Patent ID: 7497861

Claim:
A chisel system for harvesting an implantable graft, the system comprising: an elongated shaft extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal portion and a distal portion, at least part of the proximal portion defining a handle and at least part of the distal portion being threaded; a cutting module removably engaged with the elongated shaft, the cutting module comprising: a proximal portion threadingly engaged with the distal portion of the elongated shaft; a central portion of the cutting module being generally cylindrical and extending substantially along the longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft, the central portion having an outer surface with an outer diameter and an inner surface defining an inner bore with a first inner diameter; and a distal portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface tapering inwardly with respect to the inner bore of the central portion to a second inner diameter less than the first inner diameter, the outer surface tapering inwardly with respect to the outer surface of the central portion to define a plurality of cutting projections at an intersection with the inner surface; and a tap for removing an implantable graft from the cutting module through the proximal portion of the cutting module, the tap comprising a head portion and a shank portion extending from the head portion, the shank portion having a diameter less than the second inner diameter of the cutting module such that the shank portion can be inserted into the distal portion of the cutting module to urge the implantable graft out through the proximal portion of the cutting module.