title: Devices to improve coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Hoagland
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Durrani
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Tumkur