Patent ID: 8591451

Claim:
A method for creating bloodstream access in an animal subject, the method comprising the steps of: (a) accessing a vessel of the subject surgically; (b) stopping blood flow in a portion of the vessel; (c) making an opening through the wall of one side of the vessel within the portion where the blood flow was stopped; (d) creating a puncture hole in the vessel wall at a site opposite the opening; (e) inserting into the puncture hole a vessel wall traversing device with a first end positioned in the lumen of the vessel and a second end projecting outwardly from the vessel wall, wherein the vessel wall traversing device is shaped like a blunt-ended nail with a hollow shank having a bore through its length and a head of a larger diameter than the shank; (f) connecting the second end of the vessel wall traversing device to one end of a cannula; (g) positioning the other end of the cannula so that it protrudes through the skin of the subject; (h) clamping a portion of the cannula protruding from the subject; (i) closing the incision; (j) restoring blood flow to the vessel; and (k) accessing blood within the vessel via the portion of the cannula protruding from the subject.