|Publication number||US7959553 B2|
|Application number||US 12/241,316|
|Publication date||Jun 14, 2011|
|Filing date||Sep 30, 2008|
|Priority date||Nov 17, 2000|
|Also published as||CA2427918A1, CA2427918C, EP1339352A2, EP1339352A4, US6558313, US6705986, US7211040, US8777835, US20030176764, US20040162462, US20070208230, US20090023981, US20110224483, US20120108891, US20140371522, WO2002039882A2, WO2002039882A3|
|Publication number||12241316, 241316, US 7959553 B2, US 7959553B2, US-B2-7959553, US7959553 B2, US7959553B2|
|Inventors||David R. Knighton, Vance D. Fiegel|
|Original Assignee||Embro Corporation|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (71), Non-Patent Citations (16), Referenced by (4), Classifications (11), Legal Events (5)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/787,323, filed Apr. 16, 2007, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/780,370, filed Feb. 17, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,211,040, issued May 1, 2007, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/391,148, filed Mar. 18, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,986, issued Mar. 16, 2004, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/715,382, filed Nov. 17, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,558,313, issued May 6, 2003, hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
This invention relates to a system and a method for harvesting a generally cylindrical tissue structure from the body of a patient. More particularly, the invention is directed to a system and a method for harvesting a section of a blood vessel from a patient.
In certain circumstances it is desirable to remove sections of tubular tissue structure from a patient's body. Such tissue may be used in another part of the patient's body, may be transplanted into a second patient's body or may be discarded. As used herein, the term “tubular tissue structure” includes blood vessels, tendons, bile ducts, nerves and any other similar tissue formation which is generally tubular in structure and capable of being separated from surrounding tissue. Although the invention herein will be discussed in terms of harvesting blood vessels it should be understood that the apparatus and method described are equally applicable to harvesting other solid or cylindrical tubular tissue structure.
Vein harvesting is commonly done in connection with coronary artery bypass surgery. The saphenous vein is a subcutaneous vein which is often used for coronary artery bypass grafting, infra-inguinal bypass grafting and vein-vein bypass grafting. Other vessels may also be used including the internal mammary artery, the radial artery, and/or the lesser saphenous vein. Previously, it has been necessary to make an incision along the full length of the vein section to be removed. The vein is then freed by severing and ligating the branches of the vein, after which the section of the vein can be removed from the patient. The full-length incision must then be closed, for example by suturing or stapling. Obviously, the harvesting of the vein in this manner leaves disfiguring scars which are cosmetically undesirable. Additionally, the large incision creates a risk of infection to the patient and may not heal properly, especially with those patients who have poor circulation in their extremities. Such an incision may create a chronic non-healing wound, requiring significant and costly medical treatment.
Devices for harvesting a section of a blood vessel without creating a full-length incision have been suggested and include that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,346 (Mindich) and UK Patent No. GB 20 82 459A. These patents describe methods that use incisions at either end of the blood vessel to be harvested. Such devices and methods can be disadvantageous because greater blood loss than is necessary can result. These devices may also remove more tissue than is necessary because the size of the cutting device is not readily adaptable to the changes in the size of the blood vessel. In addition, these patents describe techniques which have a high probability of damaging the vessel, making it unsuitable for use as a vascular conduit.
In U.S. Pat. No. RE 36,043 (Knighton), a device and a method for vein removal are disclosed which solve some of the problems associated with the use of prior art devices. Knighton discloses an endoscope having a lumen extending longitudinally through the scope body. The endoscope includes means for viewing an area adjacent the distal end of the lumen. The lumen has a lateral dimension large enough to accommodate the blood vessel being harvested and at least one tool for use in harvesting the blood vessel. A first end of the blood vessel section to be harvested is exposed through an incision in the patient's body. A dissecting tool and a gripping tool are inserted through the lumen of the endoscope and used to dissect the blood vessel away from the surrounding connective tissue of the patient's body. Additional tools are provided for use through the lumen of the endoscope to remove body fluids and coagulate bleeding tissue, to ligate and sever side branches from the blood vessel to be harvested, and to ligate and sever a distal end of the blood vessel to be harvested when a desired length of blood vessel has been dissected. Only a small incision in the patient's body is necessary to harvest a relatively long length of blood vessel in a precise and controlled manner using this device and procedure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,576 (Knighton et al.) also describes a device and method for vein removal. The device has one or more lumens extending through a body portion. One lumen is sized to accommodate a blood vessel and at least one tool for use in removing the vessel. The device may also include viewing means so that the operator may remotely view an area adjacent the distal end of the body portion. The device protects the vessel being removed from damage by the tools used in the procedure, which is critical since the blood vessel is destined for reuse (as in arterial bypass). In addition, a single operator can use the device.
In commonly assigned, co-pending application Ser. No. 09/715,665, (Knighton et al.) filed Nov. 17, 2000, entitled “Vein Harvesting System and Method”, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference, a system that is easier to use and minimizes damage to a blood vessel is described. In this system, a multi-lumen tube is used in conjunction with a housing having a removable lower portion. The housing provides a workspace for the removal of a blood vessel and the multi-lumen tube and associated tools provide a means to see and to remove a desired length of vein and cut and cauterize any vein side branches while minimizing damage to the vein and trauma to the patient. An additional problem with present technology is determining the course of the main saphenous trunk versus a large side branch. The course of the main vein would also be beneficial to see well ahead of the dissection to facilitate the speed of dissection.
The need also exists for a vein harvester having a variable length and further having tools that would be easier and more convenient to use. The tools typically used in the current procedures tend to be long and difficult to control. Having tools with a variable length would allow for an easier, more precise, and more rapid procedure.
This invention is a system and a method for the harvesting of a blood vessel. The system comprises an expandable hood to make a workspace for extraction of the vein and an extendible or telescoping device having desired tools at its distal end. The tools are activated at the proximal end of the telescoping device. The method comprises illuminating the dissection area via a light catheter that is inside the lumen of the blood vessel and deploying the telescoping device to the length desired to dissect the vein from surrounding tissue.
In a first aspect the invention is a method of harvesting a section of a vessel from a human or animal body. The method comprises exposing the vessel section to be harvested through an incision in the body; providing a light source; placing the light source in the lumen of the vessel, the light source being sufficient to illuminate substantially the entire vessel section and vessel side branches extending from the vessel section with an intensity which is visible from an exterior of the vessel section; dissecting the vessel away from surrounding connective tissue of the body with a dissecting tool inserted through the incision; viewing the dissection of the vessel with a viewing element inserted through the incision; cutting the vessel at proximal and distal ends of the vessel section; and removing the vessel section from the patient's body. The vessel section may be exposed through first and second incisions with the dissecting tool and viewing element inserted through the first incision and the light source placed in the vessel lumen through the second incision. The first incision may be made over a proximal end of the vessel section and the second incision over a distal end of the vessel section. The method may further comprise providing a telescoping member having first and second substantially cylindrical segments, the second segment sized to fit within a lumen of the first segment, the telescoping member being adjustable in length from a fully collapsed position where the second segment is contained substantially within the first segment to a fully extended position where the second segment is substantially removed from the first segment, the telescoping member having the dissecting tool connected to a distal end of the second segment, and inserting the telescoping member through the incision. The step of proving the telescoping member may comprise providing a telescoping member wherein the viewing element and tool used to cut the vessel are connected to the distal end of the second segment. The method may comprise providing a hood member configured to be moveable from a first closed position to a second open position; inserting the hood member through the incision, adjacent the vessel; and creating a working space adjacent the vessel by opening the hood member from the first closed position to the second open position.
