Patent ID: 8784474
Filing Date: 2014-07-22
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A system for connection between two vessel portions during open surgery, the system comprising: a prosthesis movable between a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration, the prosthesis having a first outer end, a second outer end, and an intermediate portion extending therebetween, each of the first and second outer ends and the intermediate portion independently retainable in the compressed configuration and movable therefrom to the expanded configuration; and a first strand, a second strand, and a third strand each having a proximal end and a distal end, the first strand comprising a first releasable loop at the distal end thereof, the second strand comprising a second releasable loop at the distal end thereof, and the third strand comprising a third releasable loop at the distal end thereof, the first releasable loop surrounding the first outer end of the prosthesis to retain the first outer end of the prosthesis in the compressed configuration, the second releasable loop surrounding the second outer end of the prosthesis to retain the second outer end of the prosthesis in the compressed configuration, and the third releasable loop surrounding the intermediate portion of the prosthesis to retain the intermediate portion of the prosthesis in the compressed configuration, wherein at least one of the first and second releasable loops is configured to be removed in response to retraction of the proximal end of the corresponding strand from external to the prosthesis, to allow for expansion of the corresponding first or second portion of the prosthesis to the expanded configuration to engage a vessel portion, wherein at least one of the first and second strands comprises a tensile strength less than a tensile strength of the third strand such that the third strand is configured to withstand a greater proportion of an outward radial force exerted by the prosthesis than the first or second strand when the first and second outer ends and the intermediate portion of the prosthesis are held in the compressed configuration.