ABSTRACT
As off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting becomes the method of choice for cardio-thoracic surgeons, it has become apparent that the facilitation of coronary artery anastomosis on a beating heart needs to be addressed by improved instrumentation. We propose an intraluminal anastomosis device used in conjunction with a biologic-glue to eliminate suturing and serve as a scaffold for constructing stable anastomoses. The device will continue to serve as an eluting stent postoperatively. The simple technique of using the device and the adhesive will require 5 minutes or less for anastomosis. Moreover, we introduce a novel parallel port vacuum stabilizer foot equipped with a uniform lateral tension inducing turnbuckle mechanism to be used with off-pump stabilization systems. A proposed in vitro protocol details using saphenous vein segments and coronary arteries to test the patency of multiple end-to-side grafts. A pressure transducer will be attached to the graft to monitor flow characteristics. An in vivo protocol details construction of anastomoses during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in pigs using the anastomosis device, the turnbuckle vacuum foot, and the biologic-glue. Anastomosis patency will be evaluated intraoperatively and one month postoperatively. Furthermore, the graft site will be examined via flow measurement, angiography, and histological analysis.