In another aspect the invention is a system for harvesting a section of a vessel from an incision in a human or animal body. The system comprises a light source sized and configured to be inserted into a lumen of the vessel, the light source being sufficient to illuminate substantially the entire vessel section with an intensity which is visible from an exterior of the vessel section; a viewing element configured to be insertable through the incision and capable of viewing the illuminated vessel section; and at least on tool used to harvest the vessel section, the at least one tool being sized to be inserted through the incision. This system may include a telescoping member having first and second substantially cylindrical segments, the second segment sized to fit within a lumen of the first segment, the telescoping member being adjustable in length from a fully collapsed position to a fully extended position by slidably adjusting the extent to which the second segment is contained in the lumen of the first segment, the telescoping element having a dissecting tool connected thereto. The viewing element may be connected to the telescoping member. A dissection element connected to the telescoping member may also be included. A hood member configured to be moveable from a first closed position to a second open position may be included in the system. The hood member is sized to be inserted through the incision in the closed position and placed adjacent the vessel section. The hood is further configured to create a working space adjacent the vessel when moved to the open position.
The present invention is a system and a method for harvesting a tubular tissue section such as a section of a vessel from a patient's body for use in another part of a patient's body or for transplanting into a second patient's body. For example, a section of the saphenous vein may be removed for use in coronary bypass surgery. The saphenous vein travels along the medial side of the foot, leg, and thigh, where it joins with the femoral vein near the groin. Although specific reference herein is made to harvesting a section of saphenous vein it should be understood that the invention could be used to harvest other tubular tissue sections from human or animal bodies.
The terms “distal” and “proximal” as used herein refer to the method of use of the system. “Proximal” refers to a location closer to the physician and “distal” refers to a location farther from the physician. “Upper” and “lower” also are terms that refer to an orientation with respect to the use of the device, that is, relative to the physician.
In the method of this invention, the patient is first prepared for removal of the vein. The method is suitable for removal of any vein or tubular tissue structure; however, the invention is exemplified by reference to the saphenous vein. A first incision is made in the area from which the vein is to be harvested. For example, the incision is made in the groin area for harvesting the saphenous vein. A second, distal, incision is also made. For example, this distal incision will be near the knee (either above or below the joint) if the longest section possible of vein is needed. An expandable hood is inserted through the first incision and positioned over the top of the saphenous vein. This serves to lift surrounding tissue away from the vein. Then the expandable hood is expanded to create a space sufficient to permit the use of tools so that the vein may be dissected.
At the site of the distal incision, the vein or a side branch is cut and a light catheter (e.g., a fiber optic cable) is inserted into the lumen of the vein to illuminate the area of dissection and display the lumen of the vein. A device that is extendible, referred to as a telescoping device, is provided with tools at its distal end and is inserted through the first incision and under the expandable hood. The telescoping device provides the means to dissect the vein from the connective tissue and to cut and clip or cauterize any vein side branches. The telescopic device has a viewing fiber optic cable connected to a monitor so that the physician can see the dissection area. In addition, suction may be provided to remove blood and debris from the dissection field. Irrigation of the area of the vein with saline also may be provided through the telescoping device.
Turning now to the Figures, the system and method of the invention are illustrated. After proper preparation of the incision site, the physician makes a small incision I′ (e.g., about 3 cm long) over the proximal aspect of the blood vessel to be harvested.
As shown in
Telescoping device 20 has proximal end 12 and distal end 14 and is constructed of a rigid material such as metal or plastic. Device 20 is shown in
Device 20 is advanced along the top of the saphenous vein under expandable hood 10 by extending the telescoping segments.
Vein dissector 32 is fixed at the end of segment 22, preferably at a circumferential position spaced approximately 180° from the position at which line 60 and bipolar scissors 34 are fixed. The vein dissector 32 is provided with an open loop having an opening 62 so that it can be slipped onto and off of the vein as desired. For example, during dissection of the vein if a side branch is encountered the vein dissector can be removed and the device rotated 180° so that the bipolar scissors can be used to cut and coagulate the side branch. The device is then rotated back and the vein dissector slipped over the vein and advanced in the distal direction so the dissection process is continued. Although a spacing of 180° is preferred between the vein dissector and bipolar scissors it will be appreciated that other spacing could be used so long as the spacing is sufficient to allow the tools to be used without interference from one another. Vein dissector 32 includes a blunt tip portion 33 which is used as an additional means of dissecting tissue from the vein and as a probe. This vein dissector may be a full circular dissector or, more preferably, a loop dissector as shown, which permits the vein to be dissected and removed from the dissector any time it is desired.
