Vascular prosthesis

Abstract

A vascular prosthesis configured for direct connection to an artery. The vascular prosthesis may include a tube of material other than autologous vascular tissue, having an end formation, which is configured for surgical connection to an opening formed in the artery, and a narrower portion prior to commencement of the end formation. The end formation may have an enlarged chamber adapted to induce a concave section in said blood vessel upon attachment thereto.

1 . A vascular prosthesis comprising:
 generally tubular portion that defines a blood-flow lumen and that has a luminal surface that contacts blood flowing through the lumen, and an abluminal surface that does not contact blood flowing through the lumen, wherein the luminal surface comprises a material other than vascular tissue,   
       wherein
 the tubular portion has an end formation, the end formation comprising an enlarged chamber having a first diameter and a second diameter transverse to the axis of the generally tubular portion, 
 the first diameter is longer than the second diameter, 
 the first diameter comprising a heel and a toe, 
 a transition between the tubular portion the toe is outwardly initially convex before a final concave portion, 
 
       and
 the enlarged chamber is adapted to induce a concave section in a blood vessel. 
 
     
     
         2 . The vascular prosthesis according to  claim 1  wherein the enlarged chamber is configured to promote localized movement of blood having a non-laminar nature with a shear stress inducing relationship to a wall of the blood vessel. 
     
     
         3 . The vascular prosthesis according to  claim 2  wherein a transition between the generally tubular portion and the heel is generally outwardly concave. 
     
     
         4 . The vascular prosthesis according to  claim 3  wherein opposing sides of the second diameter are generally outwardly convex. 
     
     
         5 . The vascular prosthesis according to  claim 4  further comprising a narrow section positioned between the generally tubular portion and the end formation, wherein a diameter of the narrow section is less than a diameter of the generally tubular portion. 
     
     
         6 . The vascular prosthesis according to  claim 5  the generally tubular portion having a second end formation at an end of the generally tubular portion opposite the end formation. 
     
     
         7 . The vascular prosthesis according to  claim 6  wherein the second end formation comprises a second enlarged chamber having a first diameter parallel to the axis of the generally tubular portion and a second diameter transverse to the axis of the generally tubular portion, wherein the first diameter is longer than the second diameter, the first diameter comprising a heel and a toe, wherein a transition between the generally tubular portion and the toe is outwardly initially convex before a final concave portion. 
     
     
         8 . The vascular prosthesis according to  claim 7  wherein a transition between the generally tubular portion and the heel of the second enlarged chamber is generally outwardly concave. 
     
     
         9 . The vascular prosthesis according to  claim 8  wherein opposing sides of the second diameter of the second enlarged chamber are generally outwardly convex. 
     
     
         10 . The vascular prosthesis according to  claim 9  further comprising a second narrow section positioned between the generally tubular portion and the second end formation, wherein a diameter of the second narrow section is less than a diameter of the generally tubular portion. 
     
     
         11 . A vascular prosthesis comprising:
 generally tubular portion that defines a blood-flow lumen and that has a luminal surface that contacts blood flowing through the lumen, and an abluminal surface that does not contact blood flowing through the lumen, wherein the luminal surface comprises a material other than vascular tissue,   
       wherein
 the tubular portion has an end formation configured for surgical connection to an opening formed in a blood vessel, the end formation comprising an enlarged chamber having a first diameter parallel to the axis of the generally tubular portion and a second diameter transverse to the axis of the generally tubular portion, 
 the first diameter is longer than the second diameter, 
 the first diameter comprising a heel and a toe, 
 a transition between the generally tubular portion and the toe is outwardly initially convex before a final concave portion, 
 
       and
 the enlarged chamber is adapted to induce a concave section in the blood vessel upon attachment of the prosthesis to the vessel. 
 
     
     
         12 . The vascular prosthesis according to  claim 11  wherein the enlarged chamber is configured to promote localized movement of blood having a non-laminar nature with a shear stress inducing relationship to a wall of the blood vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The vascular prosthesis according to  claim 12  wherein a transition between the generally tubular portion and the heel is generally outwardly concave. 
     
     
         14 . The vascular prosthesis according to  claim 13  wherein opposing sides of the second diameter are generally outwardly convex. 
     
     
         15 . The vascular prosthesis according to  claim 14  further comprising a narrow section positioned between the generally tubular portion and the end formation, wherein a diameter of the narrow section is less than a diameter of the generally tubular portion. 
     
     
         16 . The vascular prosthesis according to  claim 15  the generally tubular portion having a second end formation at an end of the generally tubular portion opposite the end formation. 
     
     
         17 . The vascular prosthesis according to  claim 16  wherein the second end formation comprises a second enlarged chamber having a first diameter parallel to the axis of the generally tubular portion and a second diameter transverse to the axis of the generally tubular portion, wherein the first diameter is longer than the second diameter, the first diameter comprising a heel and a toe, wherein a transition between the generally tubular portion and the toe is outwardly initially convex before a final concave portion. 
     
     
         18 . The vascular prosthesis according to  claim 17  wherein a transition between the generally tubular portion and the heel of the second enlarged chamber is generally outwardly concave. 
     
     
         19 . The vascular prosthesis according to  claim 18  wherein opposing sides of the second diameter of the second enlarged chamber are generally outwardly convex. 
     
     
         20 . The vascular prosthesis according to  claim 19  further comprising a second narrow section positioned between the generally tubular portion and the second end formation, wherein a diameter of the second narrow section is less than a diameter of the generally tubular portion.