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:
Nov. 07, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 05, 1999
Felmont F Eaves, III, Charlotte, NC (US);
Other;
Abstract
Apparatus and method for endoscopically harvesting an elongate structure such as a blood vessel or nerve from a patient's body. A harvesting head defines a channel for receiving a blood vessel or the like and an outer surface for dissecting and retracting connective tissue surrounding a vessel received in the channel. The head may have a substantially ovate shape and may depend from an extended handle. The head has at least one slot that extends between the outer surface and channel for receiving side branches of the vessel. The slot contains a blade for cutting the side branches and electrocauterizing plates for sealing the cut ends of the side branches. An opening may be provided for application of a ligation device to the side branch. The apparatus may be inserted into an incision in a patient's body and advanced along the length of a vessel to endoscopically dissect, ligate and transect the side branches to harvest the main trunk of the vessel to support subsequent surgical procedures.