Apparatus to trace and cut a tendon or other laterally extended anatomical structure
View Patent ↗A harvesting apparatus is disclosed for harvesting anatomical structures such as tendons, fine muscles, nerves and blood vessels, where the apparatus includes an elongate member having two longitudinally extending tubes or tubular apertures extending from the member's proximal end to its distal end. The distal end includes opposing heads and an arcuate base. The anatomical structure is placed on the arcuate base and a flexible cutting member is threaded through one tube over the anatomical structure and into and through the other tube. The elongate member is then directed into an animal or human body along the structure to a position where the anatomical structure is to be cut. Then the cutting member is pulled back and forth at the distal end causing into to cut the anatomical structure at the distal head.
1. An apparatus for severing an anatomical structure, comprising:
a single elongate body having a longitudinal axis, including:
a proximal end,
a distal end,
two parallel tubular members, each tubular member extending a length of the body parallel to the longitudinal axis and each having a distal opening disposed at the distal end of the body and a proximal opening disposed at or near the proximal end of the body, wherein the distal openings are opposed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, and
a flexible cutting member adapted to be threaded into one tubular member through its proximal opening, out its distal opening, into the other tubular member through its distal opening, and out its proximal opening, such that the flexible cutting member is parallel to the longitudinal axis in the tubular members and is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis between the distal openings,
wherein the distal end is adapted to receive an anatomical structure, and wherein the distal end is adapted sever the anatomical structure using the cutting member.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an arcuate base adapted to receive the anatomical structure.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the distal openings are angled so that a top of the distal openings is more distal than a bottom of the distal openings to increase cutting efficiency.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a surface of the body is curved to aid the body in following the anatomical structure to the point where the structure is to be cut.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the body comprises a handle.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the anatomical structure is a tendon, a slender muscle, a long nerve filament or bundle, a vessel, or a laterally extended anatomical structure.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fiber optic system for viewing the positioning of the distal end of the apparatus,
an X-ray opaque element for X-ray monitoring of distal end positioning,
an ultrasound reflective element for ultrasound monitoring of distal end position, or
a monitor for monitoring an environment in the distal end.
8. A harvesting apparatus comprising:
an elongate flexible body including:
first, second, and third tubular members extending a length of the body, each member having a proximal opening,
a distal end comprising:
a suturing station comprising:
two opposing suturing heads,
a suture guide channel extending from the suturing heads, and
a cutting station comprising two opposing distal cutting guide heads,
a flexible cutting member adapted to be threaded into the second tubular member through its proximal opening, out its guide head, into the third tubular member through its guide head, and out its proximal opening, wherein the distal end is adapted to receive an anatomical structure and a back and forth motion of the cutting member results in severing of the anatomical structure, and
a flexible, bio-erodible or bio-degradable suturing member adapted to be threaded into the first tubular member leading to the suturing station and fitted into the suture guide channel and forming a loop at the suturing station and tied off at one of the suturing heads with a slip knot so that when the suturing member is pulled at its proximal end extending out of its proximal opening, the loop will tighten on the anatomical structure suturing the structure at the suturing station.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the cutting station further comprises opposing cutting channels.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the cutting station further comprises an arcuate base between the two guide heads adapted to receive the anatomical structure.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the cutting channels are angled so that a top of the cutting channel is more distal than a bottom of the cutting channel to increase cutting efficiency.
12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein a top surface of the body is curved to aid the body in following the anatomical structure to the point where the structure is to be cut.
13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the proximal end of the body comprises a handle.
14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the anatomical structure is a tendon, a slender muscle, a long nerve filament or bundle, a vessel, or a laterally extended anatomical structure.
15. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:
A fiber optic system for viewing the positioning of the distal end of the apparatus,
an X-ray opaque element for X-ray monitoring of distal end positioning,
an ultrasound reflective element for ultrasound monitoring of distal end position, or
a monitor for monitoring an environment in the distal end.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the two tubular members are adjacent in the body.
17. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first, second, and third tubular members are adjacent in the body.
18. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first, second, and third tubular members are parallel.