Tunnelling device for peripheral vascular reconstruction

• US 4,574,806 A
• Filed: 10/01/1984
• Issued: 03/11/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bio Nova Neo Technics Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Cordis Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: McCarthy, Brian D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US06/656,798
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 128/334 R, 128/334 C, 128/335, 128/303 R, 604/264, 604/280
• US Class Current: 606/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00008 Vein tendon strippers tube strippers A61M1/83
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/00 Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges protective face masks A41D13/11; surgeon's or patient's gowns or dresses A41D13/12; devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body liquids A61M1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/06 Blood vessels

Abstract

A tunnelling device for use in the placement of a peripheral cardiovascular graft in a living body comprising three portions. The first portion is a hollow curved conduit forming portion having a distal end, a proximal end and an interior lumen. The second portion is a hollow bullet shaped nose section releasably engageable with the distal end of the conduit forming portion. The third portion is a handle which is releasably locked to the proximal end of the conduit forming portion and has a stylet which is fixed to and extends distally from the handle, the stylet being received within and through the lumen of the conduit forming portion and terminating at a position within the nose section.

Claims

1. A tunnelling device for use in the placement of a peripheral cardiovascular graft in a living body comprising:

a hollow curved conduit forming portion having a distal end, a proximal end and an interior lumen;

a hollow bullet shaped nose section releasably engageable with said distal end of said conduit forming portion;

a handle which is releasably locked to the proximal end of said conduit forming portion; and

a stylet which is fixed to and extends distally from said handle, said stylet being received within and through said lumen of said conduit forming portion and terminating at a position within said nose section.

2. The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein said nose section is made of stainless steel or aluminum tube.

3. The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein said conduit forming portion is made of stainless steel or aluminum tube.

4. The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein said handle is formed of stainless steel.

5. The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein said stylet has a ball tip and is made of stainless steel.

6. The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein said nose section and conduit forming portion are coated with a low friction material.

7. The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein said lumen of said conduit forming portion is polished.

8. The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein said stylet has a ball tip which is highly polished.

9. The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein the distal circumferential edge of said conduit forming portion is rounded.

10. The tunnelling device of claim 1 having a weight of approximately 5 pounds.

11. The tunnelling device of claim 1 having a length of approximately 25 inches.

12. The tunnelling device of claim 1 having an outer diameter of approximately 3/4 inch.

13. The tunnelling device of claim 1 having an inner diameter of approximately 1/2 inch.

14. The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the wall of the conduit forming portion is approximately 1/8 inch.

15. The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the ball tip of the stylet is approximately 4 mm.

16. The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein said nose section is threadedly engageable with said conduit forming portion.

17. The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein said handle is attached to said conduit forming portion by means of a bayonet latch structure.

18. The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein said ball tip stylet is secured to said handle by welding.

19. A method for utilizing the tunnelling device of claim 1 comprising the steps of:

forming two incisions proximal and distal to a chose area of anastomosis;

inserting the tunnelling device in the primary incision and performing blunt dissection of tissue between the two incisions with the nose section of the tunnelling device;

removing the nose section from the conduit forming portion once the nose section exits the second incision;

attaching a graft to the stylet proximal to the tip thereof and unlocking the handle from the conduit forming portion;

retracting the handle proximally from the conduit forming portion until the graft and tip of the stylet exit the primary incision;

releasing the graft from the stylet;

holding the distal end of the graft while pulling the conduit forming portion out of the tissue through the primary incision from its proximal end;

forming the anastomoses around the area of vasculature to be bypassed; and

closing the incisions.