Anterograde/retrograde spiral dissector and method of use in vein grafting
First Claim
1. An instrument comprising:
- a spiral assembly having at least one spiral element extending helically in at least a partial convolution around a longitudinal axis and defining an axial bore and at least one spiral gap between convolutions, each said at least one spiral element having a proximal region, a medial region, and a distal region with a blunt distal tip, wherein said blunt distal tip of each of said at least one spiral element is radially offset from the longitudinal axis so that rotation about the axis will dissect a helical path in an interior of a body.
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Abstract
A surgical instrument for bluntly dissecting connective tissues in a plane around a vein or other anatomic structure in a minimally invasive surgery. An anterograde or retrograde spiral dissector comprises one or more elongate spiral members, each having a blunt distal tip adapted for helical advancement in a plane around the surface of a vein. Anterograde helical advancement of the spiral assembly bluntly dissects small diameter "guide paths" in connective tissues with little resistance to penetration. With the spiral dissector thus helically engaged, the instrument drives itself anterograde upon rotation. The spiral dissector includes a "path-expanding" structure associated with either a distal, medial or proximal region of each spiral member, by which is meant the path-expanding structure is adapted for anterograde or retrograde travel along the dissected "guide paths" to further expand the dimensions of the guide paths thereby to dissect the connective tissues in a 360° plane around the vein.
179 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An instrument comprising:
a spiral assembly having at least one spiral element extending helically in at least a partial convolution around a longitudinal axis and defining an axial bore and at least one spiral gap between convolutions, each said at least one spiral element having a proximal region, a medial region, and a distal region with a blunt distal tip, wherein said blunt distal tip of each of said at least one spiral element is radially offset from the longitudinal axis so that rotation about the axis will dissect a helical path in an interior of a body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for dissecting connective tissues, comprising the steps of:
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introducing a blunt distal tip of at least one elongate spiral element into a plane proximate to an anatomic structure in an interior of a body in a first location; and advancing helically and anterograde said at least one spiral element within said plane to a second remote location thereby bluntly dissecting connective tissues in at least one spiral path in said plane. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification