Device and method for minimizing heart displacements during a beating heart surgical procedure

• US 6,183,486 B1
• Filed: 03/16/1999
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Heartport, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Heartport, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Snow, David W., Adams, Craig L., Gifford, Hanson S. III, Donlon, Brian S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woo, Julian W.
• Application Number:
  US09/270,040
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151, 606/153, 606/157, 606/150, 606/132
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0206 with antagonistic arms as supports for retractor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1152 applying the staples on the outside of the lumen
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12036 partial occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12045 double occlusion, e.g. during anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12131 characterised by the type of occluding device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00703 correcting for movement of heart, e.g. ECG-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1107 for blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1135 End-to-side connections, e.g. T- or Y-connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12127 Double occlusion, e.g. for creating blood-free anastomosis site
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol

Abstract

A device for minimizing displacements of the heart when performing a beating heart surgical procedure including two heart engaging members. The heart engaging members are slidably coupled to a retractor. The heart engaging members may be rotated and extended as necessary to reach the target site on the patient'"'"'s heart. The heart engaging members have curved distal ends which are configured to engage a coronary shunt positioned in the coronary artery. A suture extends around the coronary and is coupled to the heart engaging members.

Claims

1. A method for reducing displacements of a portion of a patient'"'"'s heart, comprising:

passing a first flexible filament through a portion of a patient'"'"'s heart;

coupling the first flexible filament to a first heart engaging member;

positioning the first heart engaging member in contact with the patient'"'"'s heart;

anchoring the heart engaging member relative to the patient'"'"'s beating heart; and

tensioning the first flexible filament so that displacements of the portion of the patient'"'"'s heart are reduced.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

passing a second flexible filament through another portion of the patient'"'"'s heart;

coupling the second flexible filament to a second heart engaging member;

positioning the second heart engaging member in contact with the patient'"'"'s heart;

anchoring the heart engaging member relative to the patient'"'"'s beating heart; and

tensioning the second flexible element so that displacements of the portion of the patient'"'"'s heart are reduced.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

positioning a coronary shunt in a coronary artery of the patient, the coronary shunt having a blood flow lumen therethrough;

the passing steps being carried out so that the first and second filaments extend around the coronary artery and the coronary shunt.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

separating a first part of the coronary shunt from a second part of the coronary shunt;

removing the first part by pulling on a first flexible tether attached to the first part; and

removing the second part by pulling on a second flexible tether attached to the second part.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

positioning a retractor in the patient'"'"'s chest, the first heart engaging member being mounted to the retractor.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the heart engaging member is slidably coupled to the retractor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the coupling step is carried out by passing the flexible filament through a passageway in the heart engaging member.