Abstract: A blood vessel in a patient is severed by inserting a shaft through an incision in the patient, the shaft carrying first and second clamps. The first and second clamps are closed against the vessel in closely adjacent relationship to one another. Thereafter, the clamps are moved in generally opposing directions to sever the vessel at a location between the clamps. Each clamp carries a cauterizing pad for cauterizing the severed ends of the vessel.

Abstract: An air removal device removes air from blood flowing in a perfusion system. A chamber is provided having a blood flow region at a lower end thereof and having an air collection region at an upper end thereof. The chamber further has an inlet, a blood outlet, and an air outlet vertically higher than the inlet. There is a vertical guide structure in the air collection region. A float is disposed for vertical movement following the vertical guide structure, wherein the float has an effective density less than the density of blood. A lever arm having a first end follows vertical movement of the float and has a second end pivotally mounted at a pivot point that is stationary with respect to the vertical guide structure. A valve is coupled to the air outlet and to an intermediate point of the lever arm for closing the air outlet when the float is at its vertically highest position.

Abstract: An air removal device removes air from blood flowing in a perfusion system. A generally cylindrical chamber has a liquid flow region at a lower end thereof and has a gas collection region at an upper end thereof. An arcuate manifold provides an arcuate flow path outside of the chamber having an upstream end and a downstream end. A slit aperture is provided between the arcuate manifold and the chamber along at least a substantial portion of the arcuate manifold. A mixture of gas and liquid introduced into the arcuate flow path at the upstream end flows through the slit aperture to create a spiral flow within the chamber causing the gas to move toward a central axis of the chamber and into the gas collection region.

Abstract: An endoscopic apparatus for dissecting a blood vessel includes a endoscopic barrel having a plurality of lumens, one of the lumens being dimensioned for receiving an endoscope, a handle disposed at a proximal end of the endoscopic barrel, at least two fingers having distally curved ends for dissecting and cauterizing the desired blood vessel, and a displaceable cone portion disposed over a distal end of the endoscopic barrel. The cone portion has a first position concealing the at least two fingers and a second, extended position exposing the at least two fingers. A control rod extends between the handle and each of the fingers such that movement of the control mechanism between a first position and a second position produces a predetermined movement of the respective finger.

Abstract: An endoscopic apparatus for harvesting a desired blood vessel including an endoscopic barrel having at least two lumens, one of the lumens dimensioned for receiving an endoscope, a handle disposed at a proximal end of the endoscopic barrel, a cone portion disposed over a distal end of the endoscopic barrel, and at least one manipulator fork extendable from the cone portion for dissecting the desired blood vessel from connective tissue.