Surgical instruments and procedures for stabilizing the beating heart during coronary artery bypass graft surgery
First Claim
1. A device for use in a cardiovascular surgery on the beating heart comprising:
- a means for stabilizing the beating heart comprising a contact member shapeable to conform to and engage the surface of the beating heart; and
adapted to stabilize the beating heart by exerting a mechanical stabilizing force on the exterior of the heart; and
means for introducing a positive or negative pressure to said contact member to fix a shape of said contact member.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is methods and devices which a surgeon may use to stabilize the beating heart during a surgical procedure on the heart. Pursuant to the invention, a stabilizing device is introduced through an opening in the chest and brought into contact with the beating heart. By contacting the heart with the device and by exerting a stabilizing force on the device, the motion of the heart caused by the contraction of the heart muscles is effectively eliminated such that the heart is stabilized and the site of the surgery moves only minimally if at all. Typically, in separate steps, the surgeon contacts the heart with the stabilizing means, assesses the degree of movement of the anastomosis site, and exerts a force on the stabilizing means such that the contraction of the beating heart causes orgy minimal excess motion at the surgery site. By fixing the position of the stabilizing means in a configuration where the motion of the beating heart is effectively eliminated, the surgeon is able to stabilize the beating heart for the duration of the procedure. The stabilizing means may be attached to a rigid support or may be attached to a semi-rigid support which is rendered motionless mechanically, chemically, or by human intervention. In certain preferred embodiments, the stabilizing means is affixed to a semi-rigid support which is caused to become rigid, by any of a variety of techniques, such that the position of the stabilizing means becomes fixed by the support, and the heart remains substantially motionless for the duration of the procedure.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A device for use in a cardiovascular surgery on the beating heart comprising:
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a means for stabilizing the beating heart comprising a contact member shapeable to conform to and engage the surface of the beating heart; and
adapted to stabilize the beating heart by exerting a mechanical stabilizing force on the exterior of the heart; and
means for introducing a positive or negative pressure to said contact member to fix a shape of said contact member.
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2. A device for use in a cardiovascular surgery on the beating heart comprising:
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a means for stabilizing the beating heart comprising a contact member shaped to engage the surface of the beating heart; and
wherein said contact member has a hollow portion containing a conformable material therein. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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4. A device for use in a cardiovascular surgery on the beating heart comprising:
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a means for stabilizing the beating heart comprising a contact member shaped to engage the surface of the beating heart; and
wherein said contact member is formed of a single continuous wire.
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5. A device for use in a cardiovascular surgery on the beating heart comprising:
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a means for stabilizing the beating heart comprising a contact member shaped to engage the surface of the beating heart; and
wherein said contact member is inflatable.
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6. A device for use in cardiovascular surgery on the beating heart, comprising:
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a shaft means for adjusting the position and orientation of said device, having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion; and
at least one continuously adjustable contact member connected to said distal end portion of said shaft means for adjusting the position and orientation of said device, said at least one continuously adjustable contact member comprising a flexible tube and adapted to be adjusted to change a conformation of said at least one continuously adjustable contact member and to maintain the changed conformation, to substantially conform to a surface of the heart. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A device for use in cardiovascular surgery on the beating heart, comprising:
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a shaft means having a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and a central lumen disposed therethrough; and
a preformed inflatable member connected to said distal end portion of said shaft means, said preformed inflatable member being inflatable to form a contact member adapted to contact a surface of the heart. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of preparing a device for use in cardiovascular surgery on the beating heart, wherein the device has at least one continuously adjustable contact member adapted to be adjusted to substantially conform to a surface of the heart, said method comprising the steps of:
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manipulating the at least one continuously adjustable contact member into a desired configuration; and
applying a vacuum to the at least one continuously adjustable contact member to substantially fix the desired configuration. - View Dependent Claims (32)
prior to said manipulating into a desired configuration, manipulating the at least one continuously adjustable contact member into a configuration capable of passing through a minimally invasive opening providing access to the heart; and
passing the at least one continuously adjustable contact member through the minimally invasive opening which provides access to the heart.
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33. A method of deploying a device for use in minimally invasive cardiovascular surgery, wherein the device has a preformed inflatable member which is inflatable to form a contact member adapted to contact a surface of the heart, said method comprising the steps of:
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passing said inflatable member, in a deflated state through a minimally invasive incision which provides access to the heart;
inflating said inflatable member to form the contact member; and
contacting the surface of the heart with said contact member. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A device for stabilizing a portion of a beating heart during cardiovascular surgery, said device, comprising:
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a shaft means having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion; and
at least one continuously adjustable contact member adapted to be adjusted to substantially conform to a surface of the heart; and
an opening in said at least one continuously adjustable contact member through which negative pressure may be applied, wherein upon application of negative pressure, said at least one continuously adjustable contact member substantially rigidifies in a position to which said contact member was adjusted at the time of application of vacuum. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification