What is claimed is:
1. A monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display having improved mechanical stiffness and controlled contrast, luminance and chromaticity across a wide range of view angles, comprising:
a) a liquid crystal display element comprising pixels disposed in a two-dimensional array organized into rows and columns, each of said pixels comprising at least one sub-pixel;
b) support means comprising at least one from the group of cover plate and back plate affixed to and extending beyond said two-dimensional array of pixels;
c) row interconnection means disposed in channels proximate said rows of pixels and electrically connected thereto;
d) column interconnection means disposed in channels proximate said columns of pixels and electrically connected thereto;
e) insulating means for electrically isolating said row interconnection means from said column interconnection means; and
f) electrical connection means comprising a fan-out region and being operatively connected to said row interconnection means and to said column interconnection means and being disposed along at least one edge of said two-dimensional array of pixels;
whereby each of said sub-pixels is electrically connected to at least one of said row and said column interconnection means.
2. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 1, wherein said pixels comprise active areas and inactive areas and said row interconnection means and said column interconnection means are placed in said inactive area.
3. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 2, wherein said row interconnection means and said column interconnection means comprise at least one channel placed in at least one from the group: inactive areas between said rows of pixels, inactive areas between said columns of pixels, inactive areas adjacent an outside column of said array, and inactive areas adjacent an outside row of said array of pixels.
4. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 3, wherein said row interconnection means and said column interconnection means comprise at least one electrical conductor disposed in said channels.
5. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 4, wherein said at least one electrical conductor comprises multiple electrical conductors disposed in said channels.
6. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 4, further comprising:
g) parallel access interconnection means disposed in at least one of said channels between said rows or said columns of said two-dimensional array and being selectively electrically connected to at least one of said row interconnection means or said column interconnection means, said parallel access interconnection means providing an electrical connection among said row interconnection means and said column interconnection means, and said electrical connection means.
7. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 6, wherein said at least one edge of said two-dimensional display is a single edge substantially parallel to said row interconnection means.
8. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 6, wherein said at least one edge of said two-dimensional array is a single edge substantially parallel to said column interconnection means.
9. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 6, wherein said at least one edge of said two-dimensional array comprises two adjacent edges.
10. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 6, wherein said at least one edge of said two-dimensional array comprises two opposing, parallel edges.
11. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 6, wherein said electrical connection means comprises external electrical connection means for connecting said display to externally-generated signals.
12. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 11, wherein said external electrical connection means comprises at least one from the group: TABs anisotropic adhesive film connections, solder ball connections, wirebond connections
13. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 12, wherein said electrical connection means connected to said parallel access interconnection means comprises fan-out means comprising fan-out lines to facilitate reordering individual ones of said row interconnection means and said column interconnection means relative to said external electrical connection means.
14. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said row interconnection means and said column interconnection means comprises a segmented electrical conductor
15. A monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display having improved mechanical stiffness and controlled contrast, luminance and chromaticity across a wide range of view angles, comprising:
a) a liquid crystal display element comprising pixels disposed in a two-dimensional array organized into rows and columns, each of said pixels comprising at least one sub-pixel having both an active area and an inactive area;
b) support means comprising at least one from the group of cover plate and back plate affixed to and extending beyond said two-dimensional array of pixels;
c) row interconnection means disposed in channels disposed in said inactive areas proximate said rows of pixels and electrically connected thereto;
d) column interconnection means disposed in channels disposed in said inactive areas proximate said columns of pixels and electrically connected thereto;
e) insulating means for electrically isolating said row interconnection means from said column interconnection means; and
f) electrical connection means operatively connected to said row interconnection means and said column interconnection means and being disposed along at least one edge of said two-dimensional array;
whereby each of said sub-pixels is electrically connected to at least one of said row interconnection means and said column interconnection means.
16. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 15, wherein said at least one edge of said two-dimensional array comprises one of the configurations: two opposing edges, two adjacent edges, a single edge, and all four edges.
17. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 15, wherein said row interconnection means and said column interconnection means comprise at least one electrical conductor disposed in said channels.
18. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 17, wherein said at least one electrical conductor comprises multiple electrical conductors disposed in said channels.
19. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 17, further comprising:
g) parallel access interconnection means disposed in at least one of said channels between said rows or said columns of said two-dimensional array of pixels and being selectively electrically connected to at least one of said row interconnection means or said column interconnection means, said parallel access interconnection means providing an electrical connection among said row interconnection means and said column interconnection means and said electrical connection means.
20. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 19, wherein said at least one edge of said two-dimensional array is a single edge substantially parallel to said column interconnection means.
21. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 19, wherein said at least one edge of said two-dimensional array is a single edge substantially parallel to said row interconnection means.
22. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 19, wherein said electrical connection means comprises external electrical connection means for connecting said display to externally-generated signals.
23. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 22, wherein said external electrical connection means further comprises at least one driver circuit having a predetermined physical order of drive signal output lines, and wherein said predetermined physical order corresponds to a predetermined order in said electrical connection means.
24. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 23, wherein said predetermined physical order of drive signal output lines corresponds one-to-one with said predetermined order in said electrical connection means whereby fan-out line connections do not cross one another.
25. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 23, wherein said predetermined physical order of drive signal output lines corresponds one-to-one with said predetermined order in said electrical connection means whereby at least two of said fan-out line connections cross one another.
26. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 23, wherein said at least one driver circuit comprises at least one driver circuit generating both row and column signals.
27. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 22, wherein said external electrical connection means comprises at least one from the group: TABs anisotropic adhesive film connections, solder ball connections, wirebond connections.
28. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 19, wherein said electrical connection means connected to parallel access interconnection means comprises fan-out means comprising fan-out lines to facilitate reordering said row interconnection means and said column interconnection means relative to said external electrical connection means.
29. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 15, wherein at least one of said row interconnection means and said column interconnection means comprises a segmented electrical conductor.
30. A monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display having improved mechanical stiffness and controlled contrast, luminance and chromaticity across a wide range of view angles, comprising:
a) a liquid crystal display element comprising pixels having predetermined pixel geometries, disposed in a predetermined pattern in a two-dimensional array organized into rows and columns, each of said pixels comprising at least one sub-pixel having both an active area and an inactive area;
b) support means comprising at least one from the group of cover plate and back plate affixed to and extending beyond said two-dimensional array of pixels;
c) at least one row electrical conductor disposed in a channel disposed in said inactive area proximate said rows of pixels and electrically connected thereto for supplying at least one of a pixel row control voltage and a pixel row data voltage to said rows of pixels;
d) at least one column electrical conductor disposed in a channel disposed in said inactive areas proximate said columns of pixels and electrically connected thereto for supplying at least one of a pixel column control voltage and a pixel column data voltage to said columns of pixels.
e) insulating means for electrically isolating said at least one row conductor from said at least one column conductor; and
f) electrical connection means operatively connected to said at least one row conductor and said at least one column conductor and disposed along at least one edge of said two-dimensional array of pixels;
each of said pixels in combination with said at least one row conductor and said at least one column conductor
31. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 30, wherein variations in said unique, local pixel environments result in variations in the waveform of at least one of: said pixel row control voltage, said pixel row data voltage, said pixel column control voltage, and said pixel column data voltage.
32. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 31, wherein said variations result at least in part from variations in capacitances between said sub-pixels and said at least one row conductor and said at least one column conductor.
33. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 32, wherein said variations are minimized by altering the arrangement of said sub-pixels within at least one of said pixels.
34. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 33, wherein said variations are selectively controlled by altering the arrangement of said sub-pixels to minimize a visually perceptible pattern arising from an artifact of the display.
35. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 32, wherein said variations of capacitances are minimized by controlling a layout parameter of at least one of: said sub-pixels, said at least one row conductor, and said at least one column conductor.
36. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 30, wherein said at least one layout parameter comprises at least one of: width of a line segment, layout of elements contributing to coupling capacitance, selection of a tap point, and implementation of line segmentation.
37. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 30, wherein said liquid crystal display element comprises at least one thin film transistor (TFT) element.
38. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 37, wherein said at least one TFT element comprises plural TFT elements associated with at least one of said sub-pixel elements such that the size of said at least one TFT element may be minimized and whereby double on and triple on TFT drive strategies may be implemented.
39. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 30, further comprising at least one conductive element proximate at least one of said sub-pixels of said array of pixels to offset said differences in capacitance, wherein said variations between said unique pixel local environments are minimized.
40. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 39, wherein said conductive element comprises at least one from the group: electrically floating element, element connected to at least one other element within one of said pixels, element connected to a shield, element connected to a local ground, element connected to a global ground, and element connected to a common element.
41. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 32, wherein said variations in capacitance result in variations in voltage waveforms at said sub-pixels.
42. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 41, wherein said variation in said waveforms is caused at least in part by a kick back voltage.
43. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 42, further comprising at least one discrete component operatively connected to at least one of said sub-pixels, said row conductor and said column conductor, whereby said kick back voltage is made substantially constant across substantially all of said pixels in said array.
44. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 43, further comprising at least one from the group: discrete capacitor, distributed capacitance, wherein said row-to-column coupling capacitance is selectively altered.
45. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 44, wherein said capacitor or capacitance maintains uniformity of total column line capacitance for each pixel of said array.
46. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 32, wherein a ratio of a local pixel cell capacitance to row-to-column coupling capacitance is made substantially constant for each of said pixels.
47. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 46, wherein said capacitor or capacitance maintains uniformity of total row line capacitance for each pixel of said array.
48. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 30, wherein said electrical connection means comprises a fan-out region and wherein said fan-out region further comprises capacitance control means wherein at least one of said row electrical and said column electrical conductor capacitances maintain uniformity of total row line capacitance for each pixel of said array.
49. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 30, further comprising capacitance control means for controlling at least one of said row electrical and said column electrical conductor capacitances such that the total row line capacitance of each pixel of said array is substantially uniform.
50. The monolithic, or monolithic-like, AMLCD display as recited in claim 30, wherein said electrical connection means disposed along at least one edge allows for narrow perimeters on at least one side of a frame enclosing said monolithic, or monolithic-like AMLCD display.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus for providing needle access to a blood pathway comprising:
a graft conduit for attachment to an artery;
a catheter conduit for insertion in a vein; and
a self-sealing element, comprising:
a wall structure defining, at least in part, an internal passageway in fluid communication with said graft and catheter conduits so that, in use, said conduits and said passageway can form said blood pathway;
said wall structure being formed of a tubular material that can be punctured by a needle to permit needle access to said passageway and re-seals upon withdrawal of said needle,
wherein said self-sealing element is formed a wall of the catheter conduit or located between the graft conduit and catheter conduit.
2. The apparatus for providing needle access to a blood pathway as in claim 1, wherein said material being selected from the group consisting of: material subject to compressive stress; material having a porous structure enhancing microthrombosis; low durometer materials, thixotropic materials andor a gelatinous material.
3. The apparatus for providing needle access to a blood pathway as in claim 1, wherein said material comprises material subject to compressive stress.
4. The apparatus for providing needle access to a blood pathway as in claim 3, wherein said material comprises at least two layers subject to compressive stress of different orientations.
5. The apparatus for providing needle access to a blood pathway as in claim 1, wherein said material comprises material having a porous structure.
6. The apparatus for providing needle access to a blood pathway as in claim 1, wherein said material comprises gelatinous material.
7. The apparatus for providing needle access to a blood pathway as in claim 1, further comprising a conduit connector, wherein said conduit connector is adapted to join the graft conduit and the catheter conduit.
8. The apparatus for providing needle access to a blood pathway as in claim 7, wherein said conduit connector is pre-connected to the graft conduit at the point of manufacture or integral with the graft conduit.
9. The apparatus for providing needle access to a blood pathway as in claim 1, further comprising a strain relief tube about the catheter conduit, said strain relief tube having a first end and a second end, the second end comprising two or more flexural sections and two or more separations between the flexural sections.
