Surgical instruments and procedures for stabilizing the beating heart during coronary artery bypass graft surgery

• US 7,056,287 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2002
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maquet Cardiovascular LLC (Getinge AB)
• Original Assignee: Cardiothoracic Systems, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Taylor, Charles S., Morejohn, Dwight P., Weller, Gary B., Sherman, Benjamin, Adair, Caralin R., Witt, William Friederich
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Pedro
• Application Number:
  US10/100,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20020111537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,545 Days
• Field of Search: 600/235, 600/210, 600/201, 600/215, 600/227, 600/228, 600/229, 600/231, 600/232, 600/233, 600/37, 600/213
• US Class Current: 600/210
• 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 17/02 for holding wounds open; Tractors specula A61B1/32 ; drainage appliances for wounds A61M27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0206 with antagonistic arms as supports for retractor elements
• 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 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12 for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels, umbilical cord specially adapted for vas deferens or fallopian tubes A61F6/20; materials for ligaturing blood vessels A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3423 Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands access sites for liquids A61M39/0247
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8076 for the ribs or the sternum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00539 hydraulically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00703 correcting for movement of heart, e.g. ECG-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00858 high friction, non-slip on handles A61B2017/00429
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00991 Telescopic means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0243 for immobilizing local areas of the heart, e.g. while it beats trocars attached to inner organs or inner body tissue A61B2017/3488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0648 threaded, e.g. tacks with a screw thread
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1139 Side-to-side connections, e.g. shunt or X-connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2825 Inserts of different material in jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2913 cams or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 : holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/349 : Trocar with thread on outside
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/00 : Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges protective face masks A41D13/11; surgeon's or patient's gowns or dresses A41D13/12; devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body liquids A61M1/00

Abstract

Devices for stabilizing tissue during a surgical procedure. The beating heart may be stabilized during a surgical procedure on the heart, using a described stabilizing device. In one example, 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 id effectively eliminated such that the heart is stabilized and the site of the surgery moves only minimally if at all.

Claims

1. A stabilizing apparatus for enabling a surgical procedure on a beating heart, wherein a stable platform is provided, said apparatus comprising:

at least one contact member located at a distal end portion of said apparatus and shaft means extending proximally from said at least one contact member;

said shaft means comprising a first non-adjustable portion and a second adjustable portion; and

an adjustable handle connected at a proximal end portion of said shaft means and operable to lock said shaft means and said at least one contact member into an assumed position.

2. The stabilizing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second adjustable portion interconnects said first non-adjustable portion with said at least one contact member.

3. The stabilizing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a joint adapted to fix the stabilizing apparatus to that stable platform, said shaft means traversing said joint.

4. The stabilizing apparatus of claim 3, wherein said joint comprises a ball joint.

5. The stabilizing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first non-adjustable portion comprises a shaft and said second adjustable portion comprises a plurality of adjustable links.

6. The stabilizing apparatus of claim 5, wherein said plurality of adjustable links are interposed between said shaft and said at least one contact member.

7. The stabilizing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one contact member comprises a pair of contact members formed on a U-shaped base.

8. In combination, a stabilizing apparatus for enabling a surgical procedure on a beating heart, and a stable platform, said apparatus comprising at least one contact member located at a distal end portion of said apparatus and shaft means extending proximally from said at least one contact member;

wherein said shaft means comprises a first non-adjustable portion and a second adjustable portion; and

an adjustable handle operable to lock said shaft means and said at least one contact member into an assumed position.

9. A surgical apparatus for use in performing a surgical procedure on a beating heart, said apparatus comprising:

a sugical retractor; and

a stabilizer integrated with said surgical retractor and configured to contact tissue for stabilization thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said retractor comprises a main body and a pair of arms extending from said main body, said stabilizer being integrated with one of said arms.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, comprising a pair of said stabilizers, said pair of stabilizer being integrated with pair of arms, respectively.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said stabilizer comprises at least one contact member located at a distal end portion thereof and shaft means extending proximally from said at least one contact member;

wherein said shaft means comprises a first non-adjustable portion and a second adjustable portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said second adjustable portion interconnects said first non-adjustable portion with said at least one contact member.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a joint integrated with said retractor, said shaft means traversing said joint.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said joint comprises a ball joint.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said stabilizer further comprises an adjustable handle connected at a proximal end portion of said shaft means and operable to lock said shaft means and said at least one contact member into an assumed position.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said first non-adjustable portion comprises a shaft and said second adjustable portion comprises a plurality of adjustable links.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said plurality of adjustable links are interposed between said shaft and said at least one contact member.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said at least one contact member comprises a pair of contact members formed on a U-shaped base.

20. A surgical apparatus for use in performing a surgical procedure on a beating heart, said apparatus comprising:

a surgical retractor comprising a main body and a pair of arms extending from said main body; and

at least one stabilizer integrated with one of said arms, each said stabilizer being configured to contact and stabilize tissue, respectively, said at least one stabilizer comprising at least one contact member located at a distal end portion thereof and shaft means extending proximally from said at least one contact member;

wherein said shaft means comprises a first non-adjustable portion and a second adjustable portion, said second adjustable portion interconnecting said first non-adjustable portion with said at least one contact member.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, comprising a pair of said stabilizers, said pair of stabilizer being integrated with pair of arms, respectively.

22. A stabilizing apparatus for enabling a surgical procedure on a beating heart, wherein a stable platform is provided, said apparatus comprising:

at least one contact member located at a distal end portion of said apparatus and shaft means extending proximally from said at least one contact member;

said shaft means comprising a first non-adjustable portion and a second adjustable portion, wherein said first non-adjustable portion comprises a shaft and said second adjustable portion comprises a plurality of adjustable links.

23. The stabilizing apparatus of claim 22, wherein said plurality of adjustable links are interposed between said shaft and said at least one contact member.

24. A surgical apparatus for use in performing a surgical procedure on a beating heart, said apparatus comprising:

a surgical retractor comprising a main body and a pair of arms extending from said main body; and

a stabilizer integrated with one of said arms.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, comprising a pair of said stabilizers, said pair of stabilizers being integrated with said pair of arms, respectively.

26. A surgical apparatus for use in performing a surgical procedure on a beating heart, said apparatus comprising:

a surgical retractor; and

a stabilizer integrated with said surgical retractor, wherein said stabilizer comprises at least one contact member located at a distal end portion thereof and shaft means extending proximally from said at least one contact member;

wherein said shaft means comprises a first non-adjustable portion and a second adjustable portion.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said second adjustable portion interconnects said first non-adjustable portion with said at least one contact member.

28. A surgical apparatus for use in performing a surgical procedure on a beating heart, said apparatus comprising:

a surgical retractor comprising a main body and a pair of arms extending from said main body; and

a pair of stabilizers integrated with said pair of said arms, respectively, each said stabilizer comprising at least one contact member located at a distal end portion thereof and shaft means extending proximally from said at least one contact member;

wherein said shaft means comprises a first non-adjustable portion and a second adjustable portion, said second adjustable portion interconnecting said first non-adjustable portion with said at least one contact member.