Patent ID: 7163546
Filing Date: 2007-01-16
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for removing a blood vessel having a vessel wall from tissue, said method comprising: introducing a shaft having retracted penetrating elements into a lumen of the vessel at a proximal location; advancing a distal end of the shaft to a distal location within the vessel lumen; exposing the penetrating elements and capturing the vessel wall at the distal location within the lumen with the distal end of the shaft; and manipulating the shaft to remove the vessel from the tissue while the vessel wall remains captured by the penetrating elements; wherein exposing and capturing comprise advancing at least one penetrating element from the shaft into the vessel wall and rotating the shaft to separate the vessel wall from surrounding tissue; wherein the at least one penetrating element is deformable and advancing comprises advancing the element over a ramp which deflects the element radially outwardly.