Apparatus and method for vein removal
AssigneeCardio Thoracic Systems, Inc.
InventorsDavid R. Knighton, Vance D. Fiegel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device and method for removing a generally cylindrical tissue structure such as a blood vessel from the body of a human or animal. The device includes a body portion having distal and proximal ends with at least one lumen extending longitudinally through the body portion. The lumen is sized to accommodate the vessel and at least one tool used in removing the vessel. Means is provided for isolating the vessel from the tools used in the removal procedure.
Claims20
A surgical device for sealing and severing blood vessels, comprising:
- an elongated tubular housing extending between distal and proximal ends thereof and defining a lumen therein;
- and
- a blood vessel sealing and severing tool having an elongated shaft sized to pass through the lumen of the elongated tubular housing and an operative tip on a distal end of the shaft comprising two pairs of opposed prongs extending generally in parallel, each pair of opposed prongs being adapted to move toward and away from one another, the pairs being spaced apart so as to clamp and seal two spaced apart points of a blood vessel, and a cutting mechanism movable between the spaced apart pairs of opposed prongs to sever the blood vessel between the sealed points.
A surgical device for sealing and severing blood vessels, comprising:
- an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
- an operative tip on a distal end of the shaft comprising two pairs of opposed prongs extending generally in parallel, each pair of opposed prongs being adapted to move toward and away from one another, the pairs being spaced apart so as to clamp and seal two spaced apart points of a blood vessel;
- an actuator on the proximal end of the elongated shaft for displacing the respective pairs of prongs toward and away from one another;
- a cutting blade aligned to move between the spaced apart pairs of opposed prongs and sever the blood vessel between the sealed points;
- and
- an actuator on the proximal end of the elongated shaft for displacing the cutting blade.
A surgical method of sealing and severing a blood vessel, comprising:
- providing a blood vessel sealing and severing tool having an elongated shaft sized to pass through the lumen of the elongated tubular housing and an operative tip on a distal end of the shaft comprising two pairs of opposed prongs extending generally in parallel, each pair of opposed prongs being adapted to move toward and away from one another, the pairs being spaced apart so as to clamp and seal two spaced apart points of a blood vessel, and a cutting mechanism movable between the spaced apart pairs of opposed prongs to sever the blood vessel between the sealed points;
- inserting the surgical tool into a body;
- advancing the operative tip into proximity of a blood vessel;
- aligning the two pairs of opposed prongs around the blood vessel;
- sealing the blood vessel with the prongs at two spaced apart points;
- moving the cutting mechanism to sever the blood vessel between the sealed points;
- and
- releasing the severed ends of the blood vessel from the prongs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.