Patent ID: 6059821
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: A61B,A61F,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for controlling the circulation of blood in a damaged vascular zone having a main lumen and at least first and second branching lumens connected to said main lumen at a branch location, each of said lumens having an inner wall, said method being partially invasive and comprising the steps of:using minimally invasive endoluminal techniques, advancing an expandable tubular branching vascular graft along a vessel in fluid communication with said damaged vascular zone and into said damaged vascular zone, and expanding said tubular branching vascular graft into said damaged vascular zone, said expandable tubular branching vascular graft having a main portion and first and second branching portions connected to said main portion at a junction, the tubular branching vascular graft comprising a first tubular sheath for canalizing blood therein bound to a first radially expandable tubular frame, at least one of said first and second branching portions having an expandable tubular vascular graft extension connected thereto, said expandable tubular vascular graft extension having a main axis and first and second ends and comprising a second tubular sheath for canalizing blood therein bound to a second radially expandable tubular frame configured to expand the second sheath, the second tubular frame of said expandable tubular vascular graft extension being connected to the first tubular frame of said tubular branching vascular graft at said at least one of said first and second branching portions by said first end with said second end being free, said second tubular sheath comprising a sheath extension extending beyond said second radially expandable tubular frame at the second, free end so that the second, free end of said expandable tubular vascular graft extension is free of any supporting tubular frame,disposing the sheath extension of the expandable tubular vascular graft extension in one of the first and second branching lumens of the vascular zone, the sheath extension being free of said tubular frame, andusing surgical techniques to access the damaged vascular zone, said surgical techniques being generally more invasive than said endoluminal techniques, chirurgically connecting said sheath extension to a vessel portion and/or to a vessel substitute adapted to canalize blood using connecting means that pass through said sheath extension and walls of said vessel portion and/or said vessel substitute.