Malcolm B Herring

US Patent:

D3290964, Sep 1, 1992

Filed:

Apr 8, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/671949

Inventors:

Malcolm B. Herring - Zionsville IN

US Classification:

D24226

US Patent:

50410911, Aug 20, 1991

Filed:

Sep 17, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/584505

Inventors:

Malcolm B. Herring - Zionsville IN

International Classification:

A61M 2900

US Classification:

604102

Abstract:

A kit for inoculating a prosthetic vascular graft is provided having an endothelial cell harvester, a vascular graft inculator or seeder, a temperature control element, and a support structure to house each of the elements of the kit. The cell harvester included in the kit comprises a rigid rod, adapted to be inserted into a donor vein, a bulb affixed to one end of the rigid rod, the bulb having a plurality of irrigation holes, a rigid tube affixed to the bulb and communicating with the interior of the bulb, an inflatable balloon affixed to the rigid rod, and a multiple lumen flexible tube, with one lumen communicating with the inflatable balloon and at least one lumen communicating with the interior of the bulb, each of said lumens terminating in a valve member at the free end of the lumen. A method is provided for harvesting endothelial cells from a donor vein using the cell harvester. The cell harvester is inserted into a donor vein, the vein ends are occluded, an enzyme is injected into the vein, the occlusion at one end of the vein is removed, and the enzyme and harvested endothelial cells are washed into a receptacle.