Abstract
A fitting for receiving and fixing at least one sleeve for enforcing an end of a hollow organ so that said end of the hollow organ can be connected with a further end of the hollow organ, the fitting having a cylindrically shaped body, said body being configured to receive and hold two sleeves with turned-over hollow organ ends so that inner sides of the hollow organ ends make contact with one another.
Claims
1. A fitting for receiving and fixing at least one sleeve for enforcing an end of a hollow organ so that said end of the hollow organ can be connected with a further end of the hollow organ, the fitting comprising: a cylindrically shaped body, and said body being configured to receive and hold two sleeves with turned-over hollow organ ends so that inner sides of the hollow organ ends make contact with one another.
2. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein the body is completely or partially slit in a longitudinal direction in order to allow or to facilitate the insertion of the two sleeves.
3. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein the body is a ring that is completely or partially slit in a longitudinal direction and comprises a fenestration that permits observation of the ends of the hollow organs introduced into the fitting.
4. The fitting according to claim 2, wherein the fit of said sleeve for enforcing the end of the hollow organ and of the fitting for accommodating two sleeves allows a press fit, an interference fit or a push fit.
5. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein the body has a curved profile or a U-profile along a longitudinal axis so as to encompass two sleeves with turned-over hollow organ ends over their entire lengths, wherein the inner sides of the hollow organ ends make contact with one another.
6. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein the body is configured to receive and hold a sleeve having a cylindrical shape and being configured to be pushed over the end of the hollow organ and for turning-over the end of the hollow organ projecting from the sleeve around an end of the sleeve, wherein the sleeve has an adjustable diameter.
7. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein the body is configured to receive and hold a sleeve that is formed by an expandable material mesh configured to allow adjustment of a diameter of the sleeve by application of an external pressure.
8. The fitting according to claim 7, wherein the sleeve is composed of fine metallic or nonmetallic filaments forming a cylindrical mesh with an adjustable diameter.
9. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein the body is configured to receive and hold a sleeve that is configured so that it reduces in diameter or collapses when a radial pressure is applied, and returns to its original diameter when the pressure is removed or to a reduced diameter if a reduced pressure is exerted.
10. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein the body is configured to receive and hold a sleeve that comprises a region having a reduced diameter and at least one other region which comprises a larger diameter.
11. The fitting according to claim 10, wherein a radial pressure is exerted on the sleeve region having a reduced diameter and wherein no pressure or less radial pressure is exerted on the at least one other sleeve region which comprises a larger diameter.
12. The fitting according to claim 10, wherein the region having a reduced diameter includes one end of the sleeve where a hollow organ end is folded back on the sleeve, wherein the pressure is exerted by the folded back hollow organ end.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0068] Further embodiments and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings, wherein:
[0069] FIG. 1a, 1b show a sleeve for enforcing the end of a hollow organ according to one embodiment of the invention;
[0070] FIG. 2a, 2b show a sleeve for enforcing the end of a hollow organ according to another embodiment of the invention;
[0071] FIG. 2c shows a sleeve having spikes radially extending from the sleeve, according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0072] FIG. 3a-d show a fitting according to one embodiment of the invention in (a) a first open state, (b) arranged around two hollow organ ends provided with sleeves in an open state, (c) in a closed state, and (d) arranged around two hollow organ ends in a closed state; and
[0073] FIG. 4 shows a turning-over device, according to one embodiment of the invention, in a state at which the pin of the front part of the turning-over device is inserted in the hollow organ and the end of the blood vessel butts against the rear part of the turning-over device;
[0074] FIG. 5 shows the turning-over device of FIG. 4 in a state when the end of the hollow organ is completely folded back on the sleeve;
[0075] FIG. 6 shows the turning-over device and the hollow organ with the end of the hollow organ folded back on a sleeve according to an embodiment of the invention; and
[0076] FIG. 7 shows a sequence of steps of connecting two hollow organ ends.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0077] FIGS. 1a and 1b and FIGS. 2a and 2b show sleeves 19 according to a particular embodiment of the invention. The sleeves 19 comprise a cylindrical shape and are formed of a material mesh comprising a shape-memory alloy material. The sleeves 19 have an adjustable diameter. FIGS. 1a and 2a show the mesh structure of the sleeve 19 in a compressed state when a pressure, in particular a radial pressure is exerted on the sleeve 19 as, for example, by forceps and FIGS. 1b and 2b show the mesh structure of the sleeve 19 in an expanded state without any pressure or a reduces pressure exerted. The sleeves 19 can be formed of a shape-memory allow material, such as Nitinol, of stainless steel or of a biodegradable material. Releasing the pressure exerted on the sleeves 19 in FIGS. 1a and 2a, the sleeves expands to a larger diameter as is shown in FIGS. 1b and 2b. The sleeve 19 shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b is formed of fine filaments having a cylindrical cross-section, wherein the filaments are connected with each other at the crossing points by welding. The sleeve 19 comprises a rhomb shaped mesh pattern. The sleeve 19 shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b is formed of bar-shaped filaments having a flat rectangular cross-section. The sleeve 19 has a rectangular mesh pattern as is visible in FIG. 2a. The sleeve 19 may be formed by punching or etching a thin material layer of a suitable material such as stainless steel, Nitinol, gold, etc. Alternatively, the sleeve 19 may be formed by welding of filaments.
