Surgical devices for imposing a negative pressure to stabilize cardiac tissue during surgery

• US 20050033111A1
• Filed: 09/16/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maquet Cardiovascular LLC (Getinge AB)
• Original Assignee: Maquet Cardiovascular LLC (Getinge AB)
• Inventors: Taylor, Charles S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,497,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets A61B18/00 takes precedence; contraceptive devices, pessaries, or applicators therefor A61F6/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00703 correcting for movement of heart, e.g. ECG-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0243 for immobilizing local areas of the heart, e.g. while it beats
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3488 Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/40 Apparatus fixed or close to patients specially adapted for providing an aseptic surgical environment

Abstract

The invention is devices and techniques which use a negative (suction) pressure or vacuum, applied through a surgical instrument, to fix the position of a portion of the surface of a beating heart so that a surgical procedure can be more easily performed. The devices apply a negative pressure at several points on the outer surface of the heart such that a portion of the heart is fixed in place by the suction imposed through the surgical instrument. Because the instrument fixes the position of the tissue, and because the instruments remain at a constant distance from the particular portion of the heart where the surgery is being performed, the device may also serve as a support or platform so that other surgical instruments or devices can be advantageously used at the site. In certain preferred embodiments, the devices described herein have structures to facilitate the use of additional surgical instruments such that the placement of negative pressure device permit the surgeon to advantageously manipulate the other instruments during surgery. The negative pressure is preferably imposed through a plurality of ports which may be disposed in a substantially planar surface of the instrument which contacts the cardiac tissue.

Claims

1-14. -14. (Canceled)

15. As part of a surgical procedure on a beating heart, a method to minimize the motion of a target area of tissue of the beating heart during the surgical procedure, said method comprising the steps of:

introducing an instrument to the surface of the beating heart at said target area and proximate to where the surgical procedure is to be performed, wherein said instrument includes a plurality of suction ports to apply negative pressure to the target area;

manipulating said instrument to rest said plurality of suction ports against the surface of the beating heart, and

applying a negative pressure to the beating heart by attaching a source of negative pressure to said instrument.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of applying a negative pressure is achieved by attaching the negative pressure source to an inlet of said instrument.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the inlet communicates said negative pressure to said plurality of suction ports through a pressure conducting chamber.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of fixing the instrument to a stable support.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said stable support comprises a surgical retractor.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of fixing the instrument to a fixed structure.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said fixed structure comprises a surgical retractor.

22. An instrument for minimizing the motion of a target area of tissue of a beating heart during a surgical procedure, said instrument comprising:

a bottom surface configured for conforming contact with the surface of the beating heart;

at least one opening through said bottom surface configured for applying negative pressure to the surface of the beating heart;

a sealed, airtight, pressure conducting chamber in fluid communication with said at least one opening, said conducting chamber further including at least one inlet adapted to be connected to a source of negative pressure to communicate the negative pressure thorough said conducting chamber to said at least one opening.

23. The instrument of claim 22, wherein said at least one opening comprises a plurality of openings, said openings being spaced apart from one another.

24. The instrument of claim 23, wherein said openings comprise ports.

25. The instrument of claim 22, wherein said openings are flush with said bottom surface.

26. The instrument of claim 22, wherein said bottom surface is substantially planar.

27. The instrument of claim 22, wherein said bottom surface is curved.

28. The instrument of claim 22, wherein said bottom surface is contoured to engage a curved surface of the heart.

29. The instrument of claim 22, wherein said bottom surface at least partially surrounds a central opening through which the surgical procedure may be performed.

30. The instrument of claim 22, wherein said bottom surface completely surrounds said central opening.

31. The instrument of claim 22, wherein said instrument is U-Shaped.

32. The instrument of claim 22, further comprising at least one opening through which at least part of the surgical procedure may be performed, wherein said bottom surface at least partially surrounds said at least one opening.

33. The instrument of claim 23, further comprising a plurality of passages connecting said plurality of openings, respectively, with said pressure conducting chamber.

34. A method of reducing the motion of a target area of tissue of a beating heart to facilitate performance of a surgical procedure at the target area, said method comprising the steps of:

placing an instrument on the surface of the beating heart at said target area and proximate to where the surgical procedure is to be performed; and

applying negative pressure through said instrument to the beating heart, thereby attaching the instrument to the beating heart.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of fixing the instrument to a stable support.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said stable support comprises a surgical retractor.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein said instrument is placed on the target area such that an opening in said instrument is positioned over where the surgical procedure is to be performed.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the negative pressure is applied via a negative pressure source connected to an inlet of said instrument.