Methods and apparatus for accessing and stabilizing an area of the heart
First Claim
1. A method of implanting an epicardial lead into the myocardium at an epicardial implantation site accessed through the thorax from a skin incision, the epicardial lead of the type having an elongated lead body extending between at least one proximal electrical connector element and a distal fixation mechanism extending from a distal electrode head, the lead body supporting at least one distal pace/sense electrode coupled through an electrical conductor to a proximal electrical connector element, the method comprising:
- affixing the distal electrode head to a distal end of a lead implantation tool of an epicardial lead installation tool, the epicardial lead installation tool having an elongated tool body enclosing a tool body lumen extending between a tool body proximal end and a tool body distal end, the lead implantation tool extending through the tool body lumen to a lead implantation tool proximal end, the tool body having at least one suction pad having at least one suction port supported by a suction pad strut extending distally from a distal end surface and a suction lumen for supplying suction to the suction port;
inserting the lead implantation tool and the epicardial lead through the skin incision to apply the suction pad against the epicardium;
applying suction through the suction port of the suction pad to fix the tool body to the epicardium;
manipulating the lead implantation tool to affix the distal fixation mechanism to the myocardium at the implantation site; and
halting the suction to withdraw the epicardial lead installation tool.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An epicardial lead installation tool having an elongated tool body extending between a tool body proximal and distal ends and encloses a tool body lumen. At least one suction pad supported by a suction pad strut extends distally to a distal end surface of the tool body distal end. A lead implantation tool extending between implantation tool proximal and distal ends is inserted through the tool body lumen to dispose the implantation tool distal end proximate to the tool body distal end. The lead implantation tool distal end is adapted to engage the distal electrode head of an epicardial lead to enable the extension of the assembly of the of the lead installation tool, the lead implantation tool and the epicardial lead through a skin incision and to apply the suction pad against the epicardium. Suction is applied through the suction pad to affix it to the epicardium while the implantation tool proximal end is manipulated to affix the distal fixation mechanism to the myocardium at the implantation site.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of implanting an epicardial lead into the myocardium at an epicardial implantation site accessed through the thorax from a skin incision, the epicardial lead of the type having an elongated lead body extending between at least one proximal electrical connector element and a distal fixation mechanism extending from a distal electrode head, the lead body supporting at least one distal pace/sense electrode coupled through an electrical conductor to a proximal electrical connector element, the method comprising:
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affixing the distal electrode head to a distal end of a lead implantation tool of an epicardial lead installation tool, the epicardial lead installation tool having an elongated tool body enclosing a tool body lumen extending between a tool body proximal end and a tool body distal end, the lead implantation tool extending through the tool body lumen to a lead implantation tool proximal end, the tool body having at least one suction pad having at least one suction port supported by a suction pad strut extending distally from a distal end surface and a suction lumen for supplying suction to the suction port;
inserting the lead implantation tool and the epicardial lead through the skin incision to apply the suction pad against the epicardium;
applying suction through the suction port of the suction pad to fix the tool body to the epicardium;
manipulating the lead implantation tool to affix the distal fixation mechanism to the myocardium at the implantation site; and
halting the suction to withdraw the epicardial lead installation tool. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for implanting an epicardial lead into the myocardium at an epicardial implantation site accessed through the thorax from a skin incision, the epicardial lead of the type having an elongated lead body extending between at least one proximal electrical connector element and a distal fixation mechanism extending from a distal electrode head, the lead body supporting at least one distal pace/sense electrode coupled through an electrical conductor to a proximal electrical connector element, the system comprising:
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an epicardial lead installation tool having an elongated tool body extending between a tool body proximal end and a tool body distal end and enclosing a tool body lumen extending to a distal end surface of the tool body distal end, at least one suction pad having at least one suction port and supported by a suction pad strut extending distally to the distal end surface;
a lead implantation tool extending between a lead implantation tool proximal end and a lead implantation tool distal end, the lead implantation tool extending through the tool body lumen to dispose the lead implantation tool distal end proximate to the tool body distal end, the lead implantation tool distal end adapted to engage the distal electrode head to enable the extension of the assembly of the of the lead installation tool, the lead implantation tool and the epicardial lead through the skin incision to apply the suction pad against the epicardium; and
means for applying suction through the suction lumen to fix the suction pad to the epicardium, whereby the lead implantation tool proximal end is manipulable to affix the distal fixation mechanism to the myocardium at the implantation site. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification