Vein stripping device

Abstract

A vein stripping device 1 includes a catheter 2 for insertion into a vein 10 to be removed. The catheter 2 has a proximal region 3 adjacent a proximal end 4 of the catheter 2 and a distal region 5 adjacent a distal end 6 of the catheter 2 . The catheter 2 is open at the distal end for passage of blood through the catheter from the distal end. The catheter 2 has a plurality of vein grippers 15, 16 at least along the distal region 5 for gripping a length of the vein 10 to the catheter 2 . The vein grippers include a plurality of holes and/or gripping features 15, 16 spaced-apart along the wall of the catheter 2.

1 - 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . A vein stripping device comprising a catheter for insertion into a vein to be removed, the catheter having a proximal region adjacent a proximal end of the catheter and a distal region adjacent a distal end of the catheter, the catheter having a vein gripper at least along the distal region wherein the vein gripper comprises a plurality of holes in the wall of the catheter, the catheter being open at the distal end thereof for passage of blood through the catheter from the distal end. 
     
     
         47 . The vein stripping device as claimed in  claim 46  wherein the device comprises a vacuum generator means for drawing blood through the catheter from the distal end. 
     
     
         48 . The vein stripping device as claimed in  claim 46  wherein the catheter comprises an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member which extends through at least the distal region of the catheter. 
     
     
         49 . The vein stripping device as claimed in  claim 48  wherein the catheter comprises support ribs extending between the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member. 
     
     
         50 . The vein stripping device as claimed in  claim 49  wherein the support ribs divide the lumen between the inner and outer tubular members into separate chambers. 
     
     
         51 . The vein stripping device as claimed in  claim 48  wherein the distal end of the inner tubular member is stepped back from the distal end of the outer tubular member. 
     
     
         52 . The vein stripping device as claimed in  claim 46  wherein the outer diameter of the distal region of the catheter is substantially uniform. 
     
     
         53 . The vein stripping device as claimed in  claim 46  wherein the wall thickness of the catheter is distally tapered at the distal end thereof. 
     
     
         54 . The vein stripping device as claimed in  claim 46  wherein the vein gripper does not extend radially outwardly of the outer circumference of the catheter. 
     
     
         55 . The vein stripping device as claimed in  claim 46  wherein the vein gripper comprises an engagement element for engagement with a vein wall. 
     
     
         56 . The vein stripping device as claimed in  claim 55  wherein the vein engagement element comprises jaws for engagement with a vein. 
     
     
         57 . The vein stripping device as claimed in  claim 56  wherein the jaws are adapted to engage with a vein in response to movement of the catheter in the proximal direction. 
     
     
         58 . The vein stripping device as claimed in  claim 55  wherein the vein gripper is movable in response to a vacuum being applied to at least the distal region of the catheter. 
     
     
         59 . The vein stripping device as claimed in  claim 56  wherein the jaws define an entry slot for engagement with a vein. 
     
     
         60 . The vein stripping device as claimed in  claim 49  wherein the vein gripper extends on either side of a rib, the rib may be cut-away inwardly in the region of the vein gripping means. 
     
     
         61 . The vein stripping device as claimed in  claim 48  comprising guide means over which the inner tubular member travels. 
     
     
         62 . The vein stripping device as claimed in  claim 46  comprising a vacuum generator for drawing a vein into the vein gripping means. 
     
     
         63 . The vein stripping device as claimed in  claim 47  comprising:
 a proximal tube connected to the proximal region of the catheter; 
 a blood collecting housing; 
 the proximal tube extending through the blood collecting housing; 
 a plunger which is movable through the housing to generate a vacuum in the catheter; and 
 a plunger tube connected to and extending proximally of the plunger, the plunger tube having an opening through which blood from the proximal tube passes into the chamber proximally of the plunger. 
 
     
     
         64 . The vein stripping device as claimed in  claim 46 , the catheter comprising an outer tube and an inner tube, the inner tube being movable relative to the outer tube, and wherein the inner tube is a close fit within the outer tube. 
     
     
         65 . The device as claimed in  claim 64  wherein the inner tube comprises a plurality of holes and the outer tube comprises a plurality of holes, the tubes being movable relative to one another from an insertion configuration in which the holes in the outer tube are occluded by the inner tube to a stripping configuration in which the holes in the outer tube are aligned with the holes in the inner tube.