Patent ID: 6547799
Filing Date: 2003-04-15
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An instrument for everting an end of a vessel over an end of a tubular workpiece, said instrument comprising:a tubular member having an axial bore, the tubular member having a distal end and a proximal end, and the tubular member having a distal opening and a proximal opening in communication with the axial bore; an elastic membrane sealably mounted on the distal end of the tubular member, the membrane having an inner side and an outer side; a plunger member slidably mounted within said the axial bore of the tubular member, the plunger member having a distal end and a proximal end; a mandrel member having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of the mandrel member mounted to the distal end of the plunger member, the distal end of the mandrel member in contact with the inner surface of the membrane; a spring operationally engaged to the plunger for biasing the plunger in the distal direction and distending the membrane for insertion into an end of a vessel; a sleeve slidably mounted over said membrane and at least a section of the tubular member; a proximal seal mounted to the proximal end of the tubular member such that the proximal seal, the membrane and the axial bore define a sealed chamber having a volume; and, a pressure source mounted to the tubular member for pressurizing the sealed chamber to expand the membrane into an expanded configuration, and for depressurizing said sealed chamber to collapse said membrane into a collapsed configuration, wherein the sleeve limits radial expansion of the membrane.