Tissue stabilizer and methods of use
First Claim
1. A device for stabilizing tissue within a patient'"'"'s body comprising:
- a base member defining a common vacuum chamber;
a first elongated, integral stabilizer foot having an elongated perimeter adapted to contact the tissue, said first, elongated stabilizer foot being rotatably mounted to and extending outwardly from said base member and fluidly connected with said common vacuum chamber, said first elongated, integral stabilizer foot being rotatable relative to said base member about a first axis; and
a second elongated, integral stabilizer foot rotatably having an elongated perimeter adapted to contact the tissue, said second, elongated stabilizer foot being mounted to and extending outwardly from said base member and fluidly connected with said common vacuum chamber, said second elongated, integral stabilizer foot being rotatable relative to said base member about a second axis;
said second axis being offset from said first axis.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods are disclosed for stabilizing tissue within a patient'"'"'s body during a surgical operation to provide a relatively motionless surgical field. The devices involve tissue stabilizers which provide superior engagement with a tissue structure to be stabilized, for example the beating heart. The tissue stabilizer may have one or more stabilizer feet which provide for adjustment of the orientation of the features which engage the surface of the tissue structure. In one instance, the orientation may be adjusted to ensure the engaging features will be properly aligned with the surface of the tissue structure before engagement. In addition, once engaged with or connected to the tissue structure the orientation may be adjusted to yield an optimum surgical presentation of a portion of the tissue structure, for instance a coronary artery or the like. The tissue stabilizer may be configured to use friction, negative pressure, or both to engage the surface of the heart.
346 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A device for stabilizing tissue within a patient'"'"'s body comprising:
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a base member defining a common vacuum chamber;
a first elongated, integral stabilizer foot having an elongated perimeter adapted to contact the tissue, said first, elongated stabilizer foot being rotatably mounted to and extending outwardly from said base member and fluidly connected with said common vacuum chamber, said first elongated, integral stabilizer foot being rotatable relative to said base member about a first axis; and
a second elongated, integral stabilizer foot rotatably having an elongated perimeter adapted to contact the tissue, said second, elongated stabilizer foot being mounted to and extending outwardly from said base member and fluidly connected with said common vacuum chamber, said second elongated, integral stabilizer foot being rotatable relative to said base member about a second axis;
said second axis being offset from said first axis.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A device for stabilizing tissue within a patient'"'"'s body, said device comprising:
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a base member defining a base vacuum chamber and having a distal surface; and
at least one elongated stabilizer foot having an elongated perimeter adapted to contact the tissue, said at least one elongated stabilizer foot being extending outwardly from said distal surface of said base member in a first direction and fluidically connected with said base vacuum chamber, said at least one stabilizer foot being rotatable, integrally and in its entirety, relative to said base member about an axis of rotation which is oriented in substantially the same direction as said first direction; and
wherein said base member does not extend distally beyond said distal surface.- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A device for stabilizing a coronary artery on a patient'"'"'s heart comprising:
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a base member having an interior chamber and a substantially cylindrical bore, said bore having a first end in fluid communication with said interior chamber and a second end open to the exterior of said base member; and
a stabilizer foot having a substantially cylindrical fitting having a longitudinal axis, at least a portion of said fitting positioned within said bore and being rotatable within said bore about said longitudinal axis, said stabilizer foot further comprising a hollow interior defining a vacuum chamber, said vacuum chamber having a chamber opening adapted to engage at least a portion of the heart and said fitting further comprising a fluid passage, a flange and an annular seal positioned adjacent said flange, said fluid passage having a first end in fluid communication with said interior chamber and a second end in fluid communication with said vacuum chamber. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
a second substantially cylindrical bore having a first end in fluid communication with said interior chamber and a second end open to the exterior of said base member; and
a second stabilizer foot having a substantially cylindrical fitting having a longitudinal axis, at least of portion of said second stabilizer fitting positioned within said second bore and being rotatable within said second bore about said longitudinal axis of said fitting of said second stabilizer foot.
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31. A stabilizer foot for use in engaging a portion of tissue within a patient'"'"'s body comprising:
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a first foot portion having at least one vacuum port;
a second foot portion having at least one vacuum port;
at least one malleable member connecting said first foot portion to said second foot portion whereby the orientation of said first foot portion can be adjusted relative to said second foot portion; and
a fitting portion integral with an end of one of said first and second foot portions opposite an end of said first or second portion which is connected to said malleable member, said fitting portion being adapted to be inserted within an opening in a vacuum chamber thereby rotatably connecting said stabilizer foot to said vacuum chamber. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A device for stabilizing a coronary artery on a patient'"'"'s heart comprising:
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a base member having an interior chamber and a substantially cylindrical bore, said bore having a first end in fluid communication with said interior chamber and a second end open to the exterior of said base member; and
a stabilizer foot having a substantially cylindrical fitting having a longitudinal axis, at least a portion of said fitting positioned within said bore and being rotatable within said bore about said longitudinal axis, wherein said fitting further comprises at least one flexure having a free end and a raised portion extending radially from said free end.
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39. A device for stabilizing tissue within a patient'"'"'s body comprising:
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a base member defining a common vacuum chamber;
a first elongated stabilizer foot rotatably mounted to and extending outwardly from said base member and fluidly connected with said common vacuum chamber, said first elongated stabilizer foot being rotatable relative to said base member about a first axis;
a first perimeter sealing member around a perimeter of said first elongated stabilizer foot;
a second elongated stabilizer foot rotatably mounted to and extending outwardly from said base member and fluidly connected with said common vacuum chamber, said second elongated stabilizer foot being rotatable relative to said base member about a second axis;
said second axis being offset from said first axis; and
a second perimeter sealing member around a perimeter of said second elongated stabilizer foot, wherein said first and second perimeter sealing members each have a variable height around said respective perimeters.
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Specification