Vascular incisor and method

An automatically retracting incisor comprising:

• a housing;
• a push rod having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the push rod is movable between a retracted position and a deployed position, the push rod coupled to the housing and biased toward the retracted position;
• a surgical element disposed at the distal end of the push rod;
• a trigger pin releasably engaging the proximal end of the push rod;
• and
• a ramp on the housing engaging the trigger pin, wherein movement of the trigger pin moves the push rod and the surgical element from the retracted position towards the deployed position such that the trigger pin slides along the ramp, wherein the trigger pin reaches a top of the ramp and the trigger pin disengages from the push rod to allow the surgical element and push rod to return to the retracted position.

An incisor comprising:

• a body;
• an elongate rod coupled to the body, the elongate rod comprising a proximal end and a distal end;
• a surgical element positioned at the distal end of the rod, wherein the surgical element and rod are movable between a retracted position and a deployed position, the rod and surgical element being biased to the retracted position;
• a hammer positioned in the body;
• a hammer spring in engagement with the hammer;
• an actuator coupled to a cam having a surface which engages the hammer, wherein movement of the actuator from an initial position to an actuated position moves the hammer to compress the hammer spring, wherein the cam disengages from the hammer, to allow the hammer spring to expand and push the hammer distally against the push rod so as to move the surgical element to the deployed position.

A method of inserting a cannula into a blood vessel comprising:

• positioning an incisor adjacent the blood vessel;
• activating an actuator to move a surgical element from a retracted position to a deployed position to create an incision in the blood vessel wall;
• and
• automatically moving the surgical element from the deployed position to the retracted position while simultaneously inserting the cannula into the blood vessel.

A method of creating an incision comprising:

• placing a distal tip of a device adjacent a vessel wall;
• activating an actuator to compress a spring;
• expanding the spring to deploy a surgical instrument to create an incision in the vessel wall;
• and
• automatically retracting the surgical element.

An assembly for creating an incision in a blood vessel, the assembly comprising:

• a cannula having a lumen;
• an incisor having an automatically retracting surgical element, the incisor being removably receivable within the lumen of the cannula, the incisor comprising:
• a body;
• a push rod coupled to the surgical element, the push rod and surgical element being movable relative to the body between a retracted position and a deployed position, wherein the push rod and surgical element are biased in the retracted position;
• an actuator coupled to the push rod, the actuator facilitates the movement of the push rod and surgical element from the retracted position to the deployed position;
• a fixed release mechanism positioned on the body, wherein movement of the actuator to a first position moves the push rod and surgical element from the retracted position to the deployed position so as to create an incision in the blood vessel, wherein activation of the actuator to a second position causes the fixed release mechanism to disengage the push rod from the actuator and allow the push rod and surgical element to be biased back to the retracted position.

An assembly for creating an incision in a blood vessel, the assembly comprising:

• a cannula having a lumen;
• an incisor having an automatically retracting surgical element, the incisor being removably receivable within the lumen of the cannula, the incisor comprising:
• a body;
• a rod having the surgical element at a distal end, wherein the surgical element and rod are movable between a retracted position and a deployed position, the rod and surgical element being biased to the retracted position;
• a hammer coupled to the body;
• a hammer spring in engagement with the hammer;
• a movable cam having a surface which engages the hammer, wherein movement of the cam surface from an initial position to an actuated position moves the hammer to compress the hammer spring, wherein disengagement of the cam surface from the hammer causes the hammer spring to expand and push the hammer distally against the rod to move the surgical element to the deployed position.

A method of occluding an aorta comprising:

• deploying a surgical element to create an opening in the aorta;
• automatically retracting the surgical element;
• inserting the cannula through the opening and into the aorta;
• withdrawing the surgical element from the cannula;
• and
• positioning an aortic occlusion device in at least a portion of the aorta.

An assembly for treating the ascending aorta comprising:

• a cannula having a lumen;
• an incisor having an automatically retracting surgical element, the incisor being removably received in the lumen of the cannula, wherein the surgical element is positioned near a distal end of the cannula to create an incision in the ascending aorta;
• and
• an aortic occlusion device insertable through the lumen of the cannula and into the incision in the ascending aorta after the incisor has been removed from the cannula.