Medical grafting apparatus and methods

US 20020082614A1

(54) MEDICAL GRAFTING APPARATUS AND METHODS

(75) Inventors: John Logan, Plymouth, MN (US);

Scott Thome, St. Cloud, MN (US);
Alex Peterson, Maple Grove, MN
(US); Todd A. Berg, Plymouth, MN
(US)

Correspondence Address:
FISH & NEAVE

1251 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
50TH FLOOR

NEW YORK, NY 10020-1105 (US)

(73) Assignee: St. Jude Medical Cardiovascular Group, Inc., 6500 Wedgwood Road, Maple Grove, MN 55311 (US)

(21) Appl. No.: 10/078,940

(22) Filed: Feb. 19, 2002

Related U.S. Application Data

(63) Continuation ol application No. 09/587,112, filed on Jun. 2, 2000, which is a non-provisional ol provisional application No. 60/137,764, filed on Jun. 4, 1999.

Publication Classification

(51) Int. CI.7 A61B 17/10

(52) U.S. CI 606/139; 606/153; 606/184

(57) ABSTRACT

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