ADJUSTABLE STENOSIS AND METHOD THEREFOR
An adjustable stenosis provides a channel comprising an outer wall and an inner wall. The inner wall may comprise resiliently flexible material. A reservoir may be formed by the outer wall and inner wall. The flexibility of the inner wall allows the reservoir to expand into the channel to increase stenosis and to contract toward the outer wall to decrease stenosis. The reservoir may have a default expanded shape or a default contracted shape. The default shape may be maintained unless the pressure or amount of filler material in the reservoir is manipulated. The reservoir may have one or more chambers. The channel may be attached to a natural lumen or a graft or may be placed around the lumen or graft.
1 . An apparatus for providing a stenosis comprising:
a channel within which blood may flow, the channel comprising an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall comprising a flexible material and shaped to protrude inward a first distance to narrow the channel;
a reservoir formed by the outer wall and inner wall, the reservoir configured to form a stenosis within the channel due to the protruding shape of the inner wall; and
an opening in the outer wall in fluid communication with the reservoir, the opening configured to allow filler material to be withdrawn from the reservoir to reduce the stenosis.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an injection port connected to the opening, the injection port configured to provide an access point through which the filler material may be withdrawn from the reservoir.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a syringe connected to the opening, the syringe configured to withdraw filler material from the reservoir, wherein withdrawing filler material from the reservoir causes the inner wall to protrude a reduced distance by reducing a size of the reservoir.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is separated into a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers in fluid communication so that filler material may be withdrawn from each of the plurality of chambers via the opening.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a flexible graft configured to accept blood flow therethrough, the flexible graft having a diameter smaller than the channel to permit the flexible graft to fit into the channel.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an endothelial coating on the inner wall, the endothelial coating comprising one or more endothelial cells.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a drug eluting material on the inner wall, the drug eluting material configured to release one or more cellular growth inhibitors.
8 . An apparatus for providing a stenosis comprising:
a channel within which blood may flow, the channel comprising an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall comprising a flexible material attached at one or more locations on an inner surface of the outer wall;
a reservoir formed by the outer wall and inner wall, the reservoir divided into a plurality of chambers by attachment of the inner wall to the outer wall at the one or more locations, the plurality of chambers in fluid communication to allow a filler material to travel between the plurality of chambers; and
an opening in the outer wall in fluid communication with the reservoir, the opening configured to allow filler material to be injected into or removed from the reservoir.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising an injection port connected to the opening, the injection port configured to provide an access point through which the filler material may be injected into the reservoir.
10 . The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a syringe configured to connect to the opening and to inject filler material into the reservoir, wherein injecting filler material into the reservoir causes the plurality of chambers to expand into the channel to narrow the channel.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the flexible material of the inner wall returns the plurality of chambers to an unexpanded shape as the filler material is removed from the reservoir.
12 . The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising one or more conduits at the one or more locations where the inner wall attaches to the outer wall, the plurality of chambers in fluid communication via the one or more conduits.
13 . The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising an endothelial coating on the inner wall, the endothelial coating comprising one or more endothelial cells.
14 . The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a drug eluting material on the inner wall, the drug eluting material configured to release one or more cellular growth inhibitors.
15 . A method for adjusting a stenosis comprising:
providing a channel comprising an outer wall and a flexible inner wall, the inner wall extended into the channel a first distance to provide a stenosis by narrowing the channel;
accessing a reservoir formed with the outer wall and the inner wall through an opening in the outer wall, the reservoir configured to hold a quantity of filler material therein;
adjusting the amount of filler material within the reservoir to cause the inner wall of the reservoir to contract or expand such that the inner wall extends into the channel a second distance, the second distance distinct from the first distance, wherein extending the inner wall to the second distance adjusts the stenosis by contracting or expanding the channel relative to the first distance;
verifying a blood flow characteristic selected from the group consisting of blood flow rate, pressure, and oxygenation; and
if verified, sealing the opening with a seal to prevent the filler material from returning to the reservoir.
16 . The method of claim 15 further comprising releasing the seal to allow the filler material to return to the reservoir and to allow the inner wall return to an extended position whereby the inner wall extends a first distance into the channel.
17 . The method of claim 15 further comprising piercing an injection port with a syringe to remove the filler material, wherein the injection port is in fluid communication with the opening.
18 . The method of claim 15 further comprising providing an endothelial coating on the inner wall, the endothelial coating comprising one or more endothelial cells.
19 . The method of claim 15 further comprising providing a drug eluting material on the inner wall, the drug eluting material configured to release one or more cellular growth inhibitors.
20 . The method of claim 15 further comprising inserting a vascular graft into the channel, wherein the reservoir controls an amount of stenosis in the vascular graft.