Device and method for establishing an artificial arterio-venous fistula

Abstract

A shunt rivet for implantation in the aorta and inferior vena cava to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and a method of treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are disclosed. The shunt rivet can have a first pair of clinch members that extend along a first axis and a second pair of clinch members that extend along a second axis transverse to the first axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An intravascular connector comprising:
 a first pair of clinch members that extend along a first axis; and   a second pair of clinch members that extend along a second axis transverse to the first axis,   wherein each of the first pair of clinch members comprises a first portion that extends away from the first axis, a second portion that extends toward the first axis, and a third portion that extends away from the first axis,   wherein a distal portion of each of the first pair of clinch members is biased to close toward the first axis, and wherein a distal portion of each of the second pair of clinch members is biased to exert pressure away from the second axis.   
     
     
         2 . The intravascular connector of  claim 1 , wherein each of the second pair of clinch members comprises a first portion that extends away from the second axis and a second portion that extends toward the second axis. 
     
     
         3 . The intravascular connector of  claim 2 , wherein the distal portion of each of the first pair of clinch members comprises part of the second and third portions of the first pair of clinch members, and wherein the distal portion of each of the second pair of clinch members comprises part of the first and second portions of the second pair of clinch members. 
     
     
         4 . The intravascular connector of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of each of the first pair of clinch members is proximate to one another when the first pair of clinch members is in a deployed configuration, and wherein the distal portion of each of the second pair of clinch members is spaced apart from one another when the second pair of clinch members is in a deployed configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The intravascular connector of  claim 1 , wherein a base of each of the first pair of clinch members and the distal portion of each of the first pair of clinch members are proximate the first axis, and wherein a base of each of the second pair of clinch members is proximate one of the bases of the first pair of clinch members. 
     
     
         6 . The intravascular connector of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of each of the first pair of clinch members forms an atraumatic surface configured to impinge a wall of a first or second vessel, and wherein the distal portion of each of the second pair of clinch members forms an atraumatic surface configured to impinge a wall of the first or second vessel. 
     
     
         7 . The intravascular connector of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first pair of clinch members comprises a first section and a second section, wherein each of the first sections extends a first distance from the first axis, wherein each of the second sections extends a second distance from the first axis, and wherein the second distance is less than the first distance. 
     
     
         8 . The intravascular connector of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first pair of clinch members defines a first recess and a second recess when viewed from a first side of the connector, wherein the first recesses face toward the first axis, and wherein the second recesses face away from the first axis, 
     
     
         9 . The intravascular connector of  claim 8 , wherein each of the second pair of clinch members defines a third recess when viewed from a second side of the connector, and wherein the third recesses face toward the second axis. 
     
     
         10 . The intravascular connector of  claim 1 , wherein the second pair of clinch members define an angle relative to the first pair of clinch members 
     
     
         11 . The intravascular connector of  claim 1 , further comprising a drug coating or a drug membrane partially covering the connector. 
     
     
         12 . An intravascular connector comprising:
 a first pair of clinch members that extend along a first axis; and   a second pair of clinch members that extend along a second axis transverse to the first axis,   wherein a distal portion of each of the first pair of clinch members forms an atraumatic surface configured to impinge a wall of a first or second vessel, and wherein a distal portion of each of the second pair of clinch members forms an atraumatic surface configured to impinge a wall of the first or second vessel, and   wherein the distal portion of each of the first pair of clinch members is biased to close toward the first axis, and wherein the distal portion of each of the second pair of clinch members is biased to exert pressure away from the second axis.   
     
     
         13 . The intravascular connector of  claim 12 , wherein a first part of the distal portion of each of the first pair of clinch members extends toward the first axis, wherein a second part of the distal portion of each of the first pair of clinch members extends away from the first axis, wherein a first part of the distal portion of each of the second pair of clinch members extend away from the second axis, and wherein a second part of the distal portion of each of the second pair of clinch members extends toward the second axis. 
     
     
         14 . The intravascular connector of  claim 12 , wherein the distal portion of each of the first pair of clinch members is proximate to one another when the first pair of clinch members is in a deployed configuration, and wherein the distal portion of each of the second pair of clinch members is spaced apart from one another when the second pair of clinch members is in a deployed configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The intravascular connector of  claim 12 , wherein each of the first pair of clinch members defines a first recess and a second recess when viewed from a first side of the connector, wherein each of the second pair of clinch members defines a third recess when viewed from a second side of the connector, wherein the first recesses open toward the first axis, wherein the second recesses open away from the first axis, and wherein the third recesses open toward the second axis. 
     
     
         16 . The intravascular connector of  claim 12 , wherein the second pair of clinch members define an angle relative to the first pair of clinch members 
     
     
         17 . An intravascular connector comprising:
 a first pair of clinch members that extend along a first axis; and   a second pair of clinch members that extend along a second axis transverse to the first axis,   wherein each of the first pair of clinch members comprises a first section and a second section, wherein each of the first sections extends a first distance from the first axis, wherein each of the second sections extends a second distance from the first axis, and wherein the second distance is less than the first distance, and   wherein each of the first pair of clinch members defines a first recess and a second recess when viewed from a first side of the connector, wherein each of the second pair of clinch members defines a third recess when viewed from a second side of the connector, wherein the first recesses open toward the first axis, wherein the second recesses open away from the first axis, and wherein the third recesses open toward the second axis.   
     
     
         18 . The intravascular connector of  claim 17 , wherein a distal portion of each of the first pair of clinch members forms an atraumatic surface configured to impinge a wall of a first or second vessel, wherein a distal portion of each of the second pair of clinch members forms an atraumatic surface configured to impinge a wall of the first or second vessel, wherein the distal portion of each of the first pair of clinch members is biased to close toward the first axis, and wherein the distal portion of each of the second pair of clinch members is biased to exert pressure away from the second axis. 
     
     
         19 . The intravascular connector of  claim 17 , Wherein first part of the distal portion of each of the first pair of clinch members extends toward the first axis, wherein a second part of the distal portion of each of the first pair of clinch members extends away from the first axis, wherein a first part of the distal portion of each of the second pair of clinch members extend away from the second axis, and wherein a second part of the distal portion of each of the second pair of clinch members extends toward the second axis. 
     
     
         20 . The intravascular connector of  claim 17 , wherein a base of each of the first pair of clinch members and the distal portion of each of the first pair of clinch members are proximate the first axis, and wherein a base of each of the second pair of clinch members is proximate one of the bases of the first pair of clinch members.