Over-the-wire apparatus and method for open surgery making of fluid connection between two neighboring vessels

Abstract

The invention provides a wire guided aperture creating apparatus, an over-the-wire kit, and a method for creating a hole in adjacent portions of first and second anatomical conduits during a surgical procedure. The apparatus includes an elongated element having a guidewire lumen and an aperture creating assembly disposed near the distal end of the elongated element. In a further embodiment the device may include first and second elongated elements coupled via a coupler and an aperture creating assembly disposed between the elements. At least one of the elements includes a passage-defining element permitting passage therethrough of a first guidewire. In addition to the devices identified above, the kit includes a first guidewire for insertion into a lumen of the first vessel to an initial cutpoint and then through adjacent portions of sidewalls of the first and second vessels into a lumen of the second vessel. The method involves inserting a first guidewire into a lumen of a first vessel to an initial cutpoint and then though adjacent portions of sidewalls of the first vessel and a second vessel into a lumen of the second vessel. The method further involves providing a wire guided aperture creating apparatus as identified above, and inserting the device over the first guidewire such that the passage-defining element passes over the first guidewire.