Vascular access

Abstract

A system for providing vascular access in a patient's body may comprise at least one hemostatic valve and at least one clamp to be used with a vascular graft. The vascular graft comprises a tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being configured to be attached to a vessel in a patient's body. The at least one valve is configured to be attached to the distal end of the graft's tubular body and comprises a housing including a flexible membrane that allows a medical device to be inserted through the membrane into said vascular graft. The valve further comprises an introducer sheath configured to be inserted into the distal end of the graft's tubular body. The at least one clamp is configured to be disposed around the graft's tubular body and has a first configuration that allows insertion of the valve's introducer sheath into the distal end of the graft's tubular body and a second configuration that allows clamping of the graft against the valve's introducer sheath, when inserted in the graft's tubular body.

1 . A clamp for use in a system for providing vascular access in a patient's body, the clamp comprising:
 at least one annular body having a first circumferential end and a second circumferential end;   wherein the clamp is configured to be disposed around a vascular graft;   wherein the clamp includes a first configuration that allows insertion of an introducer sheath of a valve into the vascular graft;   wherein the clamp includes a second configuration that allows clamping of the vascular graft against the introducer sheath when the introducer sheath is inserted in the vascular graft; and   wherein the first and second circumferential ends are configured to overlap so as to permit variation of an inner diameter of the at least one annular body when the clamp is moved between the first and second configurations.   
     
     
         2 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second circumferential ends of the annular body have mating tooth structures that together form a ratchet mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The clamp of  claim 2 , wherein the clamp includes a first handle and a second handle, the first handle extending radially outwards from the annular body near the first circumferential end and the second handle extending radially outwards from the annular body near the second circumferential end, wherein movement of the first and second handles towards each other causes a decrease of the inner diameter of the annular body. 
     
     
         4 . The clamp of  claim 3 , further comprising a third handle extending radially outwards from the annular body adjacent the first circumferential end and being spaced from the first handle, wherein movement of the first and third handles towards each other causes the first circumferential end to flex radially outwards, thereby allowing release of the ratchet mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The clamp of  claim 2 , wherein the annular body includes a longitudinal notch forming a predetermined breaking line to allow breaking of the clamp along a longitudinal direction intermediate the first and second circumferential ends. 
     
     
         6 . The clamp of  claim 5 , wherein the notch is disposed in the annular body opposite the ratchet mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp includes at least two annular bodies joined together by magnetic, mechanical or physical forces to form a single integral body. 
     
     
         8 . The clamp of  claim 7 , wherein a circumferential notch is circumferentially disposed between the at least two annular bodies to form a predetermined breaking line, the notch configured to allow separation of the annular bodies.