US3916874A

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Publication number: US3916874A
Application number: US449726A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard Perrin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-03-11
Filing date: 1974-03-11
Publication date: 1975-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 1992-11-04

Abstract

A device for use in the preparation of a vein for arterial grafting. A tubular core, closed at one end and open at the other end to couple with a source of pressurized fluid, rests removably adjacent each end on a frame. The core wall is perforated in an area intermediate the ends of the core and the outer surface of the core wall is smooth.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Perrin Nov. 4, 1975 INTRALUMINAL VEIN HOLDER 2,193,176 3/1940 Krugler, et al 431/343 2,885,892 5/1959 C tt [76] Inventor: Richard Pemn, 45 Coulson Ave., 3,710,777 H1973 g z Toronto, Ontaflo, Canada 3,712,115 1/1973 Miller 138/90 [22] Filed: Mar. 11, 1974 Primary ExaminerRichard A. Gaudet PP 449,726 Assistant Examiner-Henry S. Layton 52 us. (:1 128/1 R; 73/491; 138/90 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. A61B 19/00 A device for use in the preparation of a vein for arte- [58] Field of Search 128/1 R, 218 A, 349; rial grafting. A tubular core, closed at one end and 73/38, 40, 49.1, 49.5; 138/90; 431/343; open at the other end to couple with a source of pres- 239/566, DIG. 13; 118/DIG. l0 surized fluid, rests removably adjacent each end on a frame. The core wall is perforated in an area interme- [56] References Cited diate the ends of the core and the outer surface of the UNITED STATES PATENTS Albrecht 73/40 core wall is smooth.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 7 3,916,874

'EINTR'A'IJUMINA'L VEIN HOLDER This invention relates to the preparation of a arterialgrafting i I j I In peripheral arterial or in aortocoronary bypass surgery it is the practice to implant the great saphenous vein taken from the leg. To prepare the vein for grafting it is distended, leads are identified and repaired, and the ends of the vein are cleared of adventitia. Two persons are required to perform this work, which is costly and cumbersome and often damages the vein.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple device to hold a vein during its preparation for arterial grafting.

In its broadest aspect the invention consists of a device for use in the preparation of a vein for artificial grafting, comprising a tubular core closed at one end to define a chamber and open at the other end to define an inlet to the chamber, the wall of the core being perforated in an area between its ends, and frame means to receive the core removably and to hold it adjacent its ends. The frame means may comprise a base and two spaced, upstanding brackets which receive the core transversely to rest on the brackets. Also, the wall may carry a connector at its open end to couple the core to a pressurized fluid source such as a resevoir located above the core. Preferably the core is pliable for threading into the vein in situ.

An example embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an intraluminal vein holder; and

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of one end of the core of FIG. 1.

The embodiment shown in the drawings consists of an elongated, tubular core having a wall 11 defining a passage or chamber 12 which is perforated in the area of its midsection by a plurality ofapertures 13. Oneend 14 ofcore 10 is sealed by a plug 16 (FIG. 2) while theother end 18 of the core carries atubular connector 20 which has anipple 22 at one end for coupling with a flexible tube and a pair of spaced, coaxial locatingrings 24. The outer surface of wall 11 is smooth.

vein for Core 10 removably rests in a frame which has aflat base plate 32 and a pair of spaced, upright supportingbrackets 34, one bracket being located at each end of the base and the brackets being spaced apart slightly less than the length of the core. Anaperture 35 adjacent the top edge of onebracket 34 loosely receivesend 14 ofcore 10 and a U-shaped notch or recess 36 at the top edge of theother bracket 34 loosely receivestubular connector 20 between locatingrings 24.

In the operation of the device avein 40 removed from the body for grafting is slipped ontocore 10, i.e.core 10 is threaded proximally (i.e. in the direction of normal blood flow) through the vein intraluminally, and gatheredadjacent connector 20.Core 10 is placed transversely in aperture, 35 andnotch 36 offrame 30,spacer rings 24 serving to locateconnector 20 innotch 36. Oneend 42 ofvein 30 is then sealed oncore 10 betweenapertures 13 andend 14 of the core while theother end 43 of the vein is sealed on the coreadjacent connector 20. Each

vein end

42 and 43 is sealed by encircling it with anumbilical tape 44 and weighting the tape with aclamp 46.

Core 10 is connected with a reservoir of liquid 52 by aflexible tube 54 which fits ontonipple 22 ofconnector 20.Reservoir 50 is adjustable vertically to create a column of liquid 52 approximating the level of normal arterial blood pressure. Liquid 52 passes out ofcore 10 throughapertures 13 and distendsvein 40 in that area. Any leaks inv'ein 40 are located by the escape of pressurized liquid'52 and they are repaired in the usual manner. The whole length ofvein 40 is distended, tested and repaired in this manner by sequentially drawing gathered sections of the vein over the area of apertures 12. Also, the ends ofvein 40 are readily accessible to be cleaned in preparation for suturing. To remove preparedvein 40 for implantation,core 10 is lifted fromframe 30, and the vein is slipped off the core.

Core 10 is preferably about 12 inches to 14 inches long with an outer diameter less than 4 millimetres. Vein grafts should be greater than 4 mm in diameter; thus a test for a potential vein graft is its accommodation ofcore 10 of about that diameter.Core 10 may be constructed of any suitable form retaining material such as SILASTIC (a trade mark) which provides a smooth surface and a pliability sufficient to enable the core to be threaded into the vein in situ in order that the vein may be located more easily for cutting.

It will be appreciated that the device of the present invention allows a single person to scrutinize a severed vein and prepare it for implantation. Also, the relationship of the container of liquid used to distend the veing allows it to be adjusted to simulate normal blood pressure and prevent undue stress being applied against the vein wall.

Liquid 52 is preferable to gas for use as a fluid because its escape from the wall ofvein 40 is visually identifiable.Tapes 44 andclamps 46 of the example embodiment may be replaced by the hands of the operator who would hold one end ofvein 40 oncore 10 and distend the vein as described, the undistended end portion of the vein acting as its own seal.

I claim:

1. A device for use in the preparation of a severed length of vein for arterial grafting, comprising:

an elongated core having a tubular wall closed at one end to define a chamber and open at the other end to define an inlet to the chamber, the wall being perforated in an area intermediate the ends thereof, the outer surface of the wall being smooth, the core being receivable proximally in the vein intraluminally whereby the vein extends along the core in each direction beyond the perforated area of the wall; and

frame means constructed and arranged to receive the core removably and to hold the core adjacent the ends of the wall.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the frame means comprises a base and two spaced, upstanding brackets shaped to receive the core transversely to rest thereon.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which one bracket has an aperture adjacent the upper end thereof to receive axially the closed end of the wall of the core and the other bracket is notched at the upper end thereof to receive transversely the wall of the core adjacent said other end.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which the base comprises a flat plate and the core rests on the brackets parallel to the plate.

rings, at least one bracket being notched at the upper end thereof to receive the connector therein between the rings.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the core is pliable.

Claims

1. A device for use in the preparation of a severed length of vein for arterial grafting, comprising: an elongated core having a tubular wall closed at one end to define a chamber and open at the other end to define an inlet to the chamber, the wall being perforated in an area intermediate the ends thereof, the outer surface of the wall being smooth, the core being receivable proximally in the vein intraluminally whereby the vein extends along the core in each direction beyond the perforated area of the wall; and frame means constructed and arranged to receive the core removably and to hold the core adjacent the ends of the wall.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the wall carries a connector at the open end thereof, the connector having means to couple to pressurized fluid source thereto.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 in which the connector is tubular coaxial with the wall of the core, the connector carrying a pair of spaced circumferential rings, at least one bracket being notched at the upper end thereof to receive the connector therein between the rings.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the core is plIable.