Apparatus and method for connecting a conduit to a hollow vessel

Abstract

An applicator for forming a hole in a wall of a hollow vessel and engaging a graft, the applicator comprising: a hole forming element adapted to form a hole in the wall of the vessel, the hole forming element comprising a cutting element adapted to cut a hole in the wall of the vessel and a positioning element adapted to hold the position of the applicator relative to the vessel; and an insertion element adapted to be inserted through the wall of the vessel, the insertion element comprising a retraction element adapted to enter into engagement with a graft.

1 . An applicator for forming a hole in a wall of a hollow vessel and engaging a graft, the applicator comprising:
 a hole forming element adapted to form a hole in the wall of the vessel, the hole forming element comprising a cutting element adapted to cut a hole in the wall of the vessel and a positioning element adapted to hold the position of the applicator relative to the vessel; and   an insertion element adapted to be inserted through the wall of the vessel, the insertion element comprising a retraction element adapted to enter into engagement with a graft.   
     
     
         2 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the positioning element comprises:
 a reaction element adapted to be positioned on the outside of the wall of the vessel; and   a clamping element adapted to be positioned on the inside of the wall of the vessel,   wherein the wall of the vessel is held between the reaction element and the clamping element, thereby holding the position of the applicator relative to the vessel.   
     
     
         3 .- 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The applicator of  claim 1 , further comprising a graft protection element adapted to prevent the graft from being damaged by the cutting element. 
     
     
         7 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the graft is predisposed within the vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the retraction element comprises a graft attachment tool. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the retraction element is further adapted to be withdrawn from the hole formed in the wall of the vessel after entering into engagement with the graft, thereby withdrawing a portion of the graft. 
     
     
         11 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting element is a cutting blade. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel is the aorta. 
     
     
         25 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the insertion element further comprises a trocar. 
     
     
         26 . The applicator of  claim 1 , further comprising a sequencing means for coordinating at least one of holding the position of the applicator relative to the vessel with the positioning element, cutting a hole in the wall of the vessel with the cutting element, inserting the insertion element through the wall of the vessel, entering the retraction element into engagement with the graft, and withdrawing the retraction element from the hole formed in the wall of the vessel. 
     
     
         27 .- 70 . (canceled) 
     
     
         71 . A system for forming a side branch on a hollow vessel, the system comprising:
 a graft including a main vessel portion and a side branch portion, the graft being in a compressed state; and   an applicator comprising a hole forming element adapted to form a hole in the wall of the vessel and an insertion element adapted to be inserted through the wall of the vessel, the insertion element comprising a retraction element adapted to enter into engagement with the graft.   
     
     
         72 . The system of  claim 71 , wherein the hole forming element comprises:
 a cutting element adapted to cut a hole in the wall of the vessel; and   a positioning element adapted to hold the position of the applicator relative to the vessel.   
     
     
         73 .- 76 . (canceled) 
     
     
         77 . The system of  claim 71 , further comprising a graft protection element adapted to prevent the graft from being damaged by the cutting element. 
     
     
         78 . The system of  claim 71 , wherein the graft is predisposed within the vessel. 
     
     
         79 . The system of  claim 71 , wherein the retraction element comprises a graft attachment tool. 
     
     
         80 . (canceled) 
     
     
         81 . The system of  claim 71 , wherein the retraction element is further adapted to be withdrawn from the hole formed in the wall of the vessel after entering into engagement with the graft, thereby withdrawing a portion of the graft. 
     
     
         82 .- 94 . (canceled) 
     
     
         95 . The system of  claim 71 , wherein the vessel is the aorta. 
     
     
         96 . The system of  claim 71 , wherein the insertion element further comprises a trocar. 
     
     
         97 . The system of  claim 71 , further comprising a sequencing means for coordinating at least one of forming the hole in the wall of the vessel and inserting the insertion element through the wall of the vessel. 
     
     
         98 .- 106 . (canceled) 
     
     
         107 . A graft device adapted to be used in the formation of a side branch in a hollow vessel, the graft device comprising:
 a graft containment element, the graft containment element being adapted to contain the graft in a compressed state;   a graft element including a main vessel portion and a side branch portion, the graft element being adapted to be contained with the graft containment element in a compressed state; and   a graft attachment element, the graft attachment element being adapted to enter into engagement with a corresponding attachment element.   
     
     
         108 .- 119 . (canceled)