US5968066A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and devices for blood vessel harvesting
Assignee: Mallinckrodt Enterprises Holdings Inc
•
Filing: 1998-12-07
•
Granted: 1999-10-19
•
Expires: 2018-12-07
Abstract
Abstract Methods and devices for harvesting blood vessels from the body using minimally invasive surgical techniques are disclosed. The vessel is dissected from surrounding tissue using the tip of a dissection cannula. The dissected tissue may be retracted, for example, by insufflation. The dissection cannula may further include a balloon that can be inflated after insertion between the vessel and the surrounding tissue. An imaging device may be disposed within the cannula to permit viewing through the distal tip. In another aspect, the balloon is an everting balloon that upon inflation everts and advances along the vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas J. Fogarty
- 👤 George D. Hermann
- 👤 Jan M. Echeverry
- 👤 Kenneth H. Mollenauer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:30
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/00008; A61B17/02; A61B17/0218; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/10; A61M25/1002; A61M29/00; A61M29/02; A61B17/34; A61B17/3417; A61B17/3421; A61B17/3431; A61B2017/00535; A61B2017/00557; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22051; A61B2017/22061; A61B2017/22062; A61B17/32; A61B2017/320044; A61B2017/320048; A61B90/00; A61B90/36; A61B90/361; A61M2025/1043; A61M2025/1081; A61M25/01; A61M25/0194
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of harvesting a length of blood vessel from a body comprising the following steps: providing an elongate dissection cannula having a closed distal tip; inserting said dissection cannula through an opening in the body near the length of blood vessel; dissecting tissue away from the blood vessel with said closed distal tip; and severing the vessel at proximal and distal ends of the length of vessel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of harvesting a length of blood vessel from a body comprising the following steps: providing an elongate dissection cannula having a closed distal tip; inserting said dissection cannula through an opening in the body near the length of blood vessel; dissecting tissue away from the blood vessel with said closed distal tip; and severing the vessel at proximal and distal ends of the length of vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of retracting the dissected tissue away from the blood vessel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of retracting is performed by insufflation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of removing said dissection cannula from said opening in the body prior to the step of retracting.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said dissection cannula further comprises a balloon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of inflating said balloon with the balloon inserted between the vessel and surrounding tissue.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said balloon is an everting balloon and inflating said balloon causes said balloon to evert and advance along the vessel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of retracting the dissected tissue away from the blood vessel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said step of retracting is performed by insufflation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of removing said dissection cannula from said opening in the body prior to the step of retracting.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of viewing through the distal tip with an imaging device inserted into a lumen in said dissection cannula.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said distal tip is tapered with a substantially hemispherical tip.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of ligating and dividing side branches from the blood vessel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of removing said dissection cannula from said opening in the body prior to the step of ligating and dividing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of retracting the dissected tissue away from the blood vessel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said step of retracting is performed by insufflation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the step of removing said dissection cannula from said opening in the body is performed prior to the step of retracting.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of viewing through the distal tip with an imaging device inserted into a lumen in said dissection cannula.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of inserting at least one surgical instrument through the opening in the body to divide and ligate the blood vessel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of severing the proximal end of the length of vessel is performed prior to the step of inserting said dissection cannula.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of harvesting a length of blood vessel from a body comprising the following steps: providing an elongate dissection cannula having a closed blunt distal tip; inserting said dissection cannula through an opening in the body near the length of blood vessel; advancing the closed blunt distal tip of the dissection cannula along the blood vessel to dissect tissue away from the blood vessel; and ligating and dividing side branches from the blood vessel.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of harvesting a length of blood vessel from a body comprising the following steps: providing an elongate dissection cannula having a closed blunt distal tip; inserting said dissection cannula through an opening in the body near the length of blood vessel; advancing the closed blunt distal tip of the dissection cannula along the blood vessel to dissect tissue away from the blood vessel; and ligating and dividing side branches from the blood vessel.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of severing the vessel at proximal and distal ends of the length of vessel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the step of severing the proximal end of the length of vessel is performed prior to the step of inserting said dissection cannula.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of retracting the dissected tissue away from the blood vessel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said step of retracting is performed by insufflation.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of removing said dissection cannula from said opening in the body prior to the step of retracting.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said dissection cannula further comprises a balloon.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of inflating said balloon with the balloon inserted between the vessel and surrounding tissue.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said balloon is an everting balloon and inflating said balloon causes said balloon to evert and advance along the vessel.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of retracting the dissected tissue away from the blood vessel.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said step of retracting is performed by insufflation.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of removing said dissection cannula from said opening in the body prior to the step of retracting.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of viewing through the distal tip with an imaging device inserted into a lumen in said dissection cannula.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said distal tip is tapered with a substantially hemispherical tip.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of inserting at least one surgical instrument through the opening in the body to divide and ligate the blood vessel.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of ligating and dividing side branches from the blood vessel.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of removing said dissection cannula from said opening in the body prior to the step of ligating and dividing.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 37 further comprising the step of retracting the dissected tissue way from the blood vessel.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 38 wherein said step of retracting is performed by insufflation.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 38 wherein the step of removing said dissection cannula from said opening in the body is performed prior to the step of retracting.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of viewing through the distal tip with an imaging device inserted into a lumen in said dissection cannula.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-10-18 | 2003-04-19 | 2003-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-18 | 2007-04-19 | 2007-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-18 | 2011-04-19 | 2011-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |