Insufflation Damper for Endoscopic Vessel Dissector/Harvester

Vessel harvesting apparatus for removing a vessel from a patient, comprising:

• an endoscopic instrument having a distal end with a vessel harvesting tip and having a proximal end with a handle, wherein the endoscopic instrument has an insufflation channel adapted to receive an insufflation gas from a regulated source at the proximal end, and wherein the insufflation channel has an outlet at the distal end adapted to expel the insufflation gas subcutaneously in the patient;
• and
• a damping device having a flexible bladder, wherein the flexible bladder has an inside space in fluid communication with the insufflation channel, wherein the inside space has a volume that varies between a rest volume and an inflated volume in response to an amount of insufflation gas flowing to or from the flexible bladder.