Self-cleaning endoscopic vein harvester rod

An endoscopic vessel harvesting device has an elongated sleeve member for insertion into a body having a vessel to be harvested. A V-cutter cutter is provided that is longitudinally extendable from the sleeve member toward a cutting position for cutting branches of a vessel being harvested. The cutter comprises a V-tip, a longitudinal slit for receiving a branch to be cut, and electrodes adjacent to the longitudinal slit for being electrically energized to cut and cauterize the branch. A debris remover is fixed to the sleeve member in alignment with the longitudinal slit for mechanically removing debris from the longitudinal slit when the cutter is positioned longitudinally inward from the cutting position. The debris remover is operable during times that the sleeve member is inserted into the body. Effectiveness of the V-cutter is maintained even in conditions favoring a build-up of debris that could otherwise clog the longitudinal slit of the V-cutter.