Organ manipulator having suction member supported with freedom to move relative to its support
First Claim
1. A method for compliant retraction of an organ, including the steps of:
- (a) retracting the organ by exerting suction thereon using a suction member coupled to a mounting element, in such a manner that the suction member has freedom to move at least along an axis of said suction member relative to the mounting element in response to normal movement of the organ; and
(b) maintaining the organ in a retracted position by exerting suction thereon using the suction member while said suction member is coupled to the mounting element, in such a manner that said suction member has freedom to move at least along the axis of said suction member relative to the mounting element.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An organ manipulator including at least one suction member or adhesive disc mounted to a compliant joint, a flexible locking arm for mounting such suction member or compliant joint, and a method for retracting and suspending an organ in a retracted position using suction (or adhesive force) so that the organ is free to move normally (e.g., to beat or undergo other limited-amplitude motion) in at least the vertical direction during both steps. In preferred embodiments, a suction member exerts suction to retract a beating heart and suspend it in a retracted position during surgery. As the retracted heart beats, the compliant joint allows it to expand and contract freely (and otherwise move naturally) at least in the vertical direction so that hemodynamic function is not compromised. The suction member conforms or can be conformed to the organ anatomy, and its inner surface is preferably smooth and lined with absorbent material to improve traction without causing trauma to the organ. The compliant joint can connect the member to an arm which is adjustably mounted to a sternal retractor or operating table. The compliant joint can be a sliding ball joint, a hinged joint, a pin sliding in a slot, a universal joint, a spring assembly, or another compliant element. In preferred embodiments, the method includes the steps of affixing a suction member to a beating heart at a position concentric with the heart'"'"'s apex, and applying suction to the heart while moving the member to retract the heart such that the heart has freedom to undergo normal beating motion at least in the vertical direction during retraction.
138 Citations
90 Claims
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1. A method for compliant retraction of an organ, including the steps of:
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(a) retracting the organ by exerting suction thereon using a suction member coupled to a mounting element, in such a manner that the suction member has freedom to move at least along an axis of said suction member relative to the mounting element in response to normal movement of the organ; and
(b) maintaining the organ in a retracted position by exerting suction thereon using the suction member while said suction member is coupled to the mounting element, in such a manner that said suction member has freedom to move at least along the axis of said suction member relative to the mounting element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An organ manipulation apparatus, including:
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at least one suction member defining a vacuum space therein, enabling attachment of said apparatus to an organ to facilitate a surgical procedure;
a support structure; and
a joint coupling said at least one suction member and the support structure, wherein the support structure is configured to support said at least one suction member, with the organ supported in a retracted position by said at least one suction member, such that said at least one suction member has freedom to rotate, with respect to said support structure. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An organ manipulation apparatus, including:
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a contact member including at least one suction element defining a vacuum space therein and enabling attachment of contact member to an organ;
a support structure; and
a joint mechanism coupling said contact member and the support structure, wherein the support structure is configured to support said contact member while attached to the organ to support the organ in a retracted position, wherein said joint mechanism permits limited movement of said contact member with respect to said support structure along a longitudinal axis of said contact member, and rotation of said contact member with respect to said support structure about an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An organ manipulation apparatus, including:
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at least one suction member defining a vacuum space therein, enabling attachment of said apparatus of an organ;
a support structure; and
an unbiased joint coupling the suction member and the support structure, wherein the support structure is configured to support said at least one suction member, with the organ supported in a retracted position by said at least one suction member, such that said at least one suction member has freedom to move relative to said support structure in response to normal movement of the organ. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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34. The organ manipulation apparatus of 18, wherein said support structure and said unbiased joint are configured to support said at least one suction member, with the organ suspended therefrom and with said at least one suction member having freedom to swing, with at least a portion of the organ, in a vertical plane relative to said support structure.
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46. The organ manipulation apparatus of clalim 44, wherein said rigid core is made of plastic and said shell is made of silicone.
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60. A surgical apparatus configured to facilitate a surgical procedure, said apparatus comprising:
a flexible rigidifying bag including;
a chamber defined within said bag;
a port through which said chamber is evacuatable; and
rigidifying structure disposed within said chamber and configured to be substantially rigid when said chamber is evacuated; and
a suction member, effective between the flexible rigidifying bag and tissue to which the apparatus is attached, the suction member creating negative pressure between the tissue and the apparatus enabling attachment of said rigidifying bag to tissue. - View Dependent Claims (61)
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62. A method for compliant retraction of an organ, including the steps of:
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(a) retracting the organ by exerting suction thereon using a suction member coupled to a mounting element, in such a manner that the suction member has freedom to move relative to the mounting element in response to normal movement of the organ; and
(b) maintaining the organ in a retracted position by exerting suction thereon using the suction member while said suction member is coupled to the mounting element, in such a manner that said suction member has freedom to rotate about a longitudinal axis thereof, relative to the mounting element. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65)
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66. A method for compliant retraction of an organ, including the steps of:
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(a) retracting the organ by exerting suction thereon using a suction member coupled to a mounting element, in such a manner that the suction member has freedom to move relative to the mounting element in response to normal movement of the organ; and
(b) maintaining the organ in a retracted position by exerting suction thereon using the suction member while said suction member is coupled to the mounting element, in such a manner that said suction member has freedom of limited translation, relative to the mounting element, in directions along a longitudinal axis of the suction member, and freedom of rotation, relative to the mounting element, about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the suction member. - View Dependent Claims (67)
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68. An organ manipulation apparatus, including:
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at least one suction member defining a vacuum space therein, for attachment of said apparatus to an organ;
a support member; and
a coupling member including a rotational joint, said coupling member coupling the suction member and the support member, wherein the support member and the coupling member are configured to support the suction member, with the organ supported in a retracted position by the suction member. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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75. An organ manipulation apparatus, including:
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at least one suction member defining a vacuum space therein for attachment of said apparatus to an organ;
a support structure; and
a compliant joint coupling said suction member and said support structure, wherein said support structure and said compliant joint are configured to support said at least one suction member, with the organ supported in a refracted position by said at least one suction member, such that said at least one suction member has freedom to move relative to said support structure in response to normal movement of the organ, wherein said compliant joint includes;
a chamber defining a volume maintained at low pressure during exertion of suction force on the organ;
a piston mounted in said chamber at one end of said volume with freedom to translate relative to said chamber, said piston having a first side facing said volume and a second side facing away from said volume; and
an element having fixed maximum length which couples said piston to said at least one suction member, wherein said piston is biased in an equilibrium position in said chamber by a first force coupled through said element to said piston from the organ, and a piston suction force exerted on said piston in a direction opposite to the first force as a result of maintenance of lower pressure on said first side of said piston than on said second side of said piston.
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76. An organ manipulation apparatus, including:
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at least one suction member defining a vacuum space therein for attachment to an organ;
a support member; and
a joint coupling said at least one suction member with said support member, wherein said joint allows said at least one suction member at least a limited range of freedom to rotate, with respect to said support member, in response to normal movement of the organ. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86)
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87. An organ manipulation apparatus, including:
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at least one suction member defining a vacuum space therein adapted to attach said apparatus to an organ;
a support arm; and
a sliding ball joint coupling said at least one suction member with said support arm. - View Dependent Claims (88, 89, 90)
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Specification