Patent ID: 6726711
Filing Date: 2004-04-27
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
An artificial blood vessel comprising:a tubular portion suitable for implanting beneath the skin of a living animal and being formed from a material to which a natural blood vessel will graft, the tubular portion having a lumen; a pocket located along the tubular portion and also suitable for implanting beneath the skin of the living animal, the pocket enclosing a chamber which communicates with the lumen of the tubular portion; and a port attached to the pocket and configured to project through the skin of the living animal, the port including a passage which extends through it and opens into the chamber of the pocket, the port also having a sealing surface that surrounds the passage where the passage opens into the chamber, the port also including a valve element which normally bears against the sealing surface to isolate the passage from the chamber of the pocket, but is displaceable away from the sealing surface such that the valve element and sealing surface are separated; thus enabling the passage to communicate with the chamber of the pocket.