Apparatus for formation of a hole in a blood vessel

Claim 1

An apparatus for forming a non-circular opening in tissue, which comprises: a) an elongate body defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion having a first tissue engaging edge associated therewith; b) a punch head disposed adjacent the distal end portion of the elongate body, the punch head defining a second tissue engaging edge associated therewith; c) the first and second tissue engaging edges each defining a general racetrack configuration characterized by first and second opposed straight edge portions interconnected by generally arcuate edge portions; d) at least one of the first and second tissue engaging edges being adapted to cut tissue; and e) the elongate body and the punch head adapted for relative movement such that the first and second tissue engaging edges cooperate to cut tissue disposed therebetween to thereby form a general racetrack-shaped opening in tissue.

Claim 2

An apparatus for forming a non-circular opening in tissue, which comprises: a) an elongate body defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion having a first tissue engaging edge associated therewith; b) a punch head disposed adjacent the distal end portion of the elongate body, the punch head defining a second tissue engaging edge associated therewith; c) the first and second tissue engaging edges each defining a general racetrack configuration characterized by first and second opposed straight edge portions interconnected by generally arcuate edge portions; d) at least one of the first and second tissue engaging edges being adapted to cut tissue; and e) the elongate body and the punch head adapted for relative movement such that the first and second tissue engaging edges cooperate to cut tissue disposed therebetween to thereby form a general racetrack-shaped opening in tissue.

Claim 4

An apparatus for forming a non-circular opening in the wall of a blood vessel, which comprises: a) a housing; b) an elongate body mounted with respect to the housing and defining a longitudinal axis, and having proximal and distal end portions; c) a cutting element associated with the distal end portion of the elongate body, the cutting element having a peripheral cutting edge defining a longitudinal opening in the cutting element, the peripheral cutting edge defining a general racetrack configuration; d) a punch element disposed adjacent the distal end portion of the elongate body and operatively connected to the housing, the punch element having a punch head dimensioned to support tissue; and e) at least one of the elongate body and the housing movable relative to the other between an unactuated position wherein the peripheral cutting edge of the cutting element and the punch head of the punch element are displaced and an actuated position wherein the peripheral cutting edge and the punch head are approximated to cooperate to cut tissue supported by the punch head.

Claim 5

An apparatus for forming a non-circular opening in the wall of a blood vessel, which comprises: a) a housing; b) an elongate body mounted with respect to the housing and defining a longitudinal axis, and having proximal and distal end portions; c) a cutting element associated with the distal end portion of the elongate body, the cutting element having a peripheral cutting edge defining a longitudinal opening in the cutting element, the peripheral cutting edge defining a general racetrack configuration; d) a punch element disposed adjacent the distal end portion of the elongate body and operatively connected to the housing, the punch element having a punch head dimensioned to support tissue; and e) at least one of the elongate body and the housing movable relative to the other between an unactuated position wherein the peripheral cutting edge of the cutting element and the punch head of the punch element are displaced and an actuated position wherein the peripheral cutting edge and the punch head are approximated to cooperate to cut tissue supported by the punch head.

Claim 15

An apparatus for facilitating the formation of an opening in the wall of a blood vessel, which comprises: a) an elongate housing having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion and defining a longitudinal axis; b) a cutting collar disposed at the distal end portion of the elongated housing and rotatably mounted thereto, the cutting collar having a longitudinal opening and defining an internal dimension; c) an actuating rod at least partially disposed in the elongate housing, the actuating rod mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the elongate housing between an unactuated position and an actuated position; d) a punch blade disposed at the distal end of the actuating rod, the punch blade defining a cross-sectional dimension having a major dimension greater than a minor dimension, the cross-sectional dimension approximating the internal dimension of the cutting collar such that upon movement of the elongate rod to the actuated position the punch blade is at least partially received in the cutting collar to a blood vessel wall disposed therebetween; and e) a manually operable member disposed adjacent the proximal end portion of the elongate housing, the manually operable member operatively connected to the cutting collar and the punch blade and moveable to cause corresponding rotational movement of the cutting collar and the punch blade.