10. The apparatus for providing needle access to a blood pathway as in claim 1, further comprising a means for controlling blood flow rate through the blood pathway.
11. The apparatus for providing needle access to a blood pathway as in claim 1, further comprising a means for monitoring blood flow rate through the blood pathway.
12. An implantable graft for providing needle access to a blood pathway shortly after implantation, said apparatus comprising:
an elongate, generally tubular body having a graft portion for attachment to an artery and a catheter portion having an end and being adapted for at least a section of said catheter portion to be inserted into a vein with said end distanced from the vein insertion location;
a zone for repeated needle access formed of a generally tubular material which seals with respect to blood after withdrawal of the needle, said zone being formed in said catheter portion.
13. The implantable graft for providing needle access to a blood pathway shortly after implantation as in claim 12, wherein said catheter portion has walls forming said tubular zone.
14. The implantable graft for providing needle access to a blood pathway shortly after implantation as in claim 12, wherein said zone is an element connected between said catheter section and said graft portion.
15. The implantable graft for providing needle access to a blood pathway shortly after implantation as in claim 12, comprising a connector joining said graft and catheter portions.
16. The implantable graft for providing needle access to a blood pathway shortly after implantation as in claim 12, comprising reinforcement to reduce kinking in said graft portion.
17. The implantable graft for providing needle access to a blood pathway shortly after implantation as in claim 12, comprising reinforcement to reduce kinking in said catheter portion.
18. An apparatus for providing needle access to a blood pathway comprising:
a graft conduit for attachment to an artery;
a catheter conduit for insertion in a vein; and
a self-sealing element, comprising:
a flexible wall structure defining, at least in part, a flexible internal passageway with a freely flexible longitudinal axis in fluid communication with said graft and catheter conduits so that, in use, said conduits and said flexible passageway can form said blood pathway;
said wall structure being formed of a material that can be punctured by a needle to permit needle access to said passageway and re-seals upon withdrawal of said needle.
19. An arteriovenous graft comprising a separate graft portion for attachment to an artery and attachable catheter portion for placement in a vein, said graft portion and said catheter portion comprising a tubular structure having an internal passageway for conducting, in use, blood from said artery to said vein, and at least two lumens in fluid communication with said passageway and further comprising a structure for interrupting said fluid communication to provide temporary access to said passageway.
20. The arteriovenous graft as in claim 19, wherein the means for interrupting said fluid communication comprises a region of compressive material at the fluid communication between said tubular structure and said lumens, the compressive material biased to interrupt said fluid communication if said lumens are removed.
21. The arteriovenous graft as in claim 19, wherein the means for interrupting said fluid communication comprises at least one flap valve biased to interrupt the fluid communication between said tubular structure and said lumens.
22. The arteriovenous graft as in claim 19, wherein the means for interrupting said fluid communication comprises at least one mechanical valve biased to interrupt the fluid communication between said tubular structure and said lumens.
23. The arteriovenous graft as in claim 22, wherein the at least one mechanical valve is an at least one piston valve.
24. The arteriovenous graft as in claim 23, wherein the at least one piston valve is an at least one spring-biased piston valve.
25. The arteriovenous graft as in claim 19, wherein the means for interrupting said fluid communication comprises at least one lumen plug to interrupt the fluid communication between said tubular structure and said lumens.
26. The arteriovenous graft as in claim 25, wherein the at least one lumen plug is an at least one proximal lumen plug.
27. The arteriovenous graft as in claim 25, wherein the at least one lumen plug is an at least one lumen plug with a locking stop.
28. The arteriovenous graft as in claim 19, wherein the means for interrupting said fluid communication comprises an injectable lumen sealing compound to interrupt the fluid communication between said tubular structure and said lumens.
29. The arteriovenous graft as in claim 19, further comprising a connector for facilitating attachment of the catheter portion to the graft portion.
