Patent ID: 8377082
Filing Date: 2013-02-19
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A vessel wall cutting instrument for making an elongated slit through a vessel wall of a body vessel of a patient having a vessel axis from an exterior surface to an interior surface of the vessel wall into a lumen of the body vessel comprising: an elongated instrument shaft extending between a shaft proximal end and a shaft distal end and having an instrument shaft axis the elongated instrument shaft comprising a fixed shaft member and a movable shaft member adapted to move with respect to the fixed shaft member in the direction of the instrument shaft axis; a fixed cutting blade fixed to the fixed shaft member at the shaft distal end to extend substantially laterally to the instrument shaft axis to a fixed cutting blade free end, the fixed cutting blade having a blunt distal leading blade side, a proximal, trailing side having a fixed cutting edge, and a cutting tip at the fixed cutting blade free end; wherein the fixed cutting edge of the proximal trailing side is generally straight along the direction of the laterally extending fixed cutting blade, and wherein the blunt distal leading blade side includes a major portion spaced-apart from the cutting tip, wherein the major portion extends generally perpendicular to the proximal trailing side; a movable cutting blade having a distal, leading edge fixed to the movable shaft member at the shaft distal end, the movable cutting blade extending substantially laterally to the shaft axis and having a movable cutting edge along the movable cutting blade distal, leading edge; means for maintaining the movable shaft member in a retracted position with the movable cutting blade spaced proximally from the fixed cutting member as the blunt distal leading blade side is applied against the exterior surface of the vessel wall to depress the vessel wall and is moved laterally to pass the cutting tip of the fixed cutting blade through the vessel wall and into the lumen of the body vessel; and means for moving the movable shaft member with respect to the fixed shaft member between the retracted position separating the fixed and movable cutting edges and an extended position wherein the fixed and movable cutting edges are substantially in side-by-side alignment to shear the vessel wall and form a slit therein.