Abstract: A method for tensioning incisions made in a target vessel during an anastomosis procedure is provided. After an incision is made in a target vessel, incision tensioners are placed within the incision in order to tension the incision. The incision is tensioned when the incision tensioners are pulled taut in order to stretch the incision to a predetermined length or a predetermined force. The tensioners allow for proper grafting of a graft vessel to the target vessel in an end to side anastomosis. In addition, the incision tensioners allow the incision to have a known geometry, thereby allowing precise grafting of the graft vessel to the target vessel during the anastomosis procedure. After the incision is tensioned, the graft vessel is grafted to the target vessel using clips, sutures, staples or other anastomosis devices. One example of anastomosis clips are configured to capture the graft vessel and the target vessel such that the graft vessel grafts with the target vessel.

Abstract: A graft vessel preparation device and a method for using the graft vessel preparation device is provided. The graft vessel preparation device establishes and maintains a critical dimension on a graft vessel which corresponds to a dimension of an anastomosis site on a target vessel. One example of a graft vessel preparation device which prepares a graft vessel for a vascular anastomosis procedure includes a parallelogram linkage, a first spreader arm and a second spreader arm. The first spreader arm and the second spreader arm mount on opposing members of the parallelogram linkage in a parallel configuration. The spreader arms are configured in order to allow the placement of an end of a graft vessel over the spreader arms. The spreader arms are also configured to separate within an interior of the graft vessel once the graft vessel is placed over the spreader arms in order to establish a critical dimension. The critical dimension is established using a critical dimension locator.