30. The arteriovenous graft as in claim 29, wherein the connector is pre-connected to the graft portion.
31. The arteriovenous graft as in claim 29, wherein the connector is integral with the graft portion.
32. The arteriovenous graft as in claim 19, further comprising a strain relief tube about the catheter portion, said strain relief tube having a first end and a second end, the second end comprising two or more flexural sections and two or more separations between the flexural sections.
33. The arteriovenous graft as in claim 19, further comprising a means for controlling blood flow rate through the internal passageway.
34. The arteriovenous graft as in claim 19, further comprising a means for monitoring blood flow rate through the internal passageway.
35. A method for treating a patient, comprising:
providing a first and second conduit of a vascular access system;
accessing a vein at a first access site;
inserting the first conduit of the vascular access system into the vein;
forming a subcutaneous pathway between the first access site and an intermediate access site;
accessing an artery at a second access site;
attaching the second conduit to an artery through the second access site; and
positioning the first conduit and second conduit of the vascular access system in the subcutaneous pathway.
36. The method for treating a patient as in claim 35, further comprising connecting the first conduit and second conduit of the vascular access system.
37. The method for treating a patient as in claim 35, wherein positioning the first conduit and second conduit in the subcutaneous pathway comprises passing an end of the first conduit from the first access site to the intermediate access site and passing an end of the second conduit from the second access site to the intermediate access site.
38. The method for treating a patient as in claim 37, further comprising connecting the end of the first conduit and the end of the second conduit and reinserting the connected ends of the first conduit and second conduit back through the intermediate access site.
39. The method for treating a patient as in claim 35, wherein positioning the first conduit and second conduit in the subcutaneous pathway comprises passing an end of the first conduit from the intermediate access site to the first access site and passing an end of the second conduit from the intermediate access site to the second access site.
40. The method for treating a patient as in claim 39, further comprising connecting the end of the first conduit and the end of the second conduit and inserting the connected ends of the first conduit and second conduit back through the intermediate access site.
41. The method for treating a patient as in claim 35, wherein positioning the first conduit and second conduit in the subcutaneous pathway comprises passing an end of the first conduit from the first access site to the intermediate access site and passing an end of the second conduit from the intermediate access site to the second access site.
42. The method for treating a patient as in claim 35, wherein positioning the first conduit and second conduit in the subcutaneous pathway comprises passing an end of the first conduit from the intermediate access site to the first access site and passing an end of the second conduit from the second access site to the intermediate access site.
43. A method for treating a patient, comprising:
providing a means for providing a blood pathway between a vein and an artery;
accessing a vein at a first access site;
inserting the means for providing a blood pathway between a vein and an artery into the vein;
forming a subcutaneous pathway between the first access site and a second access site;
attaching the means for providing a blood pathway between a vein and an artery at the second access site; and
positioning the means for providing a blood pathway between a vein and an artery in the subcutaneous pathway.
44. A device for treating a patient, comprising:
a graft conduit comprising a first end, a second end, a lumen therebetween, an outer wall surface, an outer diameter, a lumen wall surface, and an inner diameter,
a catheter conduit comprising a first end, a second end, a lumen therebetween, an outer wall surface, an outer diameter, and a lumen wall surface, an inner diameter, and a filament on or at least partially embedded at the outer wall surface, the filament being peelable from the outer wall surface; and
a conduit connector having a first end, a second end, a lumen therebetween, wherein the first end of the conduit connector is adapted to join the second end of the graft conduit, and the second end of the conduit connector is adapted to joint the first end of the catheter conduit.
45. The device for treating a patient as in claim 44, wherein the first end of the connector is joined to the second end of the graft conduit.
46. The device for treating a patient as in claim 44, wherein the catheter conduit further comprises a wire reinforcement generally located between the outer wall surface and lumen wall surface and at least about the second end of the catheter conduit.
47. The device for treating a patient as in claim 46, wherein the wire is a nitinol wire.
48. The device for treating a patient as in claim 44, wherein the catheter conduit further comprises a trimmable section about the first end of the catheter conduit and having an inner diameter and outer diameter, and an insertion section about the second end of the catheter conduit and having an inner diameter and outer diameter, wherein said trimmable section is adapted for implantation generally outside the vein and the insertion section is adapted for implantation generally inside the vein.
