Surgery – Means for introducing or removing material from body for... – Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-27
2001-02-13
Seidel, Richard K. (Department: 3763)
Surgery
Means for introducing or removing material from body for...
Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
C604S523000, C604S264000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186999
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a blood flow cannula, and more particularly, to a generally rigid clampable blood flow cannula.
Cannulas are often used to guide blood flow out of a person's heart and into a ventricle assist device which aids the heart in delivering blood to the body. A first end of the cannula is passed directly through the heart wall, and is fixed in place by sewing a fabric cuff to the outer wall of the heart. A second end of the cannula is then coupled to a conduit which delivers the blood to the ventricle assist device. It is known to manufacture cannulas of clear polymer tubing. However, such cannulas are susceptible to kinking, or may be squeezed shut by internal organs abutting against the cannula, which blocks the flow of blood.
In response to this problem, cannulas were developed which had a coiled wire disposed inside the cannula. The coiled wire provides support to avoid kinking and collapsing of the cannula. However, it is often necessary to clamp the cannula to temporarily block the flow of blood therethrough. Cannulas having a coiled wire may be difficult to clamp, and/or may not have sufficient resiliency to return to their original unclamped shape once the clamp is removed. Accordingly, there exists a need for a cannula which avoids kinking and inadvertent closure, but can be clamped and return to its original position when the clamp is removed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a generally rigid cannula which includes a clampable portion that can be clamped when it is desired to block the flow of blood therethrough. Upon removal of the clamp the clampable portion returns to its original shape, thereby allowing the flow of blood to resume through the cannula. The present invention also avoids inadvertent kinking.
More particularly, the present invention is a clampable conduit comprising a generally rigid section having a first end and a generally flexible section generally coaxial with the rigid section. The flexible section extends axially in a first direction beyond the first end. The conduit also has a generally rigid sleeve moveable between a cover position, wherein the sleeve covers a first part of the flexible section, and an uncovered position, wherein the sleeve does not cover the first part of a flexible section, to enable clamping of the conduit. The sleeve ensures that the conduit remains protected from inadvertent closure.
Other features and advantages of the present device will become apparent from the following detailed description, with reference to the accompanying drawings and claims, which form a part of the specification.
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Calfee Halter & Griswold LLP
Rodriguez Cris
Seidel Richard K.
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
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