VASCULAR PROSTHESIS

Abstract: A vascular prosthesis for replacing a portion of a blood vessel in a human or animal body incorporates a tube (1) of textile material incorporating at least one transducer (2, or 3, 4) attached to the tube wall and a transmitting device (6) for transmitting a radio signal connected to the transducer whereby to transmit information about conditions sensed by the transducer.

Description: The subject of this invention is a vascular prosthesis assembly and particularly a prosthesis assembly incorporating a tubular graft .to be used for replacing a portion of a blood vessel in a human or animal body. The use of vascular prostheses is becoming more and more widespread in the treatment of certain biological conditions but at present such prostheses are merely substitutes for blood vessels. In other words once a prosthesis has been inserted as a graft in a blood vessel there is no way of knowing what is act¬ ually happening in the blood vessel without actually making a surgical examination. It would be of great advantage if a patient fitted with a vascular prosthesis could be monitored afterwards without the necessity for later surgical examination or a cybernetic reaction could be initiated on other associated organs automatically in accordance with conditions prevailing in the patient's blood. It is an object of the present invention to provide a prosthesis which makes these desirable objectives possible. A vascular prosthesis assembly according to the invention incorporates a tube' of textile material incorporating at least one transducer sensitive to at least one of the conditions to be monitored attached to the tube wall so that the sensitive portion of the transducer is exposed to the interior of the tube and a transmitting device to which the transducer is connected arranged to transmit a radio signal which carries information about conditions prevailing in blood passing through the prosthesis. The prosthesis may incorporate several transducers each sensitive to a different characteristic. For example there may be incorporated a transducer sensitive to blood pressure, there may be incorporated a transducer sensitive to the pH value of the blood, there may be incorporated a transducer sensitive to temperature. There may be incorporated in the prosthesis . two transducers spaced axially from one another, one transducer being a sound-emitting transducer and the other transducer being a sound-receiving transducer and computing means capable of determining the rate of flow of blood through the prosthesis, for example by use of the dδppler effect. The transducers may be incorporated in the structure of the prosthesis or may be attached to the prosthesis by bio-compatible adhesive. The signals produced by the transducers may be such that they can be picked up ' by a receiver located outside the body at a distance from the body or it may be arranged that they are picked up by a receiver located at another organ in the body, that receiver being arranged to stimulate that organ to operate in accordance with the signal received whereby to compensate for some undesirable effect or trend perceived by the transducer in the prosthesis. A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which 1 denotes a tube of textile material constituting a prosthesis, 2 denotes transducers sensitive to characteristics to be monitored and 3 and 4 are two transducers one of which is capable of issuing a sonic signal and the other is capable of receiving a sonic signal. 5 denotes computing means in the form of a micro-computer arranged to control operation of the transducers 3 and 4. 6 denotes a radio transmitter arranged totransmit as radio signals the signals from the transducers and from the micro- computer. In the illustrated embodiment the transmitter and the micro-computer are incorporated in a separate capsule which may be located at a remote point, for example the capsule may be located for convenience of access in a subcutaneous position. However, the transmitter and the micro-computer may be located in separate capsules or in the same capsule which may be located on the graft or at another convenient site. As a result of modern technology there are at present available transducers, radio transmitters and micro-computers small enough to be incorporated in a vascular prosthesis without deleterious effect on the operation of the prosthesis. OMPI

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A vascular prosthesis assembly comprising a tube (1) of textile material is characterized in that the tube incorporates at least .one transducer (2 or 3, 4) sensitive to at least one of the conditions to be monitored attached to the tube wall so that the sensitive portion of the transducer is exposed to the interior of the tube and a radio transmitting device (6) to which the transducer is connected to transmit a radio signal which carries information about conditions prevailing in blood passing through the prosthesis. 2. A vascular prosthesis assembly according to claim 1 characterized in that the prosthesis " incorporates two transducers (3, 4) spaced axially from one another, one transducer (3 or 4) being a sound- emitting transducer and the other transducer (4 or 3) being a sound-receiving transducer and computing means (5) capable of determining the rate of flow of blood through the prosthesis, for example by use of the dδppler effect. OMPI

Inventors: HOOD ROBERT GORDON, HOOD, ROBERT, GORDON
Applicants: COATS LTD J & P, J. & P. COATS, LIMITED
Application year: 1983
Main classification: A61F1
IPC codes: A61B5, A61B8, A61F2