Cutting means 34 preferably is a bipolar scissors. Such scissors are configured to cut and cauterize size branches V′ of the vein as they are encountered during the dissection of vein V. Alternatively, any cutting means can be used and appropriate ligation means (such as a suture or a clip) also can be used.
The actuator is adapted to operate cutting means 34, preferably bipolar scissors, which cuts and cauterizes side branches V′ of vein V as the dissection proceeds. The dissection process proceeds distally along blood vessel V. The operator of the device views the dissection process (occurring at the area immediately adjacent distal end 14 of telescoping device 20) through the optical viewing device/detector 40 and associated monitor. Optionally, a saline infusion line 37 may be included to ensure that the lens at the distal end of the fiber optic line remains clear.
As seen in
During a typical saphenous vein harvesting procedure the vein harvesting system is used as follows. A first incision I′ is made over the groin area. A second distal incision I″ is made above or below the knee depending on the length of vein needed. Expandable hood 10 is inserted into incision I′ over the saphenous vein. The hood is expanded to create sufficient space to use the telescoping device including its dissecting and cutting tools. At the second incision the saphenous vein or a side branch is cut and light catheter 42 is inserted into the saphenous vein. Light catheter 42 is advanced in the proximal direction to a position sufficient to light the saphenous vein and side branches between the area of the first and second incisions. The telescoping device 20 is inserted beneath the hood through the first incision after the physician has exposed the saphenous vein with his or her finger. The saphenous vein is inserted into the vein dissector 32 through slot 62. The procedure is usually started with the telescoping device fully collapsed although the segments may be manipulated to lengthen the device if desired.
The device is advanced under direct vision of the physician until no longer visible by eye, after which the physician views the process on the monitor. By utilizing light catheter 42 the physician's view of the dissection and cutting process is improved over prior art procedures where the light source is external to the vein.
When a side branch is encountered the vein dissector is removed from the vein and the telescoping device rotated so that the bipolar scissors (or other cutting means) can be used to cut and coagulate (or clip) the side branch. The device is then rotated and the vein dissector slipped over the vein so the dissection process can continue.
When the telescoping device has been inserted to a distance where it becomes necessary to lengthen the device to continue the dissection the physician withdraws the device through the incision far enough so that the sections can be grasped and pulled apart to lengthen the device a desired amount. The device is then moved distally and the dissection process continued.
When a sufficient length of the vein has been dissected the device is removed from the first incision and the vein is cut at the location of the first and second incisions and then removed, usually from the first incision.
It should be appreciated that the light catheter could be inserted through the same incision as the telescoping device and inserted into the vessel through a side branch.
Although particular embodiments have been disclosed herein in detail, this has been done for purposes of illustration only, and is not intended to be limiting with respect to the scope of the claims. In particular, it is contemplated that various substitutions, alterations, and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. In addition, it should be understood that although the various components and tools of this invention have been disclosed as a system it is possible and advantageous to use them separately. For example, the expandable hood of this invention could be used advantageously with known vein harvesting tools to create working space therefore. The telescoping device could be used without the expandable hood and could be used without the light catheter if provided with a light source. Further, the light catheter could advantageously be used to improve the use of prior art vein harvesting tools and techniques, the effectiveness of which would be enhanced by more clearly being able to visualize the vessel and side branches.
