The purpose of the CABG procedure is to bypass blocked (diseased) coronary arteries with non-diseased vessels that serve the crucial role of myocardial (heart muscle) vascularization (blood flow). Bypassing these diseased and blocked coronary arteries is necessary to prevent myocardium ischemia (lack of oxygen to tissue) and ensuing heart failure. Small vessels taken from the chest or leg are used to shunt blood past (bypass) the diseased segments of the heart's own arteries.

Preparing to attach a bypass graft from the heart to the aorta

Today, coronary bypass procedures are commonplace, with over 300,000 performed each year in the US. There are several methods to perform these procedures including: 1) the traditional on-pump approach, where the patient's heart is stopped and the functioning of the heart and lungs is managed with a perfusion or heart-lung bypass machine; 2) the off-pump approach (Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass, or OPCAB), where the patient's heart is slowed but not stopped; and 3) the minimally invasive direct approach (Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass, or MIDCAB), where the heart is accessed through a thoracotomy, or small opening in the chest.

During coronary artery bypass procedures, the aorta, which is the main artery coming off of the heart, is clamped either completely or partially by a specially designed surgical clamp. This allows the surgeon to place the patient's circulation on the heart-lung bypass machine. In addition, these clamps are used to grasp the aorta in order to suture the harvested veins or arteries from the aorta past the diseased coronary artery.

Applied Medical manufactures a wide variety of surgical clamps and smaller clips which are used during coronary artery bypass procedures. The company is the market leader in specially designed low-profile, padded clamps called Stealth. Applied's Stealth Clamps and Clips provide the surgeon the ability to gently, but securely, clamp vessels such as the aorta, during surgery. The padded design of the instrument jaws provide traction to the vessel, but minimize the amount of damage or trauma that can be caused by all metal clamps. In addition, the low-profile design of Applied's Stealth Clamps takes up less space than older, more bulky clamps, thereby providing the surgeon more working space and enhanced visibility.