Patent ID: 7537599
Filing Date: 2009-05-26
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A method of creating a temporary seal in a blood vessel for vascular anastomosis comprising the steps of: providing a low profile shaft assembly having an expandable region and a sealing membrane spanning said expandable region; inserting said assembly into a blood vessel through an insertion site at a first location on a blood vessel wall, and positioning the expandable region of the shaft assembly at a target sealing site on the blood vessel wall remote from the insertion site at a second location along the length of the blood vessel; deploying said expandable region from a first low-profile position to a second expanded position; and engaging the blood vessel wall at the target sealing site with the expandable region in its second expanded position to create a temporary seal at the target site without interrupting the flow of blood through the blood vessel, the sealed area being larger than the insertion site; and performing an anastomosis procedure at the target sealing site.