|Cited Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US1867624||Apr 1, 1930||Jul 19, 1932||Memorial Hospital For The Trea||Device for obtaining biopsy specimens|
|US2001169||Nov 1, 1934||May 14, 1935||Wallace Oscar R||Building structure|
|US2011169||Apr 13, 1932||Aug 13, 1935||Wappler Frederick Charles||Forcipated surgical electrode|
|US2028635||Sep 11, 1933||Jan 21, 1936||Wappler Frederick Charles||Forcipated surgical instrument|
|US2316297||Jan 15, 1943||Apr 13, 1943||Southerland Beverly A||Surgical instrument|
|US2868206||Jul 25, 1956||Jan 13, 1959||Stoesser Frederick G||Intra luminal vein stripper|
|US2944552||Dec 29, 1958||Jul 12, 1960||Richard B Wilk||Surgical instrument|
|US3185155||Mar 13, 1963||May 25, 1965||Slaten||Vein stripper|
|US3336916||Oct 30, 1963||Aug 22, 1967||Edlich Richard F||Electrocautery process|
|US3856016||Nov 3, 1972||Dec 24, 1974||H Davis||Method for mechanically applying an occlusion clip to an anatomical tubular structure|
|US3882854||Aug 23, 1973||May 13, 1975||Research Corp||Surgical clip and applicator|
|US3934115||Sep 25, 1973||Jan 20, 1976||Peterson Gerald H||Method and apparatus for electric singe cutting|
|US4038987||Feb 4, 1975||Aug 2, 1977||Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.||Forceps device for endoscope|
|US4248214||May 22, 1979||Feb 3, 1981||Robert S. Kish||Illuminated urethral catheter|
|US4362160||Jul 17, 1980||Dec 7, 1982||Richard Wolf Gmbh||Endoscopes|
|US4440170||Mar 6, 1979||Apr 3, 1984||Ethicon, Inc.||Surgical clip applying instrument|
|US4556058||Jan 12, 1984||Dec 3, 1985||United States Surgical Corporation||Apparatus for ligation and division with fixed jaws|
|US4768508||Oct 19, 1987||Sep 6, 1988||Thomas J. Fogarty||Vein valve cutting method|
|US4793346||Sep 4, 1986||Dec 27, 1988||Bruce Mindich||Process and apparatus for harvesting vein|
|US5037433||May 17, 1990||Aug 6, 1991||Wilk Peter J||Endoscopic suturing device and related method and suture|
|US5151096||Mar 28, 1991||Sep 29, 1992||Angiolaz, Incorporated||Laser catheter diffuser|
|US5284478||Jun 8, 1992||Feb 8, 1994||Nobles Anthony A||Detachable tip optical valvulotome|
|US5423321||Feb 2, 1994||Jun 13, 1995||Fontenot; Mark G.||Detection of anatomic passages using infrared emitting catheter|
|US5425355||Jan 28, 1991||Jun 20, 1995||Laserscope||Energy discharging surgical probe and surgical process having distal energy application without concomitant proximal movement|
|US5441497||Jul 14, 1994||Aug 15, 1995||Pdt Cardiovascular, Inc.||Light diffusing guidewire|
|US5447513||Aug 27, 1993||Sep 5, 1995||Ethicon, Inc.||Endoscopic ligation and division instrument|
|US5549637||Nov 10, 1994||Aug 27, 1996||Crainich; Lawrence||Articulated medical instrument|
|US5591183||Apr 12, 1995||Jan 7, 1997||Origin Medsystems, Inc.||Dissection apparatus|
|US5772576||Dec 11, 1995||Jun 30, 1998||Embro Vascular L.L.C.||Apparatus and method for vein removal|
|US5782753||Oct 20, 1995||Jul 21, 1998||United States Surgical Corporation||Surgical retractor|
|US5795331||Jan 24, 1994||Aug 18, 1998||Micro Therapeutics, Inc.||Balloon catheter for occluding aneurysms of branch vessels|
|US5797920||Aug 23, 1996||Aug 25, 1998||Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center||Catheter apparatus and method using a shape-memory alloy cuff for creating a bypass graft in-vivo|
|US5814016||Feb 7, 1997||Sep 29, 1998||Heartport, Inc.||Endovascular system for arresting the heart|
|US5832931||Oct 30, 1996||Nov 10, 1998||Photogen, Inc.||Method for improved selectivity in photo-activation and detection of molecular diagnostic agents|
