Implantable tissue connector

Abstract

An implantable tissue connector adapted so as to be connectable to a tubular part of living tissue within a patient's body, comprising:a conduit having at least a first end and a second end and further having an outer surface, wherein between the first and second ends of the conduit or connected to the second end of the conduit, there is provided at least one of the following items: a reservoir in the form of a fecal excrements collecting container or adapted to be filled with at least one medical drug for patient needs, a pump, a motor, a medical device of the following group of devices comprising: a drug delivery system, an artificial urine bladder, an artificial urethra, an artificial esophagus, an artificial trachea, andat least one flexible sleeve adapted to axially extend and closely fit around at least part of said outer surface of the conduit, wherein the tissue connector is adapted such that the tubular part of living tissue can be located and held in position between the conduit and the flexible sleeve.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         101 . An implantable tissue connector adapted so as to be connectable to a tubular part of living tissue within a patient's body, comprising:
 a conduit having at least a first end and a second end and further having an outer surface, wherein between the first and second ends of the conduit or connected to the second end of the conduit, there is provided at least one of the following items: a reservoir in the form of a fecal excrements collecting container or adapted to be filled with at least one medical drug for patient needs, a pump, a motor, a medical device of the following group of devices comprising: a drug delivery system, an artificial urine bladder, an artificial urethra, an artificial esophagus, an artificial trachea, and   at least one flexible sleeve adapted to axially extend and closely fit around at least part of said outer surface of the conduit, wherein the tissue connector is adapted such that the tubular part of living tissue can be located and held in position between the conduit and the flexible sleeve.   
     
     
         102 . The implantable tissue connector of  claim 101 , wherein the conduit is made from a biocompatible material, wherein the biocompatible material is preferably a material of the following group of materials comprising: titanium, stainless steel, ceramics, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), silicone, polyurethane, polypropylene, other biocompatible polymer material. 
     
     
         103 . The implantable tissue connector of  claim 101 , wherein said flexible sleeve is mounted on said outer surface either folded or rolled upon itself or so as to be foldable upon itself, wherein, where the flexible sleeve is mounted on the outer surface of the conduit so as to be foldable upon itself, the flexible sleeve, when folded upon itself, will exert radial pressure. 
     
     
         104 . The implantable tissue connector of  claim 101 , said flexible sleeve is mounted on said outer surface either folded or rolled upon itself or so as to be foldable upon itself, wherein, where the flexible sleeve is mounted on the outer surface of the conduit folded or rolled upon itself, the flexible sleeve, when unfolded or unrolled, will exert radial pressure. 
     
     
         105 . The implantable tissue connector of  claim 104 , wherein, when implanted in a patient's body with the sleeve unfolded or unrolled, the tissue connector is adapted to exert said radial pressure on any living tubular tissue placed intermediate the sleeve and the outer surface of the conduit. 
     
     
         106 . The implantable tissue connector of  claim 101 , wherein the conduit is less flexible than the flexible sleeve at least in a radial direction so as to provide support to the sleeve against radial forces. 
     
     
         107 . The implantable tissue connecter of  claim 101 , wherein the conduit and the flexible sleeve are fixedly connected to each other along an axially extending portion of the sleeve. 
     
     
         108 . The implantable tissue connector of  claim 107 , wherein the conduit and the flexible sleeve are bonded along at least part of said axially extending portion of the, wherein preferably the tissue connector comprises a primer on at least one of the conduit and the flexible sleeve to enhance bonding characteristics. 
     
     
         109 . The implantable tissue connector of  claim 101 , wherein the at least one flexible sleeve is located proximately to said first end of the conduit. 
     
     
         110 . The implantable tissue connector of  claim 101 , wherein the conduit has at least two of said flexible sleeves, wherein preferably the at least two flexible sleeves are each located proximately to one of said at least first and second ends of the conduit. 
     
     
         111 . The implantable tissue connector of  claim 101 , wherein the first end of the conduit has a free end portion and tapers towards the edge of said free end portion. 
     
     
         112 . The implantable tissue connector of  claim 101 , wherein the first end of the conduit has a free end portion with a rounded edge. 
     
     
         113 . The implantable tissue connector of  claim 101 , wherein the conduit has an inner diameter of between 0.1 and 0.5 cm or between 0.5 and 1 cm or between 1 and 2 cm or between 2 and 3 cm or between 3 and 4 cm, or, an inner diameter of 4 cm or over. 
     
     
         114 . The implantable tissue connector of  claim 101 , wherein said conduit is sized so as to be snuggly fitted into a human's esophagus. 
     
     
         115 . The implantable tissue connector of  claim 101 , wherein said conduit is sized so as to be snuggly fitted into a human's trachea. 
     
     
         116 . The implantable tissue connector of  claim 101 , wherein said conduit is sized so as to be snuggly fitted into a human's stomach. 
     
     
         117 . The implantable tissue connector of  claim 101 , wherein said conduit is sized so as to be snuggly fitted into a human's gall bladder or its connecting outlet channels. 
     
     
         118 . The implntable tissue connector of  claim 101 , wherein said conduit is sized so as to be snuggly fitted into a human's small bowel or large bowel. 
     
     
         119 . The implantable tissue connector of  claim 101 , wherein said conduit is sized so as to be snuggly fitted into a human's urethra or ureter. 
     
     
         120 . The implantable tissue connector of  claim 101 , wherein said conduit is sized so as to be snuggly fitted into a human's pelvic part of the kidney.