MINIMALLY INVASIVE BYPASS SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS

摘要

A system and related methods for performing minimally invasive vascular bypass surgery, such as coronary artery bypass surgery. The system and methods involve the feature of providing a stabilizer introducer (10) dimensioned for minimally invasive introduction into the chest cavity of a patient. The stabilizer introducer has a central lumen (22) having an open distal end which, when disposed over a surgical site, may be filled with biocompatible fluid to establish a "fluid flied column" within the stabilizer introducer. An incision is then created through the wall of the diseased blood vessel within the surgical site (from outside or inside the blood vessel), through which a bypass conduit may be passed in order to restore flow.