Device and method to create a smooth opening on a tubular structure such as an artery or a vein

A method for creating a substantially circular hole in a wall of a vessel of a patient, comprising:

• cutting a slit in the wall of the vessel;
• inserting a linear bar member formed on a distal end of an elongated probe through the slit in the wall of the vessel said linear bar member being substantially perpendicular to said elongated probe;
• and
• rotating the elongated probe and the linear bar member with respect to a circular knife disposed around said elongated probe and adjacent said linear bar member to form a substantially circular hole in the wall of the vessel.

A veterinary apparatus for creating a substantially circular hole in a wall of a vessel of an animal, comprising:

• an elongated circular knife with a proximal end, a distal end with a circular knife edge, and an inner channel;
• an elongated probe with a proximal end and a distal end, said elongated probe being disposed within said inner channel of said elongated circular knife and being adapted to be moveable axially and rotatably with respect to said elongated circular knife;
• and
• a linear bar member formed on the distal end of the elongated probe, said linear bar member being substantially perpendicular to said elongated probe, whereby when said linear bar member is inserted in the vessel through a slit in the wall of the vessel, the elongated probe and the linear bar member may be rotated with respect to the circular knife edge of said elongated cylindrical knife to form a substantially circular hole in the wall of the vessel.

A veterinary method for creating a substantially circular hole in a wall of a vessel of an animal, comprising:

• cutting a slit in the wall of the vessel;
• inserting a linear bar member formed on a distal end of an elongated probe through the slit in the wall of the vessel said linear bar member being substantially perpendicular to said elongated probe;
• and
• rotating the elongated probe and the linear bar member with respect to a circular knife disposed around said elongated probe and adjacent said linear bar member to form a substantially circular hole in the wall of the vessel.