49. The device for treating a patient as in claim 48, wherein the filament is located within the trimmable section.
50. The device for treating a patient as in claim 49, wherein the insertion section further comprises a wire reinforcement generally located between the outer wall surface and lumen wall surface of the catheter conduit.
51. The device for treating a patient as in claim 48, wherein the catheter conduit further comprises a wire reinforcement located within the trimmable section.
52. The device for treating a patient as in claim 44, further comprising a means for temporary catheterization.
53. The device for treating a patient as in claim 44, further comprising a self-sealing interface.
54. The device for treating a patient as in claim 53, wherein the self-sealing interface comprises a multi-layer material wherein at least two layers of the material have different directional orientations.
55. The device for treating a patient as in claim 53, wherein the self-sealing interface comprises a multi-layer material wherein at least one layer comprises a sealing gel between two polymeric layers.
56. A device for treating a patient, comprising:
a graft conduit comprising a first end, and a second end, wherein the second end comprises an elastic material,
a catheter conduit comprising a first end, a second end; and
a conduit connector having a first end, a second end, wherein the first end of the conduit connector is adapted to join the second end of the graft conduit;
wherein said elastic material of the graft conduit provide a snug fit with the first end of the conduit connector.
57. The device for treating a patient as in claim 56, wherein the elastic material is coated onto the second end of the graft conduit.
58. The device for treating a patient as in claim 56, wherein the elastic material is embedded into the second end of the graft conduit.
59. A device for treating a patient, comprising a catheter component with a lumen and at least one radio-opaque marker about a distal end of the catheter component, wherein the at least one radio-opaque marker comprising two or more layers of one or more radio-opaque materials having crush resilience to maintain patency of the lumen at the distal end.
60. The device for treating a patient as in claim 59, wherein the at least one radio-opaque marker is surrounded by radiolucent material.
61. A device for treating a patient, comprising a catheter component with a lumen and at least one multi-layer radio-opaque marker about a distal end of the catheter component, wherein the at least one multi-layer radio-opaque marker exhibits improved crush-resilience compared to a single-layer radio-opaque marker having the same radio-opacity to maintain patency of the lumen at the distal end
62. An arteriovenous graft, comprising:
a generally tubular body having an outer wall and comprising:
a graft section adapted for attachment to an artery;
a catheter section adapted to be inserted at least partially into a vein; and
a strain relief element extending around at least a portion of said tubular body and comprising a generally tubular member mounted directly or indirectly to said outer wall and having at least one end formed into two or more flexural sections by two or more slots extending inwardly from said end between said flexural sections.
63. The arteriovenous graft as in claim 62, wherein said outer wall has an outer diameter and said tubular member has an internal diameter at said end, said internal diameter being greater than said outer diameter.
64. The arteriovenous graft as in claim 62, wherein the flexural sections are petal-shaped.
65. The arteriovenous graft as in claim 62, wherein the slots comprises rounded ends.
66. The arteriovenous graft as in claim 62, further comprising three to six slots.
67. A device for relieving strain on a flexible tube subject to kinking, said device comprising a generally tubular body having a first end and a second end, said second end having a periphery, comprising a plurality of flexible flap elements distributed around said periphery for distributing strain.
68. The device for relieving strain on a flexible tube subject to kinking as in claim 67, further comprising three to six slots between said flexible flap elements.
69. A device for delivering a catheter, comprising:
a shaft comprising a proximal end, distal end and a guidewire lumen therebetween, a distal end outer diameter and a collapsible distal tip, and
a catheter section comprising a first end a second end, and a catheter lumen therebetween;
wherein the collapsible distal tip has an expanded configuration comprising tapered surface and a reduced configuration adapted to move within the catheter lumen.
70. The device for delivering a catheter as in claim 69, wherein the tapered surface of the collapsible distal tip forms a generally conical shape.
