An apparatus for harvesting a subcutaneous blood vessel is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a guidewire with an angled tip, an intra-vascular catheter to receive the guidewire and having a lateral orifice to allow the angled tip thereof to perforate the subcutaneous blood vessel. The apparatus further comprises a flexible pulling device having a pair of circumferential grooves, one adjacent to each end thereof, to allow for securing the subcutaneous blood vessel thereat; and a flexible pushing device having a concave-cup shape at a distal end thereof to facilitate pushing of the subcutaneous blood vessel secured with one of the pair of circumferential grooves of the flexible pulling device. The flexible pulling device and the flexible pushing device are operable in conjunction to cause inversion and eversion and separation from the surrounding tissues of the subcutaneous blood vessel for removal and harvesting thereof.

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.

Components for an endoscopic vessel harvesting system suitable for harvesting target vessels such as the saphenous vein or radial artery for cardiac artery bypass graft surgery. The main components of such systems include a vessel dissector and a vessel harvester, both of which work in conjunction with a separately provided endoscope. The vessel dissector is an elongated cannula having a blunt tip for separating layers of facial around vessels. The tip may be movable, and is typically transparent to permit viewing forward of the tip using the endoscope. Internal features of the tip may reduce glare back to the endoscope. Several devices improve visibility through the tip by reducing interference from tissue or fluid on the tip. The vessel harvester also has an elongated cannula for receiving the endoscope. Several tools within the harvester permit manipulation, severing, and sealing of vessels forward of the distal end. The tool for manipulating vessels may have a low-profile for increased visibility of operation, and may be coupled to the cannula with a damping mechanism to reduce the possibility of avulsion of the vessels. Various vessel cutting and sealing devices are provided that may accommodate various sizes of vessels and improve cutting and sealing efficacy.

A vessel dissector used in conjunction with an endoscope is provided with a lumen for receiving the endoscope; a blunt dissecting tip provided on a distal end of an elongated cannula permitting tissue dissection while viewing internal body structures via an objective lens of the endoscope; and a vessel severing tool extending through at least a portion of the elongated cannula and translatable longitudinally relative to the elongated cannula, and the vessel severing tool comprises an electrode-carrying member translatable circumferentially within an arcuate slot extending through an outer surface of the vessel dissector, wherein the arcuate slot comprises an inner radius, an outer radius and a central radius, wherein the outer radius is greater than the inner radius and the central radius is located between the outer radius and the inner radius so the arcuate slot provides a uniform opening through which the electrode-carrying member can extend and retract.

To provide a transplant-use tendon harvesting device that can harvest a tendon more easily.

The transplant-use tendon harvesting device 1 includes a mantle portion 5 and a tendon separation element 8. The mantle portion 5 is configured to be inserted into a body from an incision portion 4 and moved along a tendon 3 to be harvested. The tendon separation element 8 is formed of an elastic member and attached to the mantle portion 5 to move along the tendon 3 together with the mantle portion 5 so as to separate an end portion of the tendon 3 on the moving direction side from another tissue. The tendon separation element 8 includes a separation functional portion 6 to cause the tendon 3 to pass inside at a time of moving along the tendon 3 to separate the tendon 3 and linear portions 11 and 12 inserted into the mantle portion 5 to be fixed.

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.

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 with a side port, inserting the device into the vascular lumen, positioning the distal portion in the vascular wall, directing the distal portion within the vascular wall such that the distal portion moves at least partially laterally, and directing the side port towards the vascular lumen.

Catheter removal instruments are provided that can include: at least a pair of instrument jaws aligned along the same axis and opposing one another when engaged, each of the jaws defining recesses having openings wherein the openings of each jaw oppose one another; and a plurality of tips and valleys within the recess with the tips extending toward the openings of each of the jaws, and each of the tips of one jaw aligned opposing the tip of another jaw when the jaws are engaged. Catheter removal instruments are also provided that can include: at least a pair of instrument jaws aligned along the same axis and opposing one another when engaged, each of the jaws defining recesses having openings wherein the openings of each jaw oppose one another; and wherein each of the jaws defines a semi-round channel having a smooth outer surface. Methods for removing a catheter are provided that can include working a pair of opposing semi-round channeled jaws over a brace to free the brace of dermis engaged with the brace; and removing the catheter. Methods for removing a catheter are also provided that can include engaging a catheter tube below the dermis with a plurality of tips extending from individual opposing jaws to remove the catheter.

Components for an endoscopic vessel harvesting system suitable for harvesting target vessels such as the saphenous vein or radial artery for cardiac artery bypass graft surgery. The main components of such systems include a vessel dissector and a vessel harvester, both of which work in conjunction with a separately provided endoscope. The vessel dissector is an elongated cannula having a blunt tip for separating layers of facial around vessels. The tip may be movable, and is typically transparent to permit viewing forward of the tip using the endoscope. Internal features of the tip may reduce glare back to the endoscope. Several devices improve visibility through the tip by reducing interference from tissue or fluid on the tip. The vessel harvester also has an elongated cannula for receiving the endoscope. Several tools within the harvester permit manipulation, severing, and sealing of vessels forward of the distal end. The tool for manipulating vessels may have a low-profile for increased visibility of operation, and may be coupled to the cannula with a damping mechanism to reduce the possibility of avulsion of the vessels. Various vessel cutting and sealing devices are provided that may accommodate various sizes of vessels and improve cutting and sealing efficacy.

A system for preparing a harvested blood vessel for use as a graft during a coronary artery bypass procedure, which includes an elongated platform, a mounting flange extending upwardly from a top surface of the platform adjacent a proximal end thereof for supporting a syringe in a fixed position, and a pair of longitudinally spaced apart clamp holders operatively associated with the top surface of the platform, each clamp holder configured to support a respective vessel clamp, wherein the vessel clamps supported within the clamp holders are adapted to hold a harvested blood vessel immobile therebetween so it can be prepared for grafting.