Abstract: A system for preparing a harvested blood vessel for use as a graft during a coronary artery bypass procedure, which includes an elongated platform, a mounting flange extending upwardly from a top surface of the platform adjacent a proximal end thereof for supporting a syringe in a fixed position, and a pair of longitudinally spaced apart clamp holders operatively associated with the top surface of the platform, each clamp holder configured to support a respective vessel clamp, wherein the vessel clamps supported within the clamp holders are adapted to hold a harvested blood vessel immobile therebetween so it can be prepared for grafting.

Abstract: A system for preparing a harvested blood vessel for use as a graft during a coronary artery bypass procedure, which includes an elongated platform, a mounting flange extending upwardly from a top surface of the platform adjacent a proximal end thereof for supporting a syringe in a fixed position, and a pair of longitudinally spaced apart clamp holders operatively associated with the top surface of the platform, each clamp holder configured to support a respective vessel clamp, wherein the vessel clamps supported within the clamp holders are adapted to hold a harvested blood vessel immobile therebetween so it can be prepared for grafting.

Abstract: A section of a vein to be used for example in aorto-coronary bypass surgery, is harvested by making two incisions severing the vein at opposite ends of the section to be removed. A plastic guide is inserted in one incision, passed through the length of the vein section and out the other incision. A plastic tube having an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the vein to be harvested and having two knife blades at its leading end is inserted into one of the incisions and slipped over the end of the vein section to be removed. The tube is pushed in over the vein section, while rotating the tube to sever vein branches by the knife blades and heating the knife blades electrically to cauterize ends of the severed branches, until the leading end of the tube reaches the other incision. The tube is then withdrawn with the vein section inside it.