Adjustable Banding Device for Arteriovenous Fistula
- Technology Benefits
- Assist in AVF maturationOffers a preemptive, preventative and interventionalsolutionProvides flexibility in controlling blood flowAvoids need for follow-up surgeries
- Detailed Technology Description
- An arteriovenous fistula (AVF) banding devicethat can be operated remotely from outside the body to help control the bloodflow in the fistula #medicaldevice #surgery
- *Abstract
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Arteriovenousfistulas (AVFs) are surgically created for patients on hemodialysis. The AVF provide easy access to blood and arethe preferred access type because they have superior longevity, lower infectionrate resulting in improved patient survival and lower cost when compared toother types of access. Despite these advantages, more than 30% of AVFs fail tomature. Limited blood flow at the time of AVF creation and intimal hyperplasiaare the two major causes for AVF maturation failure. Surgical creation of AVFwith higher blood flow might help with increasing the maturation rate. However,surgeons are usually reluctant to create such AVFs because high uncontrollableblood flow rates may develop and result in steal-syndrome, heart failure,pulmonary hypertension and cephalic arch stenosis. These complications mayrequire the placement of a band or knot around the AVF to decrease its diameterand thus decrease the blood flow. This secondary surgical procedure isirreversible and risks the possibility of not diminishing the high ratesufficiently or may restrict the flow more than needed. A Northwestern physician is developing anovel band that can increase or decrease in size by remote control from outsidethe body. The device would offer thephysician more control in changing the flow rate depending on the requiredsituation. By placing this device at thetime of the initial AVF creation, it can assist with AVF maturation by allowingthe surgeon to create a higher flow AVF using larger arteries and veins whilehaving the adjustable band as a safety valve that can be tightened to reducethe high-flow should it occur. An alternate approach is to use the adjustableband to gradually increase the blood flow through the AVF, as gradual increasein flow has been shown to accelerate vein maturation process. It also offers apreemptive measure to avoid future complications, particularly for those thathave complications of high output. Flow can be measured for example via aDoppler Ultrasound built into the device. The band size is then adjustedaccordingly to achieve a target flow rate. Thisinvention will fill the gap in current clinical care by improving AVFs primarymaturation rates while simultaneously reducing complications from high flow.
- *Inventors
- Khaled Boobes,MD
- Country/Region
- USA