Claim 16

An apparatus for facilitating the formation of an opening in the wall of a blood vessel, which comprises: a) an elongate housing having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion and defining a longitudinal axis; b) a cutting collar disposed at the distal end portion of the elongated housing and rotatably mounted thereto, the cutting collar having a longitudinal opening and defining an internal dimension; c) an actuating rod at least partially disposed in the elongate housing, the actuating rod mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the elongate housing between an unactuated position and an actuated position; d) a punch blade disposed at the distal end of the actuating rod, the punch blade defining a cross-sectional dimension having a major dimension greater than a minor dimension, the cross-sectional dimension approximating the internal dimension of the cutting collar such that upon movement of the elongate rod to the actuated position the punch blade is at least partially received in the cutting collar to a blood vessel wall disposed therebetween; and e) a manually operable member disposed adjacent the proximal end portion of the elongate housing, the manually operable member operatively connected to the cutting collar and the punch blade and moveable to cause corresponding rotational movement of the cutting collar and the punch blade.

Claim 23

An apparatus for facilitating the formation of an opening in a wall of a blood vessel, which comprises: a) an elongate housing having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion and defining a longitudinal axis; b) a support collar mounted adjacent the distal end portion of the elongate housing and rotatably moveable relative to the elongated housing, the collar having a longitudinal opening and defining an internal dimension; c) an elongate rod at least partially disposed in the elongate housing, the elongate rod and elongate housing adapted for relative movement; d) a punch head disposed at a distal end portion of the elongate rod, the punch head defining a cross-sectional dimension having a major dimension greater than a minor dimension, the cross-sectional dimension approximating the internal dimension of the collar such that upon relative movement of the elongate rod and the elongate housing from a first position to a second position, the punch head is at least partially received within the longitudinal opening of the support collar to cut an opening in a blood vessel wall disposed therebetween, at least one of the collar and the punch head having a cutting edge; and e) a manually operable member disposed adjacent the proximal end portion of the elongate housing, the manually operable member operatively connected to the collar and the punch head and moveable to cause corresponding rotational movement of the collar and the punch head.

Claim 24

An apparatus for facilitating the formation of an opening in a wall of a blood vessel, which comprises: a) an elongate housing having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion and defining a longitudinal axis; b) a support collar mounted adjacent the distal end portion of the elongate housing and rotatably moveable relative to the elongated housing, the collar having a longitudinal opening and defining an internal dimension; c) an elongate rod at least partially disposed in the elongate housing, the elongate rod and elongate housing adapted for relative movement; d) a punch head disposed at a distal end portion of the elongate rod, the punch head defining a cross-sectional dimension having a major dimension greater than a minor dimension, the cross-sectional dimension approximating the internal dimension of the collar such that upon relative movement of the elongate rod and the elongate housing from a first position to a second position, the punch head is at least partially received within the longitudinal opening of the support collar to cut an opening in a blood vessel wall disposed therebetween, at least one of the collar and the punch head having a cutting edge; and e) a manually operable member disposed adjacent the proximal end portion of the elongate housing, the manually operable member operatively connected to the collar and the punch head and moveable to cause corresponding rotational movement of the collar and the punch head.

Claim 30

A method for forming an opening in a blood vessel wall, comprising the steps of: a) providing an instrument including an elongate body having a first tissue engaging edge disposed at a distal end thereof, and a tissue supporting head disposed beyond the distal end of the elongate body and defining a second tissue engaging edge, the first and second tissue engaging edges each defining a general racetrack configuration having opposed straight edge portions connected by arcuate edge portions, at least one of the first and second tissue engaging edges being adapted to cut tissue; b) positioning the tissue supporting head of the instrument through an incision in the blood vessel wall; and c) moving at least one of the elongate body and the tissue supporting head relative to the other to cause the first and second tissue engaging edges to cooperate to cut vessel wall portions supported by the tissue supporting head to thereby form a general racetrack-shaped opening in the blood vessel wall.

Claim 31

A method for forming an opening in a blood vessel wall, comprising the steps of: a) providing an instrument including an elongate body having a first tissue engaging edge disposed at a distal end thereof, and a tissue supporting head disposed beyond the distal end of the elongate body and defining a second tissue engaging edge, the first and second tissue engaging edges each defining a general racetrack configuration having opposed straight edge portions connected by arcuate edge portions, at least one of the first and second tissue engaging edges being adapted to cut tissue; b) positioning the tissue supporting head of the instrument through an incision in the blood vessel wall; and c) moving at least one of the elongate body and the tissue supporting head relative to the other to cause the first and second tissue engaging edges to cooperate to cut vessel wall portions supported by the tissue supporting head to thereby form a general racetrack-shaped opening in the blood vessel wall.