System for preparing a craft vessel for anastomosis
View Patent ↗A system for preparing a graft vessel for anastomosis includes one or more tools held within a functional package. The package includes a tray and tray top, either or both of which may include one or more features configured to hold the contents of the tray securely therein, and/or may include one or more registration features configured to register one or more items in a desired position in the tray. The package has multiple recesses for holding one or more tools for preparing a graft vessel for anastomosis, and can be sealed and sterilized along with its contents. One of these tools may be a poke-through tool that includes a plurality of membranes within a shell.
1. A poke-through tool for use with a graft vessel connected to an anastomosis device having tines, the tool comprising:
at least one membrane configured to impart a force to at least a portion of the graft vessel; and
a shell with an opening therein, said shell having an interior, wherein said membrane is positioned within said interior of said shell.
2. The poke-through tool of claim 1 , wherein said force is oriented to push at least a portion of the graft vessel relative to the tines.
3. The poke-through tool of claim 1 , wherein said membrane is tensioned.
4. The poke-through tool of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of membranes, wherein at least two said membranes contact one another.
5. The poke-through tool of claim 4 , wherein at least one said membrane includes at least one reference mark defined thereon.
6. The poke-through tool of claim 5 , wherein said reference mark is a line on said membrane.
7. The poke-through tool of claim 5 , wherein said reference mark substantially bisects said membrane.
8. The poke-through tool of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of membranes, wherein at least two said membranes are spaced apart from one another.
9. The poke-through tool of claim 1 , wherein said membrane is composed of polyester film.
10. The poke-through tool of claim 1 , further comprising at least one slider attached to said shell.
11. The poke-through tool of claim 1 , further comprising a tensioning member connected to said shell and to said membrane.
12. The poke-through tool of claim 11 , wherein said tensioning member is a drum.
13. A method for preparing a graft vessel for anastomosis, comprising:
providing a membrane and an anastomosis device having tines;
associating said anastomosis device with the graft vessel by everting an end of the graft vessel about said tines; and
moving said anastomosis device and said membrane relative to one another such that a portion of the graft vessel is pressed between said membrane and said anastomosis device.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising tensioning at least one said membrane prior to said moving.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein said tines penetrate at least one said membrane during said moving.