Patent ID: 6176867
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An aortic punch for surgical use in cutting a generally circular hole through the walls of the aorta or other tissue of a patient, comprising:an elongate holder (10) having proximal and distal ends that comprises supporting structure (20), an actuator (30) supported by the supporting structure for reciprocal movement with respect thereto, and an operator (36) for moving the actuator reciprocally longitudinally of the supporting structure, the holder comprising means (24, 42) for supporting a die member and a knife member on the holder;a die member (70) having proximal and distal ends, the die member defining a generally cylindrical passage (76) there through, means (72) on the distal end of the die member for being removably attached to the holder, and a cutting die (74) on the proximal end thereof; anda knife member (80) received in the passage in the die member for reciprocal movement, the knife member defining at the distal end thereof, means (90) at the distal end for removably attaching the knife member to the actuator in the holder, and a generally circular cutting knife (86) at the proximal end thereof;the knife member or the die member comprising magnetic material producing a magnetic field sufficiently strong to retain the knife member in the die member.