Surgical method for treating a vessel wall

Abstract

A tool that has an introducer having a space therein and a distal aperture at the distal end thereof, and a spike movable within the introducer, may be used in a surgical method for treating a vessel wall. A tissue plug may be removed from the vessel wall with the spike, whereby an opening remains in the vessel wall. The spike then may be moved within the space in the introducer in a direction away from the longitudinal centerline of the distal aperture. An object then may be delivered through the introducer and out of the distal aperture to the opening in the vessel wall.

Description

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 698,569, filed on Oct. 31, 2003; which in turn is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 542,976, filed on Apr. 4, 2000; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The invention relates to a surgical method for treating a vessel wall. [0004] 2. Brief Description of the Related Art [0005] Vascular anastomosis is a procedure by which two blood vessels within a patient are surgically joined together. Vascular anastomosis is performed during treatment of a variety of conditions including coronary artery disease, diseases of the great and peripheral vessels, organ transplantation, and trauma. In coronary artery disease (CAD) an occlusion or stenosis in a coronary artery interferes with blood flow to the heart muscle. Treatment of CAD involves the grafting of a vessel in the form of a prosthesis or harves...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] The present invention provides advantages of a tissue punch which is deployed through a trocar and is removed through a side wall of the trocar so that the trocar can subsequently be used for deployment of a medical device. The invention also provides the advantage of trapping a tissue plug which is cut by the tissue punch.

Problems solved by technology

During this procedure, the aorta is clamped which can lead to trauma of the aortic tissue and / or dislodge plaque emboli, both of which increase the likelihood of neurological complications.

The suturing process is a time consuming and difficult procedure requiring a high level of surgical skill.

In the less invasive surgical approaches, some of the major coronary arteries including the ascending aorta cannot be easily reached by the surgeon because of their location.

This makes suturing either difficult or impossible for some coronary artery sites.

In addition, some target vessels, such as heavily calcified coronary vessels, vessels having very small diameter, and previously bypassed vessels may make the suturing process difficult or impossible.

Images