Graft implant method

Abstract

A method for implanting an end portion of a graft within the body of a patient during a bypass grafting procedure is disclosed. The body has a circulatory system which includes a femoral artery and an aorta. The method includes the steps of (i) making an incision in the body of the patient so as to expose the femoral artery and an inguinal ligament, (ii) advancing an endoscope between the femoral artery and the inguinal ligament until a distal end of the endoscope is positioned at a wording site within the body, (iii) advancing the end portion of the graft between the femoral artery and the inguinal ligament to the working site, wherein said end portion advancing step includes the step of advancing the end portion of the graft through the endoscope, and (iv) forming an anastomosis between the end portion of the graft and the aorta at the working site.

1 . (canceled)  
   
   
       2 . A method for implanting a graft conduit in communication with an aorta at a site thereon in the body of a patient, comprising: 
 forming an incision in the body of the patient at a location inferior to the site for accessing the aorta;    inserting the graft conduit through said incision extravascularly in a superior direction toward the site along the aorta;    installing within the aorta through an opening therein, one end of the graft conduit in collapsed configuration;    expanding the one end of the graft conduit within the aorta to contact interior walls of the aorta in the region of the site to anastomose the one end of the graft conduit to the aorta at the site; and    anastomosing another end of the graft conduit extending extravascularly from the aorta to a blood vessel in the body.    
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2  in which the graft conduit in collapsed configuration is expanded and urged into contact with interior walls of the aorta in response to a balloon disposed to expand under fluid pressure supplied thereto.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to claim  9  in which fluid under pressure is supplied to the balloon along a channel that extends intralumenally within the aorta between the balloon and a downstream location along a femoral artery.  
   
   
       5 . A method for implanting a graft conduit in communication with the aorta in the body of a patient, comprising: 
 forming an incision in the body of the patient at a location inferior to the inguinal ligament to expose the region between the inguinal ligament and the femoral artery for extravascular access in a superior direction toward the aorta;    inserting the graft conduit through said incision extravascularly in a superior direction toward a site along the aorta;    anastomosing one end of the graft conduit to the aorta at the site; and    anastomosing another end of the graft conduit extending extravascularly from the aorta to a blood vessel in the body.    
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 5  in which the graft conduit is exposed within said region; and 
 said another end of the graft conduit is anastomosed to the femoral artery at a location inferior to the inguinal ligament.