The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 14, 2000
Filed:
Jan. 23, 1997
Maciej J Kieturakis, San Carlos, CA (US);
Archimedes Surgical, Inc., Menlo Park, CA (US);
Abstract
A 360.degree. dissection instrument and method for accomplishing an atraumatic blunt dissection of connective tissues in 360.degree. around the circumference of a saphenous vein and branch veins to facilitate a minimally invasive harvesting of the vein. The 360.degree. pulsable dissector has an elongate body with a distal dissecting surface that is progressively 'circumferential' or 'wrapped' around an axial vessel-receiving passageway or channel. The dissecting surface includes a longitudinal gap that has a reduced transverse dimension in the proximal direction to funnel branch veins through the gap. The wrapped dissecting surface includes an 'active' periphery incorporating a pulsable expansion structure of elastomeric material having and interior pressurizable chamber. An inflation lumen in the dissector body communicates with a pressure source and a pulse-control mechanism. A single pulse will move the expansion structure in a 'pulse cycle' through an 'expansion phase' and a 'contraction' phase at pulse intervals ranging from 1/second to 100/second. In one embodiment, endoscopic viewing means are provided within the body of the dissector.