|US5916233||Mar 5, 1998||Jun 29, 1999||Origin Medsystems, Inc.||Vessel harvesting method and instrument including access port|
|US5997570||Sep 9, 1997||Dec 7, 1999||Cordis Corporation||Method for introducing a curable stent using catheter with light conductor|
|US6059802||Feb 27, 1998||May 9, 2000||Cardiothoracic Systems, Inc.||Dissecting retractor for harvesting vessels|
|US6071232||Jun 29, 1998||Jun 6, 2000||Embro Vascular L.L.C.||Apparatus for vein removal|
|US6113588||Mar 13, 1998||Sep 5, 2000||Corvascular, Inc.||Transillumination catheter and method|
|US6167297||May 5, 1999||Dec 26, 2000||Benaron; David A.||Detecting, localizing, and targeting internal sites in vivo using optical contrast agents|
|US6193653 *||Feb 5, 1999||Feb 27, 2001||Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.||Methods and devices for visualizing, dissecting and harvesting vessels and the like|
|US6196968||Sep 10, 1998||Mar 6, 2001||General Surgical Innovations, Inc.||Direct vision subcutaneous tissue retractor and method for use|
|US6206899||Jul 23, 1999||Mar 27, 2001||Cardiothoracic Systems, Inc.||Dissecting retractor for harvesting vessels|
|US6228025||May 1, 1998||May 8, 2001||Genzyme Corporation||Illuminated saphenous vein retractor|
|US6270492||Sep 7, 1999||Aug 7, 2001||Cardiofocus, Inc.||Phototherapeutic apparatus with diffusive tip assembly|
|US6319265||May 5, 2000||Nov 20, 2001||Cardiothoracic Systems, Inc.||Dissecting retractor for harvesting vessels|
|US6322499||Jan 20, 2000||Nov 27, 2001||Genzyme Corporation||Pivotal and illuminated saphenous vein retractor|
|US6350236||Feb 1, 2000||Feb 26, 2002||Genzyme Corporation||Illuminated saphenous vein retractor|
|US6413208||Feb 11, 2000||Jul 2, 2002||Karl Storz Gmbh & Co. Kg||Medical instrument and method for endoscopic removal of the saphenous vein|
|US6527771||Sep 28, 2001||Mar 4, 2003||Ethicon, Inc.||Surgical device for endoscopic vein harvesting|
|US6558313 *||Nov 17, 2000||May 6, 2003||Embro Corporation||Vein harvesting system and method|
|US6592604||Sep 28, 2001||Jul 15, 2003||Ethicon, Inc.||Vessel harvesting retractor with dissection element|
|US6656176||Sep 28, 2001||Dec 2, 2003||Ethicon, Inc.||Vessel harvesting retractor with integral electrosurgical clamping elements|
|US6660016||Mar 19, 2002||Dec 9, 2003||Terumo Corporation||Integrated vein dissector and cauterizing apparatus for endoscopic harvesting of blood vessels|
|US6705986 *||Mar 18, 2003||Mar 16, 2004||Embro Corporation||Vein harvesting system and method|
|US6740102||Sep 28, 2001||May 25, 2004||Ethicon, Inc.||Vessel harvesting retractor with bilateral electrosurgical ligation|
|US7211040||Feb 17, 2004||May 1, 2007||Embro Corporation||Vein harvesting system and method|
|US20010021868||Dec 8, 2000||Sep 13, 2001||Ewa Herbst||Electrochemical treatment of tissues, especially tumors|
|US20020193850||Jul 22, 2002||Dec 19, 2002||Selman Steven H.||Use of photodynamic therapy to treat prostatic tissue|
|US20030125719||Dec 31, 2001||Jul 3, 2003||Furnish Simon M.||Multi-fiber catheter probe arrangement for tissue analysis or treatment|
|USRE36043||Jan 11, 1996||Jan 12, 1999||Embro Vascular, L.L.C.||Endoscope and method for vein removal|
|DE3942589A1||Dec 22, 1989||Jul 4, 1991||Olympus Optical Europ||Venenklappenschneidmesser|
|DE19827360A1||Jun 19, 1998||Jan 5, 2000||Storz Karl Gmbh & Co||Medizinisches Instrument zur endoskopischen Entnahme der Vena Saphena Magna|
|DE19906260A1||Feb 15, 1999||Sep 16, 1999||Cardiothoracic Sys Inc||Surgical dissecting retractor for removing part of bodily vessel, such as saphena veins, or arteries|
|EP0845244A1||Oct 5, 1994||Jun 3, 1998||S.L.T. Japan Co., Ltd.||Laser balloon catheter apparatus|
