Implantable prosthetic device for connection to a fluid flow pathway of a patient and methods of using the same

Abstract

An implantable prosthetic for connection to a fluid flow pathway of a patient. The prosthetic is comprised of a primary tube structure which is in communication with a plurality of secondary tube structures each of which contains filters for trapping embolic particles, such as blood clots, air bubbles, thrombus. etc. within a fluid flow pathway within a patient. The prosthetic also contains a monitoring device to non-invasively the flow of fluids through a patient's fluid flow pathway.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method of monitoring fluid flow through an implantable prosthetic connected to a fluid flow pathway of a patient, the method comprising:
 locating an external anatomical area on a patient proximate the situs of an implantable prosthetic device implanted within a fluid flow pathway of the patient, wherein said implantable prosthetic device comprises a primary tube structure having a proximal end, a distal end, and a wall, wherein said wall defines an interior lumen of predetermined diameter, wherein said primary tube structure is furcated at a predefined position between said proximal end and said distal end into a plurality of secondary tube structures, wherein each of said secondary tube structures comprises a wall defining an interior lumen of predetermined diameter, wherein the interior lumen defined by the wall of said primary tube structure is in communication with the interior lumen defined by the wall of each of said secondary tube structures, and wherein a filter is disposed in each of said secondary tube structures; and   detecting fluid flow through said implantable prosthetic device implanted within the patient's fluid flow pathway using a fluid flow monitoring device.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said fluid flow monitoring device is an imaging device. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said fluid flow monitoring device is a listening device. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said fluid flow monitoring device is an x-ray photography device. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said fluid flow monitoring device is a magnetic resonance imaging device, a magnetic induction device, or a radio frequency (RF) device, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said fluid flow monitoring device is a stethoscope. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said primary tube structure and said secondary tube structures have a biocompatible exterior surface. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said primary tube structures and said secondary tube structures consist of polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said polytetrafluoroethylene is selected from the group consisting of expanded tetrafluoroethylene, stretched polytetrafluoroethylene, and stretched and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said primary tube structures and said secondary tube structures consist of copolymeric material. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said filter includes a frame defining a space, and a porous covering coupled to said frame such that said porous covering covers the space defined by said frame. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein a pore size of said porous covering is about 20 to about 300 microns. 
     
     
         41 . The method  claim 39 , wherein the porous covering is a flexible polymeric material comprising regularly-spaced holes therein. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said flexible polymeric material is chosen from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyethylene or a copolymer thereof. 
     
     
         43 . The method  claim 41 , wherein said flexible polymeric material is an elastomeric material capable of stretching to achieve the diameter of a fluid flow pathway. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said filter is removable. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein each of said secondary tube structures include at least one fluid flow indicator. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said at least one fluid flow indicator is a thin wire filament. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said at least one fluid flow indicator is an impeller.