Abstract: A system and a method for harvesting a section of a blood vessel from a patient's body for further use. The system includes an expandable hood that creates a workspace for the dissection and removal of the vessel and a telescoping device that has tools at its distal end. The blood vessel is cut at a distal location and a light catheter inserted to illuminate the area of dissection. The system can remove a section of the saphenous vein for use in coronary bypass surgery.

Abstract: A device for use in water comprising a carrier having an interior cavity and one or more openings allowing ingress to and egress from the interior cavity; and a moss contained within the interior cavity in which the carrier completely encloses the moss.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of inhibiting microorganism growth comprising contacting a substance susceptible to microorganism growth with an amount of a non-decomposed moss effective to inhibit microorganism growth, wherein the moss is selected from the group consisting of sphagnum papillosum, sphagnum cristatum, and mixtures thereof.