71. The device for delivering a catheter as in claim 69, wherein the collapsible distal tip comprises an expandable balloon and the shaft further comprises a balloon lumen for inflating and deflating the expandable balloon.
72. The device for delivering a catheter as in claim 71, wherein the expandable balloon is further configured in its expanded configuration to seal the catheter lumen at the second end of the catheter section to resist retrograde fluid flow.
73. The device for delivering a catheter as in claim 69, wherein the collapsible distal tip comprises an expandable slotted tube.
74. A method for inserting a catheter, comprising:
providing a catheter insert comprising an insert shaft with a guidewire lumen, and a collapsible distal tapered tip having an expanded configuration and a reduced configuration;
providing a catheter having a first end a second end, and a lumen therebetween;
inserting the catheter insert into the lumen of the catheter;
expanding the collapsible distal tapered tip to its expanded configuration;
passing the distal tapered tip of the catheter insert into a vein;
positioning the catheter and catheter insert into the vein; and
collapsing the collapsible distal tapered tip to its reduced configuration.
75. The method for inserting a catheter as in claim 74, further comprising sealing the second end of the catheter with the collapsible distal tapered tip in the expanded configuration.
76. The method for inserting a catheter as in claim 74, further comprising removing the catheter insert from the catheter lumen.
77. The method for inserting a catheter as in claim 76, further comprising clamping the catheter to resist blood flow out of the catheter lumen.
78. A device for treating a patient, comprising:
an implantable arteriovenous graft, comprising a vein insertion end, an artery attachment end, a tubular wall and a lumen therebetween; and
a flow rate control element for reversibly changing a net cross-sectional surface area of the lumen.
79. The device for treating a patient as in claim 78, wherein the flow rate control element is a compression element.
80. The device for treating a patient as in claim 79, wherein the compression element comprises a distensible fluid compartment.
81. The device for treating a patient as in claim 80, wherein the distensible fluid compartment can expand to compress the blood pathway cross-sectional area by at least about 25%.
82. The device for treating a patient as in claim 79, wherein the compression element comprises a clamp structure about the lumen of the implantable arteriovenous graft conduit.
83. The device for treating a patient as in claim 82, wherein the clamp structure can clamp to compress the blood pathway cross-sectional area by at least about 25%.
84. The device for treating a patient as in claim 78, wherein the flow rate control element is a contiguous secondary lumen having an expanded configuration during at least a portion of a dialysis treatment and a reduced configuration between dialysis treatments.
85. The device for treating a patient as in claim 84, wherein the secondary lumen is biased to the reduced configuration.
86. A method for performing dialysis, comprising:
providing an implantable arteriovenous graft, comprising a vein insertion end, an artery attachment end, a tubular wall, a lumen therebetween, and a flow rate control element for reversibly changing net blood flow rate in the lumen;
increasing the net blood flow rate during at least portion of a dialysis treatment; and
reducing the net blood flow rate between dialysis treatments.
87. A device for treating a patient, comprising:
an implantable arteriovenous graft conduit, comprising a vein insertion end, an artery attachment end, a tubular wall and a lumen therebetween, and a flow sensor system at least partially embedded within the tubular wall.
88. The device for treating a patient as in claim 87, wherein the flow sensor system comprises a flow sensing element and an antenna.
89. The device for treating a patient as in claim 88, wherein the flow sensor system further comprises an external receiver.
90. The device for treating a patient as in claim 89, wherein the external receiver comprises a power supply, a transmitter, a receiving element, a signal processor and a flow readout.
91. The device for treating a patient as in claim 88, wherein the flow sensor element is a heat sensor.
92. The device for treating a patient as in claim 88, wherein the flow sensor element is a pressure sensor.
93. The device for treating a patient as in claim 88, wherein the flow sensor element is a magnetic sensor.
94. The device for treating a patient as in claim 88, wherein the flow sensor element is a Doppler ultrasound sensor.
95. The device for treating a patient as in claim 88, wherein the flow sensor element is an ion sensor.