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. 13, 2012
Filed:
Aug. 31, 2009
Thomas J. Fogarty, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Kenneth H. Mollenauer, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Michelle Y. Monfort, Los Gates, CA (US);
George D. Hermann, Los Gates, CA (US);
Allan R. Will, Atherton, CA (US);
Thomas J. Fogarty, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Kenneth H. Mollenauer, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Michelle Y. Monfort, Los Gates, CA (US);
George D. Hermann, Los Gates, CA (US);
Allan R. Will, Atherton, CA (US);
Tyco Healthcare Group LP, Mansfield, MA (US);
Abstract
Methods and devices for harvesting veins from the body. The methods and devices allow vein harvesting using laparoscopic procedures. A working space is created over the vein using standard laparoscopic procedures and a side-hooked wire is inserted into the working space and twisted to insert the side-hook under the vein. The wire is then pulled or drawn along the vein to separate the vein from the surrounding tissue. In an alternative embodiment, vein separation is accomplished by threading a soft rubber tube under the vein, grasping the ends of the tube so as to surround the vein, and then pulling the tube along the vein. In other embodiments, the working space is created with everting balloons.