Method and apparatus for using vagus nerve stimulation in surgery
First Claim
1. A method of performing a selected surgical procedure on a patient'"'"'s beating heart, comprising the steps of:
- momentarily arresting or substantially slowing the beating of the patient'"'"'s heart using electrical stimulation; and
performing at least one step of the selected surgical procedure while the patient'"'"'s heart is momentarily arrested or substantially slowed.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for facilitating coronary surgery on the beating heart wherein the vagus nerve is electrically stimulated to purposely temporarily stop or substantially reduce the beating of the heart under precisely controlled conditions. The apparatus controllably applies electrical stimulus to pre-selected locations along the vagus nerve and to pre-selected nerve branches related to the heart. The apparatus includes several clip and probe configurations for establishing electrical contact with the vagus nerve. Such purposely caused temporary stoppage or substantial reduction of the beating of the heart facilitates procedures such as suturing of an anastomosis which would otherwise be more difficult because of the motion induced by the beating heart.
246 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of performing a selected surgical procedure on a patient'"'"'s beating heart, comprising the steps of:
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momentarily arresting or substantially slowing the beating of the patient'"'"'s heart using electrical stimulation; and
performing at least one step of the selected surgical procedure while the patient'"'"'s heart is momentarily arrested or substantially slowed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for performing a selected surgical procedure on a beating heart, said system comprising:
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an electrical nerve stimulator for supplying a vagus nerve stimulating electrical signal from a location outside of a patient'"'"'s body; and
at least one electrical lead surrounded by insulative material with an electrode exposed from a distal end thereof, said electrode being adapted to be releasably fixed to the vagus nerve for supplying the vagus nerve stimulating electrical signal thereto. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification