Patent ID: 8597345

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a body section including an upper surface, a lower surface, and an inner edge disposed around at least a portion of an open area; and a plurality of arms each having an exposed portion extending from the body section into the open area, each of the exposed portions including a segment connected to a tip portion, wherein the tip portions are vertically aligned relative to the body section, wherein the tip portions are in opposing relation and are configured to hold a graft vessel, wherein the segments are angled outwardly from respective tip portions toward the body section, wherein the exposed portions of the plurality of arms are radially retractable to cause the opposing tip portions to retract to an expanded position, wherein the tip portions maintain the same vertical alignment relative to the body section as the tip portions retract to the expanded position, wherein the lower surface of the body section opposes a receiving vessel when the opposing tip portions are positioned to transfer the graft vessel to the receiving vessel, such that an end of the graft vessel is axially accessible through the open area when the opposing tip portions are in the expanded position.