Autologous Vascular Grafts Created By Vessel Distension

Abstract

A method is provided for forming an autologous graft by distending a donor blood vessel and harvesting the distended portion of the vessel. Also provided is a device for in vivo or in vitro vessel distension. Typically the device is implanted, for example using endoscopic techniques, in a patient sometime prior to another surgery on that patient which includes implanting a vascular graft. The device includes a stretching mechanism which is attached to a donor blood vessel, means for operating the stretching mechanism to cause the vessel to distend, and a controller, preferably externally located, for controlling the operating means. In a preferred embodiment, the device includes a pair of opposed straps, attached to a healthy, small-diameter donor blood vessel such as a femoral artery in the leg. The straps are displaced from each other over a period of time to continuously distend or elongate the donor vessel. The distended portion of the donor vessel is excised at the time of the bypass surgery. The ends of the donor vessel are then sutured end to end to repair the donor vessel, a procedure common in vascular repair and generally accomplished without complication. The result is a totally autologous, living vascular graft.