SURGICAL GRAFTING APPARATUS AND METHODS

摘要

Instrumentation for facilitating cutting an opening in a side wall of a body conduit in a patient. A tubular structure defines a lumen and has a sharpened distal end portion configured to cut a section of the body conduit to create the opening. A tissue holding structure is provided which is axially movable within the lumen of the tubular structure. The tissue holding structure includes a piercing portion to permit passage of the tissue holding structure through the body conduit from an entrance side to an exit side thereof. The tissue holding structure also includes a retention member to secure the section of the body conduit to the tissue holding structure during movement of the tissue holding structure to approximate the entrance side of the body conduit with the sharpened distal portion of the tubular structure to enable the sharpened distal structure to cut the body conduit. A connector is also provided for attaching a new length of tubing to the body conduit at the opening made by the cutting.