Various implementations include a cutting tool for the horizontal incision of tendons. The tool comprises a stem extending along a longitudinal axis, having a distal end, a proximal end and a cutting head, located close to said distal end, having a base plate, having a longitudinal extension axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stem, and a blade extending on a plane parallel to the base plate. The blade has a plurality of cutting edges inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cutting head according to different angles, so as to identify at least two vertices defined by two V-shaped profiles.

Unitary endoscopic vessel harvesting devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, such devices comprise an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, a tip disposed at the distal end of the elongated body; and a cutting unit having a first cutting portion and a second cutting portion, the first cutting portion and the second cutting portion being moveable in a longitudinal direction relative to the elongated body to capture a blood vessel between the first cutting portion and the second cutting portion, and being rotatable relative to one another circumferentially about the tip to cut the captured blood vessel.

Unitary endoscopic vessel harvesting devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, such devices comprise an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, a tip disposed at the distal end of the elongated body; and a cutting unit having a first cutting portion and a second cutting portion, the first cutting portion and the second cutting portion being moveable in a longitudinal direction relative to the elongated body to capture a blood vessel between the first cutting portion and the second cutting portion, and being rotatable relative to one another circumferentially about the tip to cut the captured blood vessel.

An invasive instrument for treating a vessel, which possibly includes secondary vessels, has a tip formed for the dissection of tissue at the distal end of a shaft to be introduced into the body, with at least one functional unit. The tip includes vessel receptacle means, arranged and formed such that, in the operating condition of the instrument, the functional unit of the shaft is kept clear, so that working on the vessel, a secondary vessel and/or on the surrounding tissue is possible using or by means of the functional unit and with the vessel receiving means the vessel can be fixed in a spatial position. The tip is movable relative to the shaft by means of a guide element and the tip is shiftable in axial direction, so that during the procedure a vessel arranged in the vessel receiving means can be spaced selectively from the functional unit.

A blood vessel dissecting device method involves inserting a dissecting device into a living body, advancing the dissecting device along a vein, and dissecting the vein and tissue bound to the vein from other surrounding tissue.

Devices and methods for the treatment of chronic total occlusions are provided. One disclosed embodiment comprises a method of facilitating treatment via a vascular wall defining a vascular lumen containing an occlusion therein. The method includes providing an intravascular device having a distal portion, inserting the device into the vascular lumen, positioning the distal portion in the vascular wall to at least partially surround the occlusion, and removing at least a portion of the surrounded occlusion from the lumen.

A method for visualizing branches of a lumen includes inserting (402) a fiber optic shape sensing device into a lumen and determining (404) changes in the lumen based upon strain induced in the fiber optic shape sensing device by flow in the lumen. Locations of branches are indicated (410) on a rendering of the lumen. An instrument is guided (414) to the locations of branches indicated on the rendering.

A hydrodissector for hydrodissecting a vein, the hydrodissector comprising a handle, a shaft extending from the handle at an angle and including a tip at a distal end thereof, at least one port configured to be coupled to a fluid supply for supplying fluid at a substantially constant pressure, and provided at the distal end of the shaft, and an image capturing assembly configured to provide direct visualization of the vein during hydrodissection. A minimally invasive method for dissecting a greater saphenous vein (GSV) from surrounding tissues using the hydrodissector is also described.

A medical knife that can be assembled with different blade spacings, provided with only one handle includes a pair of side walls on respective sides of the handle, at least in the forward portions of the handle the side walls being formed individually on different handle-constituting parts and a pair of blades separately mounted on the insides of these side walls; and the handle before being assembled to constitute a medical knife is configured such that the two handle-constituting parts forward of a connecting part can be spread apart and closed together, centered on the connecting part, and such that the spacing distance between the two side walls is adjustable.

A veno-merse/harvester device having a handle portion, a hollow shaft portion, and a cutting portion. A fixed cannula system incorporated in the device improves the hydrostatic pressure, which allows efficient hydro-dissection with less retrograde leak of tumescent fluid and facilitates the separation of the vein from surrounding tissues with less bleeding. The veno-merse/harvester device may incorporate a camera system to allow direct visualization of the side branches to be ligated during a procedure. The self-adjustable cutting tip facilitates the forward advancement of the veno-merse/harvester device safely over a dilated portion of a vein.