Tissue separation cannula and method
AssigneeOrigin Medsystems, Inc.
InventorAlbert K. Chin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cannula includes a tubular body having proximal closed end and distal blunt end, at least one lumen extending the length of the body, an endoscope having a lighted, viewing end disposed in the lumen near the distal end of the body, and a transparent, tissue separating member substantially covering the distal end of the body. The tissue separating member has a blunt tip disposed from and of the end distal to the body. A method of using such a cannula separates tissue to form an elongated cavity along the course of a small blood vessel and subsequently harvesting the blood vessel.
Claims14
A cannula for dissecting an elongated cavity in tissue, the cannula comprising:
- a tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end and having a lumen extending within the length of the tubular body;
- an endoscope having a lighted, viewing end disposed in the lumen near the distal end of the tubular body;
- a transparent member affixed to the distal end of the tubular body, having a tapered section and having a blunt tip, the tapered section and the blunt tip have different radii of curvature;
- and
- a sleeve-type balloon having proximal and distal ends circumferentially attached to an exterior wall of the tubular body near the distal end thereof and proximal of the transparent member, wherein the tubular body supports the balloon when deflated.
A method for dissecting an elongated cavity in tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
- dissecting an initial cavity;
- providing a dissection cannula having a tubular body, a transparent distal tip, an endoscope operable for visualizing through the transparent distal tip, and a sleeve-type balloon having a proximal end and a distal end both attached circumferentially to an exterior wall of the tubular body proximal of the transparent distal tip, wherein the transparent distal tip of the cannula has a tapered shape, wherein the tapered shape has a taper section and a blunt tip, and wherein the taper section and the blunt tip have different radii of curvature;
- separating the tissue by advancing the dissection cannula under continuous visual observation;
- and
- selectively inflating and deflating the balloon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.