Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to a method of configuring blood vessels at an anastomosis, the method comprising: ensheathing a segment of a transected first blood vessel in a lumen of a sleeve so that an open end of the segment protrudes from a sleeve end; suturing edges of an incision made in a second blood vessel to the open end of the first blood vessel to create an anastomosis; and sliding the sleeve along the first blood vessel to position the sleeve at the anastomosis.

Abstract: An external vascular support for shaping a vein-artery junction between an artery and a vein anastomosed to the artery, the support comprising: an arterial portion that is shaped to be in apposition with an exterior wall of the artery when the artery is accommodated within a lumen of the arterial portion, and a venous portion that is shaped to be in apposition with an exterior wall of the vein when the vein is accommodated within a lumen of the venous portion, wherein the arterial and venous portions are physically connected at an acute angle, and the corner of the acute angle is shaped as a rounding having a radius of curvature in the range of 0.25 mm to 4 mm.

Abstract: An external vascular support for shaping a vein-artery junction between an artery and a vein anastomosed to the artery, the support comprising: an arterial portion that is shaped to be in apposition with an exterior wall of the artery when the artery is accommodated within a lumen of the arterial portion, and a venous portion that is shaped to be in apposition with an exterior wall of the vein when the vein is accommodated within a lumen of the venous portion, wherein the arterial and venous portions are physically connected at an acute angle, and the corner of the acute angle is shaped as a rounding having a radius of curvature in the range of 0.25 mm to 4 mm.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to a method of configuring blood vessels at an anastomosis, the method comprising: ensheathing a segment of a transected first blood vessel in a lumen of a sleeve so that an open end of the segment protrudes from a sleeve end; suturing edges of an incision made in a second blood vessel to the open end of the first blood vessel to create an anastomosis; and sliding the sleeve along the first blood vessel to position the sleeve at the anastomosis.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to an apparatus for supporting first and second blood vessels connected by an anastomosis at a fistula, the apparatus comprising: a coupler that seats on and couples to the first blood vessel; and a sleeve connected to the coupler that ensheathes a portion of the second blood vessel in the vicinity of the fistula.

Abstract: Disclosed is a medical device for shaping a vessel accommodated therein in a predetermined form, wherein said vessel includes a vein and an artery which are connected at a artifactual vascular junction thereof. The device includes an external vascular support (100) having at least one vascular support wall for accommodating an exterior vessel wall of a vessel therein when implanted. The support includes an arterial portion (1304) for apposition with said artery when accommodated therein, and/or a venous portion (1302) for apposition with said vein when accommodated therein. The venous portion (1302) and/or said arterial portion (1304) are shaped at a junction thereof to provide a vessel rounding to at least a portion of said vessel junction when in apposition with the latter upon implantation of said device for said vessel shaping. Corresponding methods are also disclosed. Thus dysfunction or failure of a vessel of the artifactual vascular junction may be reduced, minimized, or eliminated.