Patent ID: 9186266
Filing Date: 2015-11-17
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A method of implanting a peripheral graft, comprising: providing an external bodily vessel support comprising: an elongate body with a longitudinal axis and an interior to be brought into apposition with an exterior of a bodily vessel, said elongate body includes a tubular fabric of a plurality of threads, said elongate body when in a relaxed configuration has a relaxed length greater than a distance between a first end and a second end of said bodily vessel when anastomosed to a vascular system, said elongate body is sized and shaped to fit over said exterior of said bodily vessel, and said tubular fabric is longitudinally elastic to maintain said relaxed length with an axial stiffness of at least 0.1 N/m; choosing said relaxed length so as to compress said elongate body to a compressed length when placed between said two anastomosed ends with an axial preload of at least 0.001 N; drawing said external bodily vessel support, with said elongate body having said relaxed length and being of said size and shape to fit over said exterior of said bodily vessel, over a delivery device comprising an internal passage of at least 6 mm in diameter, including compressing said external bodily vessel support from said relaxed length to said compressed length; threading said bodily vessel having said two ends through said passage; externally supporting said bodily vessel by unloading said external bodily vessel support from said delivery device along said bodily vessel and into apposition therewith while regaining said relaxed configuration; and extending said externally supported bodily vessel across a superficial percutaneous tunnel.