Magnetic vascular access graft

Abstract

The invention relates to generally to a vascular access graft that includes a magnetic element disposed about a flow tube for guiding a blood flow between an arterial end adapted for arterial anastomosis to a portion of an artery, and a venous end adapted for venous anastomosis to a portion of a vein. The magnetic element may include a plurality of magnets disposed about the flow tube so that a magnetic field may be applied to blood flowing therein; the magnetic element may alternatively include a circuitry configured to generate a magnetic field applied to the flow tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of implanting a magnetic vascular access device, comprising:
 (a) providing a magnetic vascular access device including a tubular body of biocompatible material with an arterial end adapted for arterial anastomosis to a portion of an artery, and a venous end adapted for venous anastomosis to a portion of a vein, the tubular body housing a magnetic element disposed over a cavity running through the tubular body; and   (b) surgically connecting a first portion of a vasculature of a patient to the arterial end, a second portion of the vasculature of the patient to the venous end of the magnetic vascular access device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 step (b) is performed in a manner so as to allow a flow tube for guiding a blood flow between the arterial end and the venous end of the magnetic vascular access device to be encapsulated inside the cavity running through the tubular body and configured to apply a magnetic field to the blood flow guided through the flow tube.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 arranging the tubular body so that at least one cannulation port on a surface of the tubular body port provides needle access to an interior of the flow tube.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 adjusting a length and a width of the magnetic vascular access device by arranging at least a portion of the tubular body to form a spiral between the arterial end and the venous end of the tubular body of the magnetic vascular access device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 arranging at least a portion of the tubular body so that the tubular body forms a U-shaped curve between the arterial end and the venous end of the tubular body of the magnetic vascular access device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the U-shaped curve is arranged so that a length of the magnetic vascular access device is similar to a width of the magnetic vascular access device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wrapping, a magnetic graft collar around a portion of an artery or a vein of the vasculature that is surgically connected to the magnetic vascular access device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein:
 wrapping the magnetic graft collar around the portion of the artery or the vein comprises a wrapping a mesh body around the portion of the artery or the vein, the mesh body including at least two layers of a flexible substrate that is wrapped around the portion of the artery or the vein of the vasculature.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 disposing silver and copper between the at least two layers of the flexible substrate.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 sandwiching magnetic crystals between the at least two layers of the flexible substrate.   
     
     
         11 . A method of implanting a magnetic vascular access device, comprising:
 (a) providing a magnetic vascular access device including a tubular body of biocompatible material with an arterial end adapted for arterial anastomosis to a portion of an artery, and a venous end adapted for venous anastomosis to a portion of a vein, the tubular body housing a magnetic element disposed over a cavity running through the tubular body;   (b) surgically connecting a first portion of a vasculature of a patient to the arterial end, and a second portion of the vasculature of the patient to the venous end of the magnetic vascular access device, in a manner so as to allow a flow tube for guiding a blood flow between the arterial end and the venous end of the magnetic vascular access device to be encapsulated inside the cavity running through the tubular body and configured to apply a magnetic field to the blood flow guided through the flow tube; and   (c) adjusting a length and a width of the magnetic vascular access device by arranging at least a portion of the tubular body.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein adjusting the length of the tubular body comprises:
 arranging at least a portion of the tubular body to form a spiral between the arterial end and the venous end of the tubular body of the magnetic vascular access device.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein adjusting the length of the tubular body comprises:
 arranging at least a portion of the tubular body so that the tubular body forms a U-shaped curve between the arterial end and the venous end of the tubular body of the magnetic vascular access device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 arranging the tubular body so that at least one cannulation port on a surface of the tubular body port provides needle access to an interior of the flow tube.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 wrapping, a magnetic graft collar around a portion of an artery or a vein of the vasculature that is surgically connected to the magnetic vascular access device.   
     
     
         16 . A method of implanting a magnetic vascular access device, comprising:
 (a) providing a magnetic vascular access device including a tubular body of biocompatible material with an arterial end adapted for arterial anastomosis to a portion of an artery, and a venous end adapted for venous anastomosis to a portion of a vein, the tubular body housing a magnetic element disposed over a cavity running through the tubular body;   (b) surgically connecting the magnetic vascular access device to a vasculature of a patient, by: surgically connecting a first portion of the vasculature of the patient to the arterial end, and a second portion of the vasculature of the patient to the venous end of the magnetic vascular access device, in a manner so as to allow a flow tube for guiding a blood flow between the arterial end and the venous end of the magnetic vascular access device to be encapsulated inside the cavity running through the tubular body and configured to apply a magnetic field to the blood flow guided through the flow tube; and   (c) prior to or subsequent to surgically connecting the magnetic vascular access device to the vasculature of the patient, wrapping a magnetic graft collar around a portion of an artery or a vein of the vasculature that is surgically connected to the magnetic vascular access device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 wrapping the magnetic graft collar around the portion of the artery or the vein comprises a wrapping a mesh body around the portion of the artery or the vein, the mesh body including at least two layers of a flexible substrate that is wrapped around the portion of the artery or the vein of the vasculature.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 adjusting a length and a width of the magnetic vascular access device by arranging at least a portion of the tubular body.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 disposing silver and copper between the at least two layers of the flexible substrate.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 sandwiching magnetic crystals between the at least two layers of the flexible substrate.