End to end anastomotic connector
An end-to-end anastomotic connector is provided. The anastomotic connector includes solely an arterial connector and a venous connector. The inner diameter of the proximal end of the arterial connector is sized to directly receive the proximal end of the venous connector in an interference fit without the need for a graft material therebetween. The arterial connector and the venous connector are implanted in an artery and vein, respectively, to form a co-axial relationship with the respective vessel.
1 . An anastomotic connector comprising:
an arterial connector having a distal arterial end co-axially implantable into an arterial passageway and a proximal arterial end, wherein an outer diameter of said distal arterial end is smaller than an outer diameter of said proximal arterial end; and
a venous connector having a distal venous end co-axially implantable into a venous passageway and a proximal venous end, wherein an outer diameter of the distal venous end is larger than an outer diameter of the proximal venous end, said venous connector having a substantially conical body comprising a frame structure including a plurality of struts and a plurality of interstices located between said struts and a fluid impermeable material deposited on said struts such that said fluid impermeable material fills the interstices;
wherein the inner diameter of the proximal arterial end is sized to receive the proximal venous end in an interference fit connection to form an anastomotic connector, the interference fit connection configured to be positioned at least partially outside the arterial passageway and the venous passageway, wherein the proximal venous end within the interference fit connection is bendable and configured to bend the anastomotic connector in an approximately U-shape when the arterial connector is deployed within the arterial passageway and the venous connector is deployed within the venous passageway;
wherein said venous connector includes an anchoring device that extends radially outwardly at an acute angle from a longitudinal axis of a tubular main body of the venous connector at the distal venous end; and
wherein said tubular main body of said venous connector is configured to stretch upon being exposed to arterial pressure while said anchoring device is configured to prevent expansion of the venous passageway.
2 . The anastomotic connector of claim 1 wherein said anchoring device is configured to lie adjacent a venous vessel wall.
3 . The anastomotic connector of claim 1 wherein said anchoring device is configured to penetrate a venous vessel wall to seat said anastomotic connector in a venous passageway.
4 . The anastomotic connector of claim 1 wherein said arterial connector is coated with a fluid impermeable material.
5 . The anastomotic connector of claim 4 wherein said fluid impermeable material is woven.
6 . The anastomotic connector of claim 4 wherein said fluid impermeable material is a polymeric material.
7 . The anastomotic connector of claim 4 wherein said fluid impermeable material is deposited onto said anastomotic connector by electrospinning.
8 . The anastomotic connector of claim 4 wherein said fluid impermeable material is deposited onto said anastomotic connector by extrusion.
9 . The anastomotic connector of claim 4 wherein said coating covers the entirety of said venous connector and said arterial connector.
10 . The anastomotic connector of claim 4 wherein said coating covers the proximal end, a mid-portion and the distal end of said venous connector such that an anchoring device at the distal venous end remains uncoated.
11 . The anastomotic connector of claim 1 wherein said venous connector and said arterial connector are formed from a shape memory material.
12 . The anastomotic of claim 1 wherein the venous connector and the arterial connector have a column pitch that is substantially equivalent along the length of a body of the venous and arterial connector.
13 . The anastomotic of claim 1 wherein the outer diameter of the distal end of the arterial connector is from 3-5 mm.
14 . The anastomotic connector of claim 1 wherein the inner diameter of the proximal end of the arterial connector is about 7 mm.
15 . The anastomotic connector of claim 1 wherein a length of the arterial connector and the venous connector is from 4 cm to 8 cm.
16 . The anastomotic connector of claim 1 wherein the outer diameter of the distal end of the venous connector is from 5 to 7 mm.
17 . The anastomotic connector of claim 1 wherein said arterial connector includes an anchoring device that extends radially outwardly at an acute angle from a longitudinal axis of a tubular main body at the distal arterial end.
18 . The anastomotic connector of claim 1 wherein the outer diameter of the proximal venous end is smaller than the inner diameter of the proximal arterial end.
19 . The anastomotic connector of claim 1 wherein:
said arterial connector is configured to assume an outer diameter equal to an inner diameter of the arterial passageway when the arterial connector is deployed within the arterial passageway; and
said venous connector is configured to assume an outer diameter equal to an inner diameter of the venous passageway when the venous connector is deployed within the venous passageway.