Surgical Tool for Creating an Opening in Tissue

Abstract

A tool for removing at least one tissue plug from the wall of at least one tubular tissue structure may include a cutter and a piercing member positioned within the cutter, where the piercing member and cutter are configured to translate together, as well as an impulse source operationally connected to the cutter and the piercing member.

1 . A tool for removing at least one tissue plug from the wall of at least one tubular tissue structure, comprising:
 a cutter;   a piercing member positioned within said cutter, wherein said piercing member and said cutter are configured to translate together; and   an impulse source operationally connected to said cutter and said piercing member.   
   
   
       2 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein said piercing member is a needle. 
   
   
       3 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein said piercing member is fluted. 
   
   
       4 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein said piercing member includes a spike at its distal end. 
   
   
       5 . The tool of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one capture feature defined in said cutter. 
   
   
       6 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein said impulse source is a torsion spring. 
   
   
       7 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein said impulse source is configured to store energy. 
   
   
       8 . The tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a header connected to the proximal end of said piercing member and said cutter. 
   
   
       9 . The tool of  claim 8 , wherein said impulse source is connected to said header. 
   
   
       10 . The tool of  claim 9 , wherein said header is configured to rotate and move distally upon application of an impulse from said impulse source. 
   
   
       11 . The tool of  claim 10 , wherein said impulse source is a torsion spring, and wherein said torsion spring increases in length upon application of said impulse. 
   
   
       12 . The tool of  claim 8 , wherein said header includes at least one thread defined therein. 
   
   
       13 . The tool of  claim 12 , further comprising a body having an inner surface in which at least one thread is defined, said thread corresponding to said thread defined in said header. 
   
   
       14 . The tool of  claim 8 , further comprising an actuator movably connected to said body and engageable with said header. 
   
   
       15 . The tool of  claim 14 , wherein said actuator is configured to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said cutter. 
   
   
       16 . The tool of  claim 14 , wherein said actuator comprises a trigger connected to a restraint, wherein said restraint is selectively engageable with said header. 
   
   
       17 . The tool of  claim 8 , further comprising a reload shaft detachably connected to said header. 
   
   
       18 . The tool of  claim 17  wherein said cutter has a length sufficient to retain a plurality of tissue plugs. 
   
   
       19 . The tool of  claim 17 , wherein the longitudinal centerline of said reload shaft is substantially coincident with the longitudinal centerline of said header. 
   
   
       20 . The tool of  claim 17 , further comprising a post extending from the distal end of said reload shaft, wherein said header includes a receiver configured to selectively engage said post. 
   
   
       21 . The tool of  claim 20 , wherein said post has a polygonal cross-section. 
   
   
       22 . The tool of  claim 20 , wherein rotation of said reload shaft causes said header to move proximally, when said post is in engagement with said receiver. 
   
   
       23 . The tool of  claim 22 , wherein proximal motion of said header imparts energy to said impulse source. 
   
   
       24 . The tool of  claim 22 , wherein said impulse source is a torsion spring, and wherein said torsion spring decreases in length upon rotation of said reload shaft.