Assembly with a guide wire and a fixator for attaching to a blood vessel

Abstract

A fixator assembly comprising a fixator for fixing inside a blood vessel, the fixator being able to slide proximally along a guide wire. The assembly comprising means for preventing the fixator from moving distally of the preventing means. A tubular element for introduction into a blood vessel of a person, the tubular element comprising an end opening and a plurality of side openings as well as a transport wire extending from inside the tubular element and to the surroundings thereof through an individual side opening.

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An assembly comprising:
 a tubular element having:
 a main tube with an inner space defined between a first and a second end portion along a longitudinal axis of the main tube and at least an end opening at the first end portion from the inner space to surroundings of the main tube, and 
 at least a first and a second side opening each being positioned between the first and second end portions, 
   at least a first and a second transport wire and   a delivery introducer, the tubular element being collapsed and positioned in the delivery introducer, the first and second transport wires provided within the main tube and extending within the delivery introducer,   wherein:
 each transport wire has a length, a first end, a second end, a first part and a second part, 
 the first parts of each transport wire extend from inside the main tube and out of the tubular element through the end opening and in a direction away from the main tube, 
 the second part of the first transport wire extends from inside the main tube and out of the tubular element through the first side opening, along the main tube and in the direction away from the main tube, and 
 the second part of the second transport wire extends from inside the main tube and out of the tubular element through the second side opening along the main tube and in the direction away from the main tube, 
 the length of each transport wire being sufficient for the first and second ends of the transport wire to extend out of a person when the tubular element is positioned within a blood vessel of the person. 
   
     
     
         16 . An assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the tubular element comprises a branch tube attached to the main tube and opening into the main tube, the first side opening being an opening from the surroundings into the branch tube, and   the second part of the first transport wire extends from an inner space of the main tube and out of the tubular element through the branch tube and the first side opening.   
     
     
         17 . A tubular element having:
 a main tube having an inner space defined between a first and a second end portion along a longitudinal axis of the main tube and at least a first end opening at the first end portion from the inner space to surroundings of the main tube,   a side opening positioned between the first and second end portions between the inner space and the surroundings,   a transport wire having a first part, which extends from the inner space and out of the tubular element through the end opening, and a second part, which extends from the inner space and out of the tubular element through the side opening,   for use in a method comprising positioning the tubular element in a main blood vessel, having a branch vessel, of a person or animal by:
 providing an assembly having a guide wire and a fixator adapted to be releasably attached to an inner side of the branch vessel, the fixator being attached to the guide wire, which guide wire has a distal end for introduction into the branch vessel and a proximal end, 
 introducing the fixator into the branch vessel, via the main blood vessel, and fixing the fixator to the branch vessel, 
 providing the tubular element inside the main blood vessel so that the first part of the transport wire is engageable from outside a patient, 
 fixing or attaching the second part of the transport wire to the guide wire, and 
 pulling the first part of the transport wire to have the guide wire extend from the fixator through the side opening, the inner space, and the end opening, and 
 leaving the tubular element in a patient. 
   
     
     
         18 . A tubular element according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the tubular element comprises a branch tube attached to the main tube and opening into the main tube, the side opening being an opening from the surroundings into the branch tube, and   the second part of the transport wire extends from the inner space of the main tube and out of the tubular element through the branch tube and the side opening.   
     
     
         19 . A tubular element according to  claim 17 , wherein the main blood vessel has a plurality of branch vessels and wherein:
 the tubular element has:
 a plurality of side openings, 
 a plurality of transport wires, the first part of each transport wire extending from the inner space of the main tube and out of the tubular element through the end opening and the second part of each transport wire extending from the inner space of the main tube and out of the tubular element through a separate side opening, 
   the providing step comprises providing a plurality of the assemblies,   the introducing step comprises introducing a fixator into each of the branch vessels and fixing the fixators in the branch vessels,   the fixing/attaching step comprises fixing/attaching each guide wire to a second part of a separate transport wire, where the branch vessel in which the guide wire is fixed corresponds to the side opening through which the second part extends, and   the pulling step comprises pulling the first parts of the transport wires so as to have the guide wires extend from the individual fixators through the individual side openings and the inner space of the main tube, the end opening, and toward the outside of a patient.   
     
     
         20 . A method of positioning a tubular element having:
 a main tube having an inner space defined between a first and a second end portion along a longitudinal axis of the main tube and at least an end opening at the first end portion from the inner space to surroundings of the main tube,   at least a first and a second side opening each being positioned between the first and second end portions,   a transport wire element having a first part and a plurality of second parts, the first part extending from inside the main tube and out of the tubular element through the end opening, the second parts extending from inside the main tube and out of the tubular element through separate side openings,   in a main blood vessel, having a branch vessel, of a person or animal, the method comprising:
 providing an assembly having a guide wire and a fixator adapted to be releasably attached to an inner side of the branch vessel, the fixator being attached to the guide wire, which guide wire has a distal end for introduction into the branch vessel and a proximal end, 
 introducing the fixator into the branch vessel, via the main blood vessel, and fixing the fixator to the branch vessel, 
 providing the tubular element inside the main blood vessel so that the first part of the transport wire is engageable from outside a patient, 
 fixing or attaching one of the second parts of the transport wire element to the guide wire, and 
 pulling the first part of the transport wire element to have the guide wire extend from the fixator through the side opening, the inner space, and the end opening. 
   
