Vessel harvester

Abstract

Apparatus and method for harvesting selected vessels in the body of a patient include manual manipulation of a rigid dissecting endoscope and the reconfiguration thereof to facilitate tissue dissection and tissue dilation in the formation of an anatomical space about the vessel within which side-branch vessels may be manipulated in preparation for severance and removal of the vessel from the anatomical space.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
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         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
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         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A blood vessel harvesting system comprising:
 an elongated tube having a central axis and an optical path extending along the central axis; and   a cutting assembly comprising at least one blade disposed to extend longitudinally along an offset axis that is substantially parallel to the central axis of the elongated tube and offset from the central axis of the elongated tube,   wherein the at least one blade is moveable relative to the elongated tube to cut a blood vessel that is viewable via the optical path of the elongated tube, and   wherein the at least one blade is disposed to move within a perimeter defined by an external surface of a distal end of the elongated tube, wherein movement of the at least one blade within the perimeter includes rotary movement.   
     
     
         11 . The blood vessel harvesting system according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one blade is rotatable within the perimeter defined by the external surface of the distal end of the elongated tube. 
     
     
         12 . The blood vessel harvesting system according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one blade comprises an electrode. 
     
     
         13 . The blood vessel harvesting system according to  claim 12 , wherein the electrode is disposed to supply electrical or thermal energy to the blood vessel cut by the at least one blade in order to cauterize the blood vessel. 
     
     
         14 . The blood vessel harvesting system according to  claim 10 , wherein the cutting assembly is a rotary cauterizing and shearing device. 
     
     
         15 . The blood vessel harvesting system according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one blade comprises a cylindrical segment having an axially aligned shearing edge. 
     
     
         16 . The blood vessel harvesting system according to  claim 15 , wherein the cylindrical segment extends from the distal end of the elongated tube. 
     
     
         17 . The blood vessel harvesting system according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one blade is disposed radially with respect to the central axis and the optical path. 
     
     
         18 . A blood vessel harvesting system comprising:
 an elongated tube having a central axis and an optical path extending along the central axis; and   a rotary cauterizing and shearing device comprising at least one blade disposed along an offset axis that is substantially parallel to the central axis of the elongated tube and offset from the central axis of the elongated tube,   wherein the at least one blade is moveable relative to the elongated tube to cut a blood vessel that is viewable via the optical path of the elongated tube, and   wherein the at least one blade is constrained to move within a space having a radius, wherein the radius is defined by an external surface of a distal end of the elongated tube.   
     
     
         19 . The blood vessel harvesting system according to  claim 18 , wherein the at least one blade is rotatable within the space. 
     
     
         20 . The blood vessel harvesting system according to  claim 18 , wherein the at least one blade comprises an electrode. 
     
     
         21 . The blood vessel harvesting system according to  claim 20 , wherein the electrode is disposed to supply electrical or thermal energy to the blood vessel before cutting by the at least one blade in order to cauterize the blood vessel. 
     
     
         22 . The blood vessel harvesting system according to  claim 18 , wherein the rotary cauterizing and shearing device further comprises a curved segment having an edge that mates with an edge of the at least one blade. 
     
     
         23 . The blood vessel harvesting system according to  claim 22 , wherein movement of the at least one blade within the space includes rotary movement. 
     
     
         24 . The blood vessel harvesting system according to  claim 22 , wherein the at least one blade has an inner surface and an outer surface, each provided with a curvature that substantially conforms to a curvature of the elongated tube. 
     
     
         25 . The blood vessel harvesting system according to  claim 22 , wherein the at least one blade comprises a curved segment on which the edge of the at least one blade is formed, wherein the edge of the at least one blade is an axially aligned shearing edge. 
     
     
         26 . The blood vessel harvesting system according to  claim 25 , wherein the curved segment of the at least one blade extends from the distal end of the elongated tube. 
     
     
         27 . The blood vessel harvesting system according to  claim 25 , wherein the curved segment is a cylindrical segment. 
     
     
         28 . A method of harvesting a blood vessel comprising the steps of:
 positioning a blood vessel harvesting system according to  claim 18  so that a blood vessel is viewable via the optical path of the blood harvesting system; and   moving the at least one blade of the cutting assembly of blood vessel harvesting system so as to cut the blood vessel while the blood vessel is viewable via the optical path.   
     
     
         29 . A method of harvesting a blood vessel comprising the steps of:
 positioning a blood vessel harvesting system according to  claim 10  so that a blood vessel is viewable via the optical path of the blood harvesting system; and   moving the at least one blade of the cutting assembly of blood vessel harvesting system so as to cut the blood vessel while the blood vessel is viewable via the optical path.   
     
     
         30 . The blood vessel harvesting system according to  claim 18 , further comprising a second blade that has an edge rotatable to meet an edge of the at least one blade, wherein each edge extends longitudinally and is substantially parallel to the other edge.