Method and apparatus for minimizing the risk of air embolism when performing a procedure in a patient's thoracic cavity

• US 6,645,197 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2001
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences LLC (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Heartport, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Mueller, Richard L. Jr., Garrison, Michi E., Donlon, Brian S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman, Mark
• Application Number:
  US09/872,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20020022848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 604/26, 604/272, 606/1, 600/560
• US Class Current: 606/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• 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 17/0293 with ring member to support retractor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/401 using air flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/40 Apparatus fixed or close to patients specially adapted for providing an aseptic surgical environment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2403 with pivoting rigid closure members check valves with hinged closure members in general F16K15/03
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2427 Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2448 D-shaped rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2466 Delivery devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2496 Devices for determining the dimensions of the prosthetic valve to be implanted, e.g. templates, sizers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0041 pre-formed, e.g. specially adapted to fit with the anatomy of body channels urethral catheters A61F2/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0133 Tip steering devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters

Abstract

An apparatus for minimizing the risk of air embolism includes an instrument delivery member 2 having a gas outlet 38 for delivering gas into a patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity. The gas is directed across an opening 48 in the instrument delivery member 2 to help retain the gas in the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity. The gas is preferably carbon dioxide which is more soluble in blood than air which will thereby decrease the likelihood of the patient receiving an embolism due to trapped air in the patient'"'"'s heart and great vessels after surgery.

Claims

1. A method of minimizing the risk of air emboli when performing a procedure in a patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity, comprising the steps of:

injecting a gas into a patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity;

measuring a pressure in the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity;

maintaining the pressure in the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity at a pressure above the pressure outside the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity; and

repairing or replacing a valve in the patient'"'"'s heart during the maintaining step.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the valve is one of the mitral valve, the aortic valve, the tricuspid valve and the pulmonic valve.

3. A method of minimizing the risk of air emboli when performing a procedure in a patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity, comprising the steps of:

injecting a gas into a patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity;

measuring a pressure in the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity;

maintaining the pressure in the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity at a pressure above the pressure outside the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity; and

repairing a septal defect in the patient'"'"'s heart during the maintaining step.

4. A method of minimizing the risk of air emboli when performing a procedure in a patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity, comprising the steps of:

injecting a gas into a patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity;

measuring a pressure in the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity;

maintaining the pressure in the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity at a pressure above the pressure outside the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity; and

performing a pulmonary thrombectomy on the patient during the maintaining step.

5. A method of minimizing the risk of air emboli when performing a procedure in a patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity, comprising the steps of:

injecting a gas into a patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity;

measuring a pressure in the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity;

maintaining the pressure in the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity at a pressure above the pressure outside the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity; and

performing electrophysiological mapping of the patient'"'"'s tissue during the maintaining step.

6. A method of minimizing the risk of air emboli when performing a procedure in a patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity, comprising the steps of:

injecting a gas into a patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity;

measuring a pressure in the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity;

maintaining the pressure in the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity at a pressure above the pressure outside the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity; and

performing coronary artery bypass grafting on the patient during the maintaining step.

7. A method of minimizing the risk of air emboli when performing a procedure in a patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity, comprising the steps of:

injecting a gas into a patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity;

measuring a pressure in the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity;

maintaining the pressure in the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity at a pressure above the pressure outside the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity; and

performing angioplasty on the blood vessel of the patient during the maintaining step.