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein:
 the tubular element comprises a branch tube attached to the main tube and opening into the main tube, the side opening being an opening from the surroundings into the branch tube, and   one second part of the transport wire element extends from the inner space of the main tube and out of the tubular element through the branch tube and the one side opening.   
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the pulling step comprises having the guide wire finally extend to the outside of the person. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein:
 the introducing step comprises the step of having the guide wire of the fixed fixator extend to the outside of the patient,   the providing step comprises having also the second part of the transport wire element extend to the outside of the patient, and   the fixing/attaching step comprises fixing or attaching the second part to the guide wire outside the patient.   
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the fixing/attaching step comprises fixing or attaching the second part to the guide wire inside a blood vessel of the person. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the step of providing the assembly comprises providing an assembly in which the fixator may move independently of the guide wire, the assembly further comprising means preventing the fixator from travelling distally of the preventing means or beyond the distal end of the guide wire,
 the method further comprising the steps of, subsequent to the pulling step:
 removing the fixator while maintaining the distal end of the guide wire inside the branch vessel, and 
 introducing another element along the guide wire. 
   
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the introducing step comprises introducing another tubular element along the guide wire and positioning the other tubular element so as to extend from inside the tubular element and into the branch vessel. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 26 , wherein the positioning step comprises positioning the other tubular element so as to cover an area of the branch vessel where the fixator was fixed. 
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein:
 the providing step comprises providing a plurality of the assemblies,   the introducing step comprises introducing a fixator into each of the branch vessels and fixing the fixators in the branch vessels,   the fixing/attaching step comprises fixing/attaching each guide wire to a separate second part of the transport wire element, where the branch vessel in which the guide wire is fixed corresponds to the side opening through which the second part extends, and   the pulling step comprises pulling the first part of the transport wire element so as to have the guide wires extend from the individual fixators through the individual side openings and the inner space of the main tube, the end opening, and toward the outside of the patient.   
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the introducing step comprises introducing the fixator into a blood vessel of a person through a percutaneous opening into the blood vessel, and wherein the providing step providing the tubular element inside the main blood vessel through the same opening of the person. 
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the introducing step comprises introducing the tubular element in a fully or partly collapsed state, wherein the pulling step comprises positioning the tubular element within the main blood vessel, the method comprising the step of, pursuant to the pulling step, bringing the tubular element from the fully or partly collapsed state and to a fully deployed state. 
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 20 , comprising the step of leaving the tubular element in the person. 
     
     
         32 . A tubular element having:
 a main tube having an inner space defined between a first and a second end portion along a longitudinal axis of the main tube and at least an end opening at the first end portion from the inner space to surroundings of the main tube,   at least a first and a second side opening each being positioned between the first and second end portions,   a transport wire element having a first part and a plurality of second parts, the first part extending from inside the main tube and out of the tubular element through the end opening, the second parts extending from inside the main tube and out of the tubular element through separate side openings.   
     
     
         33 . A tubular element according to  claim 32 , wherein:
 the tubular element comprises a branch tube attached to the main tube and opening into the main tube, one side opening being an opening from the surroundings into the branch tube, and   the second part of the first transport wire extends from the inner space of the main tube and out of the tubular element through the branch tube and the first side opening.   
     
     
         34 . A tubular element having:
 a main tube having an inner space defined between a first and a second end portion along a longitudinal axis of the main tube and at least a first end opening at the first end portion from the inner space to surroundings of the main tube,   a plurality of side openings positioned between the first and second end portions between the inner space and the surroundings,   a transport wire element having a first part, which extends from the inner space and out of the tubular element through the end opening, and a plurality of second parts each extending from the inner space and out of the tubular element through a respective side opening,   for use in a method comprising positioning the tubular element in a main blood vessel, having a branch vessel, of a person or animal by:
 providing an assembly having a guide wire and a fixator adapted to be releasably attached to an inner side of the branch vessel, the fixator being attached to the guide wire, which guide wire has a distal end for introduction into the branch vessel and a proximal end, 
 introducing the fixator into the branch vessel, via the main blood vessel, and fixing the fixator to the branch vessel, 
 providing the tubular element inside the main blood vessel so that the first part of the transport wire is engageable from outside a patient, 
 fixing or attaching one of the second parts of the transport wire to the guide wire, and 
 pulling the first part of the transport wire element to have the guide wire extend from the fixator through the pertaining side opening, the inner space, and the end opening, and 
 leaving the tubular element in the patient. 
   
     
     
         35 . A tubular element according to  claim 34 , wherein:
 the tubular element comprises a branch tube attached to the main tube and opening into the main tube, one side opening being an opening from the surroundings into the branch tube, and   one second part of the transport wire element extends from the inner space of the main tube and out of the tubular element through the branch tube and the one side opening.   
     
     
         36 . A tubular element according to  claim 34 , wherein:
 the providing step comprises providing a plurality of the assemblies,   the introducing step comprises introducing a fixator into each of the branch vessels and fixing the fixators in the branch vessels,   the fixing/attaching step comprises fixing/attaching each guide wire to a separate second part of the transport wire element, where the branch vessel in which the guide wire is fixed corresponds to the side opening through which the second part extends, and   the pulling step comprises pulling the first part of the transport wire element so as to have the guide wires extend from the individual fixators through the individual side openings and the inner space of the main tube, the end opening, and toward the outside of the patient.