposite directions, the cylindrical portions are surely connected together by the connecting portions.
Preferably, each cylindrical portion includes a plurality of first elongated members arranged side by side to form a cylindrical net. At least a part of the respective first elongated members is bent when the radially inward force is applied, so that the diameter of the cylindrical portion can be reduced. The support member is formed of a plurality of second elongated members connected to each other to form a cylindrical net. The second elongated members do not substantially bend when the radially inward force is applied.
Preferably, each connecting portion is formed of two legs connected to the cylindrical portions, respectively, and a pre-bent portion situated between the two legs. When the holding device is prepared, portions of the legs connected to the cylindrical portions are situated away from each other. However, when the connecting portions are disposed over the cylindrical portions, the separated portions are squeezed so that the legs are closely contacted to each other. In this procedure, as explained before, the end surfaces of the blood vessels held between the support member and the cylindrical portions are contacted.
In the invention, the cylindrical portions may have a plurality of projections at the inner surfaces thereof to grip the small conduits or blood vessels.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4470415 (1984-09-01), Wozoniak
patent: 5139505 (1992-08-01), Palmieri
patent: 5254127 (1993-10-01), Wholey et al.
patent: 5916226 (1999-06-01), Tozzi
patent: 5997573 (1999-06-01), Quijano et al.
patent: 6036704 (2000-03-01), Yoon
patent: 0701417 (1994-12-01), None
Jackson Gary
Kanesaka & Takeuchi
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