Method and apparatus for thoracoscopic intracardiac procedures
First Claim
1. A method for accessing an interior chamber of a beating heart, said method comprising:
- forming a penetration through a muscular wall of the heart into the interior chamber;
positioning a distal end of a tubular access device having an inner lumen through the penetration; and
forming a hemostatic seal between the device and the penetration to inhibit blood loss through the penetration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices, systems, and methods are provided for accessing the interior of the heart and performing procedures therein while the heart is beating. In one embodiment, a tubular access device having an inner lumen is provided for positioning through a penetration in a muscular wall of the heart, the access device having a means for sealing within the penetration to inhibit leakage of blood through the penetration. The sealing means may comprise a balloon or flange on the access device, or a suture placed in the heart wall to gather the heart tissue against the access device. An obturator is removably positionable in the inner lumen of the access device, the obturator having a cutting means at its distal end for penetrating the muscular wall of the heart. The access device is preferably positioned through an intercostal space and through the muscular wall of the heart. Elongated instruments may be introduced through the tubular access device into an interior chamber of the heart to perform procedures such as septal defect repair and electrophysiological mapping and ablation. A method of septal defect repair includes positioning a tubular access device percutaneously through an intercostal space and through a penetration in a muscular wall of the heart, passing one or more instruments through an inner lumen of the tubular access device into an interior chamber of the heart, and using the instruments to close the septal defect. Devices and methods for closing the septal defect with either sutures or with patch-type devices are disclosed.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method for accessing an interior chamber of a beating heart, said method comprising:
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forming a penetration through a muscular wall of the heart into the interior chamber;
positioning a distal end of a tubular access device having an inner lumen through the penetration; and
forming a hemostatic seal between the device and the penetration to inhibit blood loss through the penetration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for closing a cardiac septal defect in a heart, said method comprising:
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positioning a tubular access device percutaneously through an intercostal space and through a penetration in a muscular wall of the heart; and
passing one or more instruments from a proximal end of the access device, through an inner lumen of the access device, and out of a distal end of the access device into a cardiac chamber in the heart, wherein the one or more instruments are used to close the septal defect. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. An improved method for closing a cardiac septal defect of the type in which a patch of material is secured over the defect, wherein the improvement comprises introducing and securing the patch through an inner lumen of a tubular access device positioned through a muscular wall of the heart.
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19. An improved method for closing a cardiac septal defect of the type in which a pericardium patch is secured over the defect, wherein the improvement comprises harvesting the pericardium patch using instruments introduced through one or more intercostal spaces, and introducing and securing the patch in the heart through an inner lumen of a tubular access device positioned through a muscular wall of the heart.
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20. An improved method for closing a cardiac septal defect of the type in which the defect is sutured closed, wherein the improvement comprises suturing the defect using an instrument introduced through an inner lumen of a tubular access device positioned through a muscular wall of the heart.
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21. A method of forming a lesion in heart tissue of a patient, comprising:
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providing an electrophysiological ablating device comprising at least one electrode;
forming an opening in a patient'"'"'s chest, the opening passing through the chest wall and into the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity;
passing the electrode through the opening;
postioning the electrode adjacent to heart tissue; and
ablating the heart tissue with the electrode to create a lesion in the heart tissue. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of ablating cardiac tissue, comprising:
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inserting an ablation device into a chamber of a patient'"'"'s heart through a penetration formed in a wall of the heart, the ablation device having a distal end adapted to transmit ablative energy;
positioning the distal end of the ablation device at a desired site within the chamber of the heart;
applying ablative energy to the cardiac tissue to form at least one lesion. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of forming a lesion in heart tissue of a patient, comprising:
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providing an electrophysiological ablating device comprising an ablating element;
forming an opening in a patient'"'"'s chest, the opening passing through the chest wall and into the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity;
positioning the ablating element through the opening so that the ablating element is disposed adjacent heart tissue; and
ablating the heart tissue with the ablating element to create a lesion in the heart tissue. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification