Method and device for organ positioning
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A heart positioning device comprising:
- a resiliently-flexible suction pad having a plurality of legs that flex to conform to the surface of the heart, the suction pad having vacuum passageways in fluid communication with the legs to apply suction between the legs and the surface of the heart;
a vacuum line connected to the vacuum passageway; and
a support arm connected to the suction pad to position the suction pad to thereby position or hold the heart;
wherein the suction pad is integrally molded with a resiliently-flexible suspension element connecting the suction pad to the support arm, the suction pad and suspension element being molded of the same material.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention provides an organ positioning device and method that employs suction to hold organ tissue to the device. The device allows the organ, for example, heart to be positioned in a desired orientation but otherwise allowing movement of the heart as the heart beats. The device is designed to be relatively atraumatic to heart tissue. Generally, the device comprises a resiliently flexible suction head having a plurality of legs that flex to conform to the surface of the heart. The suction head has vacuum passageways in fluid communication with the legs to apply suction between the legs and the surface of the heart.
234 Citations
57 Claims
-
1. A heart positioning device comprising:
-
a resiliently-flexible suction pad having a plurality of legs that flex to conform to the surface of the heart, the suction pad having vacuum passageways in fluid communication with the legs to apply suction between the legs and the surface of the heart;
a vacuum line connected to the vacuum passageway; and
a support arm connected to the suction pad to position the suction pad to thereby position or hold the heart;
wherein the suction pad is integrally molded with a resiliently-flexible suspension element connecting the suction pad to the support arm, the suction pad and suspension element being molded of the same material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17)
a surface with channels formed in the surface in fluid communication with the vacuum passageway for drawing vacuum between the suction pad and tissue to grasp the tissue; and
at least one tissue-engaging structure within each channel to prevent the channels from being closed off as the tissue and suction pad are drawn together to allow continued fluid communcation along the channels.
-
-
10. The heart positioning device according to claim 9 wherein the vacuum passageway has an orifice in fluid communication with the channels, the suction pad further including a plurality of tissue engaging structures adjacent the orifice to prevent the orifice and tissue being drawn together to close the orifice, thereby maintaining fluid communication between the vacuum passageway and the channels.
-
11. The heart positioning device according to claim 10 if wherein each legs includes at least one of the channels.
-
12. The heart positioning device according to claim 11 wherein the suction pad is sufficiently resiliently flexible that the suction pad draws down toward the surface of the heart more than the surface of the heart is pulled into the channels.
-
13. The heart positioning device according to claim 1 wherein the support arm can be changed between a flexible condition for moving the suction pad, and a rigid position for maintaining the end of the support arm connected to the suction pad in a stationary position, the suction pad including suspension means for accommodating motion of the heart.
-
14. The heart positioning device according to claim 13 wherein suction pad is permitted to rotate relative to the support arm along a first axis.
-
15. The heart positioning device according to claim 1 wherein the suction pad has a tissue-engaging porous mesh in fluid communication with the vacuum passageway for drawing vacuum between the suction pad and tissue to grasp the tissue and for preventing the vacuum passageway from being closed off as the tissue and suction pad are drawn together.
-
17. The heart positioning device according to claim 15 wherein the mesh is formed of a metallic, ceramic or polymeric material.
-
16. A heart positioning device comprising:
-
a resiliently-flexible suction pad having a plurality of legs that flex to conform to the surface of the heart, the suction pad having vacuum passageways in fluid communication with the legs to apply suction between the legs and the surface of the heart;
a vacuum line connected to the vacuum passageway;
a support arm connected to the suction pad to position the suction pad to thereby position or hold the heart such that the support arm can be changed between a flexible condition for moving the suction pad, and a rigid position for maintaining the end of the support arm connected to the suction pad in a stationary position, the suction pad including suspension means for accommodating motion of the heart, the suction pad permitted to rotate relative to the support arm along a first axis; and
wherein the support arm includes a pivotable element connected to the suction pad that is free to pivot along a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis.
-
- 18. A suction pad for use in a heart positioning device, the suction pad being formed of resiliently flexible material and having a plurality of legs that flex to conform to the surface of the heart, the suction pad having vacuum passageways in fluid communication with the legs to apply suction between the legs and the surface of the heart wherein the suction pad is integrally molded with a resiliently-flexible suspension element connecting the suction pad to the support arm, the suction pad and suspension element being molded of the same material.
-
39. A heart positioning device comprising:
-
a suction head having a vacuum passageway for applying suction between the suction head and the surface of the heart;
a vacuum line connected to the vacuum passageway;
a support arm connected to the suction head to position the suction head to thereby position or hold the heart; and
a bellows-type suspension element connecting the suction head and support arm, the bellows-type suspension element flexing to allow the suction head to move in response to beating of the heart. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
-
-
42. A suction device for positioning and holding a beating heart, the suction device comprising:
-
a suction head having a vacuum passageway for applying suction between the suction head and the surface of the heart; and
a bellows-type suspension element extending from the suction head for connecting the suction head to a support arm, the bellows-type suspension element flexing to allow the suction head to move in response to beating of the heart. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46)
-
-
47. A medical device for contacting a surface of a heart comprising:
-
a resiliently-flexible suction pad having at least one vacuum passageway to apply suction between a portion of the suction pad and the surface of the heart;
a porous material disposed on the suction pad between the vacuum passageway and the surface of the heart;
a vacuum line connected to the vacuum passageway; and
a support arm connected to the suction pad to position the suction pad relative to the heart, wherein the suction pad is permitted to rotate relative to the support arm along a first axis, wherein the support arm includes a pivotable element connected to the suction pad that is free to pivot along a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
-
Specification