Method and apparatus for vessel harvesting

Abstract

The present invention is a method and device for harvesting a vessel. The vessel harvester comprises an internal stenting catheter with proximal and distal ends, a sheath catheter with proximal and distal ends, and a cylindrical cutting tube that is attachable to the distal end of the sheath catheter. The vessel harvester is used to harvest vesseal such as the greater and lesser saphenous veins, the basilic vein, the cephalic vein, and the radial artery.

1 - 22 . (Cancelled)  
   
   
       23 . A method for harvesting a vessel from a patient, the method comprising: 
 opening a vessel in the patient, thereby defining a vessel portion extending between an opened proximal end and an opened distal end;    threading a flexible elongate member entirely through the vessel portion until a distal end of the flexible elongate member protrudes from the distal end of the vessel portion while a proximal end of flexible elongate member protrudes from the proximal end of the vessel portion, wherein the flexible elongate member comprises an elongate guide component slidably coupled to an elongate pulling component that is substantially coextensive therewith;    coupling a terminal member to the elongate pulling component of the flexible elongate member distal to the distal end of the vessel portion, wherein the terminal member is configured to sever the vessel portion from surrounding tissue of the patient when drawn along a length of the vessel portion; and    drawing the terminal member through the patient to the proximal end of the vessel portion, by pulling the elongate pulling component out the proximal end of the vessel portion while holding the elongate guide component distal to the distal end of the vessel portion, thereby severing the vessel portion from surrounding tissue of the patient.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising maintaining tension in the elongate guide component during the drawing step.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising splitting the elongate pulling component after it is drawn out the proximal end of the vessel portion during the drawing step.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising rotating the elongate pulling component and the terminal member coupled thereto, while the pulling component is being drawn out the proximal end of the vessel portion during the drawing step.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the rotating step further comprises causing rotation of the elongate pulling component by splitting the pulling component along a helical path after it is drawn out the proximal end of the vessel portion.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising cutting around an outer perimeter of the vessel portion using the terminal member, during drawing step.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising collecting the vessel portion in a receptacle connected to the terminal member, during the drawing step.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the threading step further comprises threading the flexible elongate member comprising a sheath catheter disposed around a stenting catheter.  
   
   
       31 . An apparatus for harvesting a length of vessel from a patient, the apparatus comprising: 
 a flexible elongate guide member longer than the length of vessel to be harvested;    a flexible elongate pulling member longer than the length of vessel to be harvested and shorter than the guide member, slidably coupled to the guide member and substantially coextensive therewith; and    a coupling connected to a distal end of the pulling member, and configured to permit the guide member to extend past the coupling, the coupling further configured to couple to a terminal member, wherein the guide member, the pulling member, and the coupling together comprise an assembly configured for threading through the length of vessel and that, when coupled to the terminal member, is configured to sever the length of vessel from the patient when the terminal member is drawn along the length of vessel by the pulling member, while at least a distal end of the guide member is substantially fixed relative to the patient.    
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the pulling member comprises a sheath catheter.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the guide member comprises a stenting catheter.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the pulling member comprises a stenting catheter.  
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the guide member comprises a wire.  
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising the terminal member coupled to the coupling.  
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the terminal member comprises a cutter configured to cut around an outer periphery of the length of vessel.  
   
   
       38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the cutter comprises a circular blade having an inside diameter greater than an outside diameter of the length of vessel.  
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , further comprising a receptacle connected to a distal portion of the terminal member, configured for collecting the length of vessel.  
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the terminal member and the receptacle together comprise a cylindrical cutting tube.  
   
   
       41 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the pulling member comprises a peel-away catheter.  
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the pulling member comprises a peel-away catheter configured to peel along a helix.  
   
   
       43 . A vessel harvesting device comprising a flexible elongate guide member, a pulling member disposed over the guide member and having proximal and distal ends, and a cutter connectable to the distal end of pulling member, wherein the guide member and the pulling member are arranged to be inserted through a length of vessel in an organism, and the cutter is connectable to the pulling member for movement relative to a fixed distal end of the guide member along the outside of the vessel.  
   
   
       44 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the pulling member comprises a sheath catheter.  
   
   
       45 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the guide member comprises a stenting catheter.  
   
   
       46 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the pulling member comprises a stenting catheter.  
   
   
       47 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the guide member comprises a wire.  
   
   
       48 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the cutter comprises a circular blade having an inside diameter greater than an outside diameter of the vessel.  
   
   
       49 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , further comprising a receptacle connected to a distal portion of the pulling member and disposed behind the cutter, configured for collecting the length of vessel.  
   
   
       50 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the cutter and the receptacle together comprise a cylindrical cutting tube.  
   
   
       51 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the pulling member comprises a peel-away catheter.  
   
   
       52 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the pulling member comprises a peel-away catheter configured to peel along a helix.