Tunnelling device for peripheral vascular reconstruction

Claim 2

A tunnelling device for use in the placement of a peripheral cardiovascular graft in a living body comprising: a hollow curved conduit forming portion having a distal end, a proximal end and an interior lumen; a hollow bullet shaped nose section releasably engageable with said distal end of said conduit forming portion; a handle which is releasably locked to the proximal end of said conduit forming portion; and a stylet which is fixed to and extends distally from said handle, said stylet being received within and through said lumen of said conduit forming portion and terminating at a position within said nose section.

Claim 3

The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein said nose section is made of stainless steel or aluminum tube.

Claim 4

The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein said conduit forming portion is made of stainless steel or aluminum tube.

Claim 5

The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein said handle is formed of stainless steel.

Claim 6

The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein said stylet has a ball tip and is made of stainless steel.

Claim 7

The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein said nose section and conduit forming portion are coated with a low friction material.

Claim 8

The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein said lumen of said conduit forming portion is polished.

Claim 9

The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein said stylet has a ball tip which is highly polished.

Claim 10

The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein the distal circumferential edge of said conduit forming portion is rounded.

Claim 11

The tunnelling device of claim 1 having a weight of approximately 5 pounds.

Claim 12

The tunnelling device of claim 1 having a length of approximately 25 inches.

Claim 13

The tunnelling device of claim 1 having an outer diameter of approximately 3/4 inch.

Claim 14

The tunnelling device of claim 1 having an inner diameter of approximately 1/2 inch.

Claim 15

The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the wall of the conduit forming portion is approximately 1/8 inch.

Claim 16

The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the ball tip of the stylet is approximately 4 mm.

Claim 17

The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein said nose section is threadedly engageable with said conduit forming portion.

Claim 18

The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein said handle is attached to said conduit forming portion by means of a bayonet latch structure.

Claim 19

The tunnelling device of claim 1 wherein said ball tip stylet is secured to said handle by welding.

Claim 20

A method for utilizing the tunnelling device of claim 1 comprising the steps of: forming two incisions proximal and distal to a chose area of anastomosis; inserting the tunnelling device in the primary incision and performing blunt dissection of tissue between the two incisions with the nose section of the tunnelling device; removing the nose section from the conduit forming portion once the nose section exits the second incision; attaching a graft to the stylet proximal to the tip thereof and unlocking the handle from the conduit forming portion; retracting the handle proximally from the conduit forming portion until the graft and tip of the stylet exit the primary incision; releasing the graft from the stylet; holding the distal end of the graft while pulling the conduit forming portion out of the tissue through the primary incision from its proximal end; forming the anastomoses around the area of vasculature to be bypassed; and closing the incisions.