Graft devices and methods of fabrication
A graft device is provided comprising a flow conduit and a surrounding covering. The graft device can connect a first body space and a second body space. In one embodiment, the flow conduit is a vein, such as a harvested saphenous vein, useful as an arterial graft, for example and without limitation, in a coronary artery bypass procedure. Also provided are methods of preparing a graft device and connecting the graft device between a first body space and a second body space, such as the aorta and a location on an occluded coronary artery, distal to the occlusion.
1. A graft device for a patient, comprising:
a tubular flow conduit comprising an inner wall, an outer wall, a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therethrough; and
a tubular covering, said tubular covering surrounding a length of the tubular flow conduit and having an elastically biased curvilinear geometry customized for an anatomical geometry of an area of said patient;
wherein said tubular covering is configured to impart an elastic curvilinear bias to the graft device, and
wherein the graft device is constructed and arranged for connection between a first body space and a second body space.
2. The graft device of claim 1 , wherein the graft device comprises a varying geometry cross section from the proximal end to the distal end of the tubular flow conduit.
3. The graft device of claim 1 , wherein said anatomical geometry of an area of said patient is determined from an image produced by an instrument selected from the group consisting of: X-ray; MRI; Ct-Scan; NMR; Ultrasound; CCD Camera; film camera; and any combinations thereof.
4. The graft device of claim 1 , wherein the tubular flow conduit comprises a tissue structure.
5. The graft device of claim 4 , wherein the tissue structure is selected from the group consisting of: bone; skin; eustachian tube; artery; vein; urethra; lympathic duct; nasal channel; intestine; esophagus; ureter; urethra; trachea; bronchi; duct; fallopian tube; and combinations thereof.
6. The graft device of claim 4 , wherein the tissue structure is selected from the group consisting of: autologous tissue; allogenic tissue; xenogenic tissue; and combinations thereof.
7. The graft device of claim 4 , wherein the tissue structure comprises a hollow tissue structure.
8. The graft device of claim 7 , wherein the hollow tissue structure is selected from the group consisting of: eustachian tube; artery; vein; urethra; intestine; esophagus; ureter; urethra; trachea; fallopian tube; and combinations thereof.
9. The graft device of claim 4 , wherein the tissue structure comprises a blood vessel.
10. The graft device of claim 4 , wherein the tissue structure comprises cultured tissue.
11. The graft device of claim 10 , wherein the cultured tissue is tissue grown proximate a tubular scaffold.
12. The graft device of claim 10 , wherein the cultured tissue is tissue grown on a relatively flat plate.
13. The graft device of claim 10 , wherein the cultured tissue is tissue grown in situ.
14. The graft device of claim 1 , wherein the tubular flow conduit comprises an artificial conduit.
15. The graft device of claim 14 , wherein the artificial conduit comprises material selected from the group consisting of: PFFE; ePTFE; PVDF-HFP; silicone; and combinations thereof.
16. The graft device of claim 1 , wherein the tubular flow conduit comprises an artificial conduit and a tissue.
17. The graft device of claim 1 , wherein the tubular covering comprises a polymer.
18. The graft device of claim 17 , wherein the tubular covering comprises an electrospun polymer.
19. The graft device of claim 1 , wherein the tubular covering comprises a fiber form.
20. The graft device of claim 19 , wherein the fiber form comprises an electrospun fiber.
21. The graft device of claim 19 , wherein the fiber form comprises a spooled fiber.
22. The graft device of claim 1 , wherein the tubular covering is constructed and arranged to resist radial expansion of the tubular flow conduit.
23. The graft device of claim 1 , wherein the tubular covering comprises an elongated tube constructed and arranged to slidingly receive the tubular flow conduit.
24. The graft device of claim 23 , wherein the tubular covering is constructed and arranged to be shrunk after placement around the tubular flow conduit.
25. The graft device of claim 1 , wherein the tubular covering comprises a helical coil constructed and arranged to surround the tubular flow conduit.
26. The graft device of claim 23 , wherein the tubular covering is constructed and arranged to be expanded prior to slidingly receiving the tubular flow conduit.
27. The graft device of claim 1 , wherein the tubular covering is constructed and arranged to support an anastomotic connection.
28. The graft device of claim 1 , wherein the tubular covering comprises a slit tube constructed and arranged to surround the tubular flow conduit.