Tissue stabilizer having an articulating lift element
First Claim
1. A device for stabilizing tissue within a patient'"'"'s body for performing a surgical procedure on said tissue comprising:
- a base member having an interior chamber and a substantially cylindrical bore, said bore having a first end in fluid communication with said interior chamber and a second end open to the exterior of said base member;
a stabilizer foot having a substantially cylindrical fitting having a longitudinal axis, at least a portion of said fitting positioned within said bore and being rotatable within said bore about said longitudinal axis; and
said stabilizer foot having a first foot portion adapted to engage a first portion of tissue and a second foot portion adapted to engage a second portion of tissue adjacent said first portion of tissue, said second foot portion being flexibly coupled to said first foot portion.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods are disclosed for stabilizing tissue within a patient'"'"'s body during a surgical operation to provide a relatively motionless surgical field, such as during a coronary artery bypass graft procedure. The devices include tissue stabilizers which engage and provide stabilization to a targeted area of tissue and further have the ability to engage and manipulate some portion of tissue within or adjacent the targeted area to improve the surgical presentation of that portion of tissue. The tissue stabilizer typically has one or more stabilizer feet which have a first foot portion configured to provide stabilization to the targeted tissue and a second foot portion moveable relative to the first foot portion for manipulating a portion of tissue to improve the surgical presentation.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A device for stabilizing tissue within a patient'"'"'s body for performing a surgical procedure on said tissue comprising:
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a base member having an interior chamber and a substantially cylindrical bore, said bore having a first end in fluid communication with said interior chamber and a second end open to the exterior of said base member; a stabilizer foot having a substantially cylindrical fitting having a longitudinal axis, at least a portion of said fitting positioned within said bore and being rotatable within said bore about said longitudinal axis; and said stabilizer foot having a first foot portion adapted to engage a first portion of tissue and a second foot portion adapted to engage a second portion of tissue adjacent said first portion of tissue, said second foot portion being flexibly coupled to said first foot portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A device for stabilizing tissue within a patient'"'"'s body for performing a surgical procedure on said tissue comprising:
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a base member; a shaft mounted for rotation relative to said base member, said shaft having a longitudinal axis and at least one threaded portion; a first stabilizer foot having a first tissue engaging surface and a second stabilizer foot having a second tissue engaging surface, said first and second tissue engaging surfaces extending generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, at least one of said stabilizer feet being threadably engaged with said threaded portion of said shaft such that rotation of said shaft causes said at least one of said stabilizer feet to move relative to the other, and at least one of said stabilizer feet further comprising a flexible member coupled thereto, said flexible member having a vacuum chamber having at least one opening adapted to engage a portion of tissue with negative pressure. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of stabilizing a coronary artery on a beating heart for performing a surgical procedure on the coronary artery comprising the steps of:
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providing a tissue stabilizer having at least one stabilizer foot having a first portion adapted to engage a first area on the surface of the heart adjacent said coronary artery and a second portion adapted to engage a second area on the surface of the heart, said second portion being coupled to said first portion and moveable relative to said first portion; engaging said first area with said first portion to substantially stabilize at least a portion of the heart; engaging said second area with said second portion; moving said second portion relative to said first portion whereby said second area of said heart is moved relative to said first area of said heart. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A device for stabilizing tissue within a patient'"'"'s body for performing a surgical procedure on said tissue comprising:
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a base member having a shaft extending therefrom; at least one stabilizer foot extending from said base member, said stabilizer foot having a tissue engaging surface, a substantially rigid portion and a flexible portion adapted to lift a portion of the tissue engaged thereby, wherein said tissue engaging surface of said stabilizer foot is formed in part by said substantially rigid portion and in part by said flexible portion, and wherein said substantially rigid portion and said flexible portion are configured to each contact the tissue during the surgical procedure; and a tension member connecting with said flexible portion and configured to apply tension to drive movement of said flexible portion relative to said substantially rigid portion, wherein said flexible portion is configured to maintain engagement with the engaged tissue portion during driving movement away from the engaged tissue portion, thereby lifting the engaged tissue portion. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A device for stabilizing tissue within a patient'"'"'s body for performing a surgical procedure on said tissue comprising:
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a base member having a shaft extending therefrom; at least one stabilizer foot extending from said base member, having a tissue engaging surface, a substantially rigid portion and a flexible portion adapted to lift a portion of the tissue engaged thereby; and a tension member connecting with said flexible portion and configured to apply tension to drive movement of said flexible portion relative to said substantially rigid portion, wherein said flexible portion is configured to maintain engagement with the engaged tissue portion during driving movement away from the engaged tissue portion, thereby lifting the engaged tissue portion.
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22. A device for stabilizing tissue within a patient'"'"'s body for performing a surgical procedure on said tissue comprising:
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a base member having a shaft extending therefrom; at least one stabilizer foot extending from said base member, having a tissue engaging surface, a substantially rigid portion and a flexible portion adapted to lift a portion of the tissue engaged thereby, upon movement of the flexible portion in a direction away from the engaged tissue portion, wherein said base member comprises a threaded shaft extending therefrom, said at least one stabilizer foot being threadably engaged with said threaded shaft, such that rotation of said threaded shaft drives said at least one stabilizer foot in a direction along a longitudinal axis of said threaded shaft.
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23. A device for stabilizing tissue within a patient'"'"'s body for performing a surgical procedure on said tissue comprising:
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a base member having a shaft extending therefrom; at least one stabilizer foot extending from said base member, said stabilizer foot having a tissue engaging surface, a substantially rigid portion and a flexible portion adapted to lift a portion of the tissue engaged thereby, upon movement of the flexible portion in a direction away from the engaged tissue portion, wherein said tissue engaging surface of said stabilizer foot is formed in part by said substantially rigid portion and in part by said flexible portion, and wherein said substantially rigid portion and said flexible portion are configured to each contact the tissue during the surgical procedure; and a threaded shaft extending from said base member, said at least one stabilizer foot being threadably engaged with said threaded shaft, such that rotation of said threaded shaft drives said at least one stabilizer foot in a direction along a