Vertex worked with the A&E Medical team on the Direct View Retractor (DVR). This retractor is an illuminated, hands free device permitting direct visualization of the saphenous vein, and its branches, during dissection to facilitate atraumatic harvesting.
The product was invented by a Cardiac Surgeon to help with patient rehabilitation and recovery after the removal of the saphenous vein for bypass procedures. The objectives in this project were to have a disposable device, which cannot be reused.

The device had to provide illumination under the skin when utilizing the bridging techniques of vein removal. We had to design this retractor to have the power source sealed inside so that once triggered, the illumination cannot be turned off manually. Thus, the power source is only active a few hours for one-time usage. Once it runs out of time, or the Dr. completes the harvesting procedure, it is then ready to be discarded.

Vertex conducted part of the testing of this device first on animals, and eventually, on humans.

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