Patent ID: 9314358
Filing Date: 2016-04-19
CPC Classification: A61F

Claim Text:
1. A method of intraoperatively repairing a transected body vessel having first and second vessel portions with first and second end openings, comprising: providing a delivery device including a handle portion and at least one shaft coupled thereto; providing a prosthesis assembly disposed at an end of the delivery device, the prosthesis assembly comprising a self-expanding prosthesis having first and second outer ends and a middle portion therebetween, and a removable sheath having a tubular intermediate portion retaining the prosthesis in a radially compressed configuration, with first and second extended end portions each extending from the intermediate portion, wherein the first and second extended end portions are coupled to the at least one shaft and wherein the at least one shaft is positioned longitudinally between the first and second outer ends of the prosthesis; and inserting a first length of the prosthesis assembly corresponding to the first outer end of the prosthesis into a first end opening of the first vessel portion; inserting a second length of the prosthesis assembly corresponding to the second outer end of the prosthesis into a second end opening of the second vessel portion; rotating the at least one shaft for removal of first extended end portion of the sheath from the prosthesis in a first direction for expansion of the first outer end of the prosthesis in order to purchase a vessel wall of the first vessel portion, and rotating the at least one shaft for removal of second extended end portion of the sheath from the prosthesis in a second direction, opposite the first direction, for expansion of the second outer end of the prosthesis in order to purchase a vessel wall of the second vessel portion, whereby the prosthesis is in a fully expanded configuration and couples the first and second vessel portions together.