Incision template and methods for use
First Claim
1. A method for locating a site on a patient'"'"'s chest suitable for establishing percutaneous intercostal access to the patient'"'"'s heart, the method comprising:
- aligning at least one marker on a template with at least one anatomical feature of the patient, the template having a target zone which lies over the site when the marker is aligned with the anatomical feature.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides templates, methods, and kits for locating a site on a patient'"'"'s chest suitable for establishing percutaneous intercostal access to the patient'"'"'s heart. In particular, the present invention provides templates, methods, and kits which effectively and rapidly locate an incision site for intercostal access by sharp and/or blunt dissection for subsequent placement of minimally invasive direct cardiac massagers, chest tubes, defibrillation electrodes, and the like. An incision template according to the present invention comprises a structure placeable on a patient'"'"'s chest. The structure has at least one marker which can be aligned with at least one anatomical feature of the patient and a target zone which lies over a preselected location for intercostal access when the marker is aligned with the anatomical feature.
79 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method for locating a site on a patient'"'"'s chest suitable for establishing percutaneous intercostal access to the patient'"'"'s heart, the method comprising:
aligning at least one marker on a template with at least one anatomical feature of the patient, the template having a target zone which lies over the site when the marker is aligned with the anatomical feature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for locating a site on a patient'"'"'s chest suitable for establishing percutaneous intercostal access to the patient'"'"'s heart, the method comprising:
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aligning a left edge of a template with a mid-line of the patient'"'"'s sternum; and
aligning an opening in the template with a fourth intercostal space;
wherein a target zone of the template lies over the site following alignment of the template.
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20. An improved method for establishing intercostal access to a patient'"'"'s heart, the improvement comprising aligning a template with an anatomical feature of the patient and penetrating an instrument through tissue between the patient'"'"'s ribs at a site determined by the template.
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21. An incision template comprising:
a structure placeable on a patient'"'"'s chest, wherein the structure has at least one marker which can be aligned with at least one anatomical feature of the patient and a target zone which lies over a preselected location for intercostal access when the marker is aligned with the anatomical feature. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An incision template for locating a site of percutaneous intercostal access, the template comprising:
a flat-sided body having an opening extending between opposite flat sides of the body, the body being positionable against a skin surface of an intercostal space so that the opening defines the site suitable for subsequent intercostal access.
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34. A kit comprising:
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an incision template; and
instructions for use setting forth a method comprising aligning a marker on the template with an anatomical feature of a patient, the template having a target zone which lies over a site when the marker is positioned with the anatomical feature so that the target zone defines the site for subsequent intercostal access. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification