US 12,295,645 B2
Systems and methods for adhering vessels
Thomas D. Pate, Austin, TX (US); Philip M. Tetzlaff, Austin, TX (US); and William E. Cohn, Bellaire, TX (US)
Assigned to TVA Medical, Inc., Franklin Lakes, NJ (US)
Filed by TVA Medical, Inc., Austin, TX (US)
Filed on Jun. 29, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/024,241.
Application 16/024,241 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2017/013611, filed on Jan. 15, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/279,642, filed on Jan. 15, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2019/0133678 A1, May 9, 2019
Int. Cl. A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 17/11 (2006.01); A61B 18/08 (2006.01); A61B 18/10 (2006.01); A61B 18/16 (2006.01); A61B 34/00 (2016.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/24 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/1492 (2013.01) [A61B 17/11 (2013.01); A61B 18/082 (2013.01); A61B 18/10 (2013.01); A61B 18/16 (2013.01); A61B 34/73 (2016.02); A61B 2017/00402 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00477 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00876 (2013.01); A61B 2017/1107 (2013.01); A61B 2017/1139 (2013.01); A61B 17/320068 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00077 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00136 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00273 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00404 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00589 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00601 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00619 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00702 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00791 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00875 (2013.01); A61B 18/24 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for adhering two tubular structures together, comprising:
a first catheter comprising a first adhesion element embedded within a portion of the first catheter, wherein the first adhesion element is magnetic and comprises a flat, magnetic contact surface;
a second catheter comprising a second adhesion element embedded within a portion of the second catheter, wherein the second adhesion element is magnetic and comprises a flat, magnetic contact surface, wherein each of the first and second adhesion elements comprises a resistor for ohmic heating; and
a power source connected to the resistor of the first and second adhesion elements, wherein the flat, magnetic contact surfaces are heated in response to heating the resistor to a temperature sufficient to form a thermal weld between the two tubular structures via the flat, magnetic contact surfaces of the first adhesion element and the second adhesion element, the thermal weld providing a hermetic seal preventing egress of a fluid through a thermal weld plane;
wherein the first catheter comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the largest cross-sectional dimension of the distal portion is larger than the largest cross-sectional dimension of the proximal portion, and wherein the first adhesion element is located on the distal portion; wherein the second catheter comprises a second proximal portion and a second distal portion, wherein the largest cross-sectional dimension of the second distal portion is larger than the largest cross-sectional dimension of the second proximal portion, and wherein the second adhesion element is located on the second distal portion.