1. Two generations of the St
Two generations of the St. Jude Medical ATG coronary connector systems for coronary artery anastomoses in coronary artery bypass grafting 
Friedrich S Eckstein, MD, Luis F Bonilla, MD, Hartzell Schaff, MD, Lars Englberger, MD, Stephan Windecker, MD, Paul Hindrichs, Thierry P Carrel, MD 
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 
Volume 74, Issue 4, Pages (October 2002)
DOI: /S (02)03967-X

2. Fig 1
Distal second-generation St. Jude Medical ATG coronary connector mounted on delivery balloon catheter.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /S (02)03967-X)

3. Fig 2
Loading process for second-generation St. Jude Medical ATG coronary connector. (A) A small hole is made with a blade in the vein. (B) The hole is enlarged with a dilator. (C) The mounted connector is transferred, passing the distal vein end through the prepared hole. (D) Inside view of the preloaded connector.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /S (02)03967-X)

4. Fig 3
(A) Introduction of the connector system into the coronary artery. The plastic nosecone protects the inner hooks of the connector. (B) Advancing the nosecone uncovers the small inner hooks of the connector. (C) The device is placed at a 90-degree angle. (D) Expanding the balloon connects the two vessels. (E) The device is brought back to the insertion angle, and the deflated balloon is removed.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /S (02)03967-X)

5. Fig 4 Completed anastomosis, with the distal vein end tied.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /S (02)03967-X)

6. Fig 5
Ex vivo animal model. Three uniform mechanical connections reflecting different connection angles of the veins to the coronary artery. (A) View from the opened vein graft; (B) view from the coronary artery.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /S (02)03967-X)