[0078] FIG. 2c shows sleeve 19 having spikes 22 radially extending from one end of sleeve 19, according to one embodiment of the invention. One or both ends of the sleeve may be provided with spikes 22 radially extending from the sleeve 19, wherein the spikes 22 are configured to fix the turned-over hollow organ 5 end additionally on the sleeve 19. The spikes 22 can extend from the sleeve 19 at an angle between 5 degrees and 175 degrees with regard to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve 19. According to a further embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2c, the spikes 22 are formed by filaments of a material mesh forming the sleeve and extend from a region at the end of the sleeve. According to a still another embodiment, the spikes 22 formed by filaments of the material mesh are configured to vary their angle of extension from the sleeve in dependence of the diameter of the sleeve 19. In particular, the filaments may be configured so that the angle of extension of the spikes 22 is at a minimum with regard to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve 19 when the sleeve 19 has its maximum diameter, for example, when no pressure is applied, and so that the angle of extension of the spikes is at a maximum with regard to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve 19, when the sleeve 19 has a larger diameter, for example, when a pressure is applied that fits the diameter of the sleeve 19 to the outer diameter of the hollow organ.
[0079] FIG. 3 shows a fitting 13 according to a particular embodiment of the invention. The fitting 13 is formed by a flat ring having a slit in the longitudinal direction so that it can be bend and opened as is visible in FIG. 3a in order to fix it around two hollow organ 5 ends provided with sleeves 9 as shown in FIG. 3b. In the fitting 13, a number of windows 23 or openings are provided that permit to observe the contact between the hollow organ 5 ends. By closing the fitting 13 on the connected hollow organ 5 ends as is shown in FIG. 3d, a stable connection of the hollow organ 5 ends is achieved. As is visible in FIG. 3c, the fitting 13 can be formed of a spring material that can be opened against its spring tension and automatically closes on the connected hollow organ 5 ends when the bending force is released. The fitting 13 may also be formed by a biodegradable or biocompatible plastic material. In particular, it may be formed by magnesium covered with biodegradable plastic. The fitting 13 may also be formed by metal or any other suitable material.
[0080] FIG. 4 shows the turning-over device according to one embodiment of the invention, wherein a pin 1 of a front part 3 of the turning-over device is inserted into a hollow organ 5 so that the end of the hollow organ 5 abuts against a concave part of a rear part 4 of the turning-over device from which the pin 1 of the front part 3 projects. The pin 1 comprises an annular outlet 7 provided in the pin 1 perpendicular to its longitudinal axis of extension. Furthermore, a central conduit 9 coinciding with the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the pin 1 is provided in the pin 1 which branches off into a branch conduit 11 that ends in the annular outlet 7. The branch conduit 11 branches off from the central conduit 9 at an angle of about 50 degrees. While the central conduit 9 traverses basically the entire pin 1 and terminates in a dead end, the branch conduit 11 branches off from the central conduit 9 at approximately half of its length. Furthermore, in the rear part 4 of the turning-over device, a reservoir 15 is provided which is connected to the central conduit 9. The reservoir 15 is configured to receive a fluid that can be pressurized and ejected through the outlet 7. In order to pressurize the fluid, the reservoir 15 comprises a channel 16 with an opening to the outside of the rear part 4. A means for pressurizing a fluid in the reservoir 15 such as a syringe 17 or a catheter may be connected to the channel 16. Preferably, the fluid used in the turning-over device is a biocompatible fluid such as a saline solution. Furthermore, as is visible in FIG. 4, a sleeve 19 has been pushed over the end of the hollow organ 5 in such a way that the sleeve 19 partly overlaps with the tip of the pin 1 but does not cover its outlet 7. The end of the hollow organ 5 is arranged between the sleeve 19 and the pin 1 so that it extends over the entire length of the pin 1 up to the concave part 3 of the rear part 4 of the turning-over device.
[0081] Pressurizing the fluid in the reservoir 15 with a pressurizing means causes the fluid to exit the annular outlet 7. The jet of pressurized fluid impinges on the inner side of the hollow organ 5 along a basically circular line and turns the end of the hollow organ 5 over the end of the sleeve 19 so that the end of the hollow organ 5 is folded back on the sleeve 9 as is shown in FIG. 5. Preferably, the diameter of the sleeve 19 approximately corresponds to the outer diameter of the hollow organ 5, while the outer diameter of the pin 1 approximately corresponds to the inner diameter of the hollow organ 5.
[0082] FIG. 6 shows the turning-over device in combination with a sleeve 19 according to a particular embodiment that has an adjustable diameter. As is visible in FIG. 4, the sleeve 19 consists of a mesh of filaments of a self-expandable material. By means of a clamping device 21 (e.g. forceps) exerting a radial pressure on the sleeve 19, the diameter of the sleeve, which has been pushed over the hollow organ 5, is reduced and adjusted to the outer diameter of the hollow organ 5. As is visible in FIG. 6, the diameter of the sleeve 19 is only adjusted in section A on the left side of the sleeve 19, while the diameter of the sleeve 19 on the right side in section B which has not been compressed is significantly larger and corresponds to the unrestricted diameter of the mesh. Accordingly, the sleeve 19 formed of a self-expandable material mesh can be adjusted exactly to the diameter of the hollow organ 5, and subsequently the end of the hollow organ 5 can be turned over with the turning-over device and folded back on the sleeve 19. Once the end of the hollow organ 5 is turned over on the sleeve, the pressure exerted by the clamping device 21 can be released and the sleeve 19 will be held in the compressed shape by the back-folded hollow organ 5 end.
[0083] FIG. 7 schematically shows the procedural steps of connecting two hollow organ 5 ends according to one example. In a first step 1, a sleeve 19 is pushed over the hollow organ 5 end, wherein a defined length of the hollow organ 5 end projects from the sleeve 19. The sleeve 19 may be a sleeve 19 with a fixed diameter or a sleeve 19 having an adjustable diameter, wherein the sleeve 19 is preferably uncompressed during the positioning on the hollow organ 5. As shown in step 2, the length of the hollow organ 5 end projecting from the sleeve 3 basically corresponds to the distance between the proximal end of the pin 1 and the outlet 7 provided in the pin 1, wherein the sleeve 19 does not overlap the outlet 7 but just the portion of the pin at its distal end. Furthermore, a clamp 20 is provided on the hollow organ 5 behind the sleeve 19. Subsequently, a biocompatible fluid such as a saline solution is pressurized by means of a syringe 17, is ejected from the outlet 7 of the pin 1 and turns over the end of the hollow organ 5 so that it is folded back on the sleeve 19 as is visible in step 3. Subsequently, a second hollow organ 5 end is prepared in the same manner as shown in step 4. In step 5, the two hollow organ 5 ends folded back on respective sleeves 9 are introduced into a common fitting 13 and latched therein. In the fitting 13, the inner sides of the hollow organ 5 ends get into contact with each other and are fixed in this position. Accordingly, a re-established hollow organ 5 such as a blood vessel is provided.
[0084] Numerous modifications may be provided to the shown embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.