|GB2082459A||Title not available|
|GB2195540A||Title not available|
|SU112367A||Title not available|
|SU510235A1||Title not available|
|SU1371689A1||Title not available|
|WO1999064109A1||Jun 9, 1999||Dec 16, 1999||Broncus Tech Inc||Smooth muscle treatment apparatus and method|
|1||"Incision Decision", Atrium Medical Corporation advertisement, appearing in J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., 83(4) (1982).|
|2||"Saphenous Vein Grafts are No. 1. Period.," Atrium Medical Corporation advertisement, appearing in J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., 81(6) (1981).|
|3||Abstract for DE 198 27 360 A1 (1 page).|
|4||Abstract for DE 199 06 260 A1 (1 page).|
|5||Aug. 14, 2009 European Search Report for corresponding Application No. EP 01 99 6041.8 (3 pages).|
|6||Commonly assigned, co-pending U.S. Appl. No. 09/715,665, filed Nov. 17, 2000.|
|7||Dec. 8, 2005 Notification Concerning Transmittal of International Preliminary Report on Patentability (Chapter I of the Patent Cooperation Treaty) in PCT/US2004/015970 (9 pages).|
|8||DeLaria et al., "Leg Wound Complications Associated with Coronary Revascularization," J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., 81:403-407 (1981).|
|9||Dimitri et al., "A Quick and Atraumatic Method of Autologous Vein Harvesting Using the Subcutaneous Extraluminal Dissector," J. Cardiovasc. Surg., 28:103-111 (1987).|
|10||Hauer et al., "Endoscopic Subfacial Discission of Perforating Veins," Surgical Endosc., 2:5-12 (1988).|
|11||International Search Report dated Sep. 8, 2004 for International Application No. PCT/US2004/015970, including Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority (12 pages).|
|12||Meldrum-Hanna et al., "Long Saphaneous Vein Harvesting," J. Surg., 56:923-924 (1986).|
|13||Moazami et al., "Minimally Invasive Greater Saphenous Vein Harvesting for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery," Surgical Rounds, pp. 94-98 (Mar. 1997).|
|14||PCT Search Report for corresponding PCT/US01/45166 (4 pages).|
|15||Rashid et al., "Subcutaneous Technique for Saphenous Vein Harvest," Ann. Thorac. Surg., 37(2):169-170 (1984).|
|16||Wheatley, D.J., ed., Surgery of Coronary Artery Disease, C.V. Mosby Co., pp. 348-349, 374-375.|
|Citing Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US8777835 *||Jan 11, 2012||Jul 15, 2014||Embro Corporation||Vein harvesting system and method|
|US9119900||Dec 21, 2012||Sep 1, 2015||Saphena Medical, Inc.||Unitary endoscopic vessel harvesting devices|
|US20110224483 *||Sep 15, 2011||Embro Corporation||Vein harvesting system and method|
|US20120108891 *||Jan 11, 2012||May 3, 2012||Embro Corporation||Vein harvesting system and method|
|International Classification||A61F2/04, A61B17/00, A61B19/00|
|Cooperative Classification||A61B2017/00969, A61B2017/00252, A61B17/00008, A61B2019/5206, Y10S623/917, Y10S623/916|
|Dec 9, 2010||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: EMBRO CORPORATION, MINNESOTA
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:KNIGHTON, DAVID R., M.D.;FIEGEL, VANCE D.;REEL/FRAME:025484/0126
Effective date: 20001117
|Jun 11, 2014||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: MAQUET CARDIOVASCULAR LLC, NEW JERSEY
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:EMBRO CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:033134/0175
Effective date: 20131009
|Jan 23, 2015||REMI||Maintenance fee reminder mailed|
|Jun 14, 2015||LAPS||Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees|
|Aug 4, 2015||FP||Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee|
Effective date: 20150614