Cutting device and method of vessel harvesting

1 . A cutting device for use in harvesting a section of a vessel from surrounding tissue, the cutting device comprising:

at least one tubular member adapted to surround the vessel along the section of the vessel to be harvested;

a cutting element coupled to the at least one tubular member, the cutting element adapted to be moved along the section of the vessel in order to cut the tissue around the vessel; and

a centering member coupled to one of the at least one tubular member and the cutting element, the centering member adapted to keep the vessel spaced from the cutting element as the cutting element cuts the tissue around the vessel.

2 . The cutting device of claim 1 wherein the at least one tubular member includes a single outer tubular member with the cutting element attached to a distal end of the single outer tubular member.

3 . The cutting device of claim 1 wherein the at least one tubular member is constructed of at least one of a biocompatible polymer and stainless steel.

4 . The cutting device of claim 1 wherein a distal end of the at least one tubular member is flexible.

5 . The cutting device of claim 1 wherein the at least one tubular member has a length substantially equal to a length of the section of the vessel to be harvested.

6 . The cutting device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the cutting device is coated with a lubricious coating.

7 . The cutting device of claim 1 wherein the cutting element is mounted on an outside portion of the at least one tubular member.

8 . The cutting device of claim I wherein the cutting element includes at least one of a blade having a taper on an outside surface, a blade having a taper on an inside surface, a ring having a sharpened edge, and a ring having a beveled edge.

9 . The cutting device of claim 1 wherein the cutting element includes a blade having a blunt edge on a first surface and a sharp edge on a second surface, and wherein the blunt edge provides a buffer space between the vessel and the sharp edge.

10 . The cutting device of claim I wherein when the cutting element begins to deviate from a centered position, the centering member places a force on at least one of the vessel, the tissue surrounding the vessel, and the centering member, resulting in the cutting device being directed back to the centered position.

11 . The cutting device of claim I wherein the at least one tubular member is advanced over the section of the vessel to be harvested by at least one of pushing, pulling, rotating, and twisting.

12 . A method of harvesting a section of a vessel from surrounding tissue, the method comprising:

making a first incision at a proximal end of the section of the vessel;

making a second incision at a distal end of the section of the vessel;

introducing a vessel support device into the vessel;

orienting a cutting device coaxially with the vessel support device;

advancing the cutting device over the vessel to core out the section of the vessel and a portion of the surrounding tissue; and

spacing a cutting element of the cutting device from the vessel as the cutting element is advanced over the vessel.

13 . The method of claim 12 wherein spacing the cutting element of the cutting device from the vessel includes substantially centering the vessel within the cutting device as the cutting element is advanced over the vessel.

14 . The method of claim 12 wherein the vessel support device includes a catheter, and further comprising introducing the catheter into the vessel and advancing the cutting device over the catheter and the vessel.

15 . The method of claim 12 and further comprising incrementally advancing the cutting device over the section of the vessel by at least one of pulling, pushing, rotating, and twisting the cutting device.

16 . The method of claim 12 and further comprising providing hemostatic control for branches severed from the section of the vessel.

17 . The method of claim 12 and further comprising inserting a cannula into the proximal end of the section of the vessel and securing the proximal end of the section of the vessel to the cannula.

18 . The method of claim 17 and further comprising introducing a vessel support device including a balloon catheter through the cannula and into the section of the vessel.

19 . The method of claim 18 and further comprising attaching the cannula to a vessel-tensioning device.

20 . A cutting device for use in harvesting a section of a vessel from surrounding tissue, the cutting device comprising:

at least one tubular member adapted to surround the vessel along the section of the vessel to be harvested, the at least one tubular member including a flexible section on a portion of a distal end; and

a cutting element coupled adjacent to the flexible section of the at least one tubular member, the cutting element adapted to be moved along the section of the vessel in order to cut the surrounding tissue.

21 . The cutting device of claim 20 wherein the flexible section includes a perforated portion of the at least one tubular member.

22 . The cutting device of claim 21 wherein the perforated portion includes slots that increase in size from a distal portion to a proximal portion of the flexible section.

23 . The cutting device of claim 20 wherein the at least one tubular member includes a single outer tubular member with the cutting element attached to a distal end of the single outer tubular member.

24 . The cutting device of claim 20 wherein the cutting element is mounted on an outside portion of the at least one tubular member adjacent to the flexible section.

25 . The cutting device of claim 20 wherein the cutting element includes at least one of a blade having a blunt edge on a first surface and a sharp edge on a second surface, a blade having a taper on an outside surface, a blade having a taper on an inside surface, a ring having a sharpened edge, and a ring having a beveled edge.