Apparatus and method for measuring blood vessels
An apparatus comprising a blood vessel measuring device is disclosed. The blood vessel measuring device may comprise a handle. A measuring member may be attached to the handle. The measuring member may be dimensioned to wrap around a blood vessel to measure a size of the blood vessel. The blood vessel measuring device may comprise an extension, and a first end of the extension may be attached to the handle. The blood vessel measuring device may comprise a connector attached to a second end of the extension. A method is also disclosed. The method may comprise inserting a measuring device into an incision in a patient. The measuring device may comprise a measuring member. The method may also comprise wrapping the measuring member around a blood vessel of the patient and measuring a dimension of the blood vessel with the measuring member.
1. A blood vessel measuring device comprising:
a handle;
a measuring member attached to the handle, the measuring member having a free end, the measuring member being configured to overlap itself in a circumferential direction such that the free end is automatically movable to wrap around a blood vessel to measure a size of the blood vessel while the handle is arranged parallel with a longitudinal dimension of the blood vessel.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the blood vessel measuring device comprises:
an extension with first and second ends, the first end being attached to the handle and the second end being attached to the measuring member.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the extension comprises a shape memory material.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the measuring member comprises a measuring tape.
5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the measuring tape comprises a shape memory material.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the measuring member comprises at least one of:
a self-expanding material;
a self-collapsing material.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the blood vessel measuring device comprises:
an extension;
a connector attaching a first end of the measuring member to the extension, the connector comprising an opening dimensioned to receive a second end of the measuring member.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the measuring member comprises a cylinder of shape memory material.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the measuring member comprises at least one of:
a circular shape;
an elliptical shape.
10. A method comprising:
inserting a measuring device into an incision in a patient, the measuring device comprising an adjustable measuring member and a handle, the measuring device extending in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal dimension of the handle;
wrapping the measuring member completely around a blood vessel of the patient;
measuring a dimension of the blood vessel with the measuring member.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
placing the measuring member near the blood vessel in an expanded position;
releasing the measuring member to allow the measuring member to collapse to a closed position around the blood vessel.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the dimension is a circumference of the blood vessel.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the dimension is a width of a region available for attaching a connector to the blood vessel.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the measuring member is attached to a handle.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein a connector attaches a first end of the measuring member to an extension, and the connector comprises an opening dimensioned to receive a second end of the measuring member.
16. A blood vessel measuring device comprising:
a handle;
an extension, a first end of the extension being attached to the handle;
a connector attached to a second end of the extension;
a measuring member attached to the connector and oriented in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal dimension of the extension, the measuring member having a free end, the measuring member being configured to overlap itself in a circumferential direction such that the free end is automatically movable to wrap around a blood vessel to measure a size of the blood vessel.
17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the connector comprises an opening dimensioned to receive a second end of the measuring member.
18. The device of claim 16 , wherein the measuring member comprises circumferential measuring marks for measuring a circumference of the blood vessel.
19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the measuring member comprises width measuring marks for measuring a width of a region of the blood vessel.
20. The device of claim 19 , wherein the region is suitable for attachment of a cardiovascular conduit system to the blood vessel.
21. The device of claim 16 , wherein the extension comprises a shape memory material and the measuring member comprises a measuring tape.
22. A method comprising:
inserting a measuring device into an incision in a patient, the measuring device comprising a measuring member;
wrapping the measuring member around a blood vessel of the patient;
measuring a dimension of the blood vessel with the measuring member;
placing the measuring member near the blood vessel in an expanded position;
releasing the measuring member to allow the measuring member to collapse to a closed position around the blood vessel.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the dimension is a circumference of the blood vessel.
24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the dimension is a width of a region available for attaching a connector to the blood vessel.
25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the measuring member is attached to a handle.
26. The method of claim 22 , wherein a connector attaches a first end of the measuring member to an extension, and the connector comprises an opening dimensioned to receive a second end of the measuring member.
27. A method comprising:
inserting a measuring device into an incision in a patient, the measuring device comprising a measuring member;
wrapping the measuring member around a blood vessel of the patient;
measuring a dimension of the blood vessel with the measuring member;
wherein a connector attaches a first end of the measuring member to an extension, and the connector comprises an opening dimensioned to receive a second end of the measuring member.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the dimension is a circumference of the blood vessel.
29. The method of claim 27 , wherein the dimension is a width of a region available for attaching a connector to the blood vessel.
30. The method of claim 27 , wherein the measuring member is attached to a handle.
31. A blood vessel measuring device comprising:
a handle;
a measuring member attached to the handle, the measuring member having an adjustable size and being dimensioned to wrap around a blood vessel to measure a size of the blood vessel while the handle is arranged parallel with a longitudinal dimension of the blood vessel;
an extension with first and second ends, the first end being attached to the handle and the second end being attached to the measuring member, and the extension comprises a shape memory material.
32. A blood vessel measuring device comprising:
a handle;
a measuring member attached to the handle, the measuring member having an adjustable size and being dimensioned to wrap around a blood vessel to measure a size of the blood vessel while the handle is arranged parallel with a longitudinal dimension of the blood vessel;
wherein the measuring member comprises a measuring tape having a shape memory material.
33. A blood vessel measuring device comprising:
a handle;
a measuring member attached to the handle, the measuring member having an adjustable size and being dimensioned to wrap around a blood vessel to measure a size of the blood vessel while the handle is arranged parallel with a longitudinal dimension of the blood vessel;
wherein the measuring member comprises at least one of a self-expanding material and a self-collapsing material.
34. A blood vessel measuring device comprising:
a handle;
a measuring member attached to the handle, the measuring member having an adjustable size and being dimensioned to wrap around a blood vessel to measure a size of the blood vessel while the handle is arranged parallel with a longitudinal dimension of the blood vessel;
wherein the measuring member comprises a cylinder of shape memory material.
35. A blood vessel measuring device comprising:
a handle;
an extension, a first end of the extension being attached to the handle;
a connector attached to a second end of the extension;
a measuring member attached to the connector and oriented in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal dimension of the extension, the measuring member being adjustable and dimensioned to wrap around a blood vessel to measure a size of the blood vessel;
wherein the extension comprises a shape memory material and the measuring member comprises a measuring tape.
36. The device of claim 35 wherein the connector comprises an opening dimensioned to receive a second end of the measuring member.
37. The device of claim 35 , wherein the measuring member comprises circumferential measuring marks for measuring a circumference of the blood vessel.
38. The device of claim 35 , wherein the measuring member comprises width measuring marks for measuring a width of a region available for attaching the connector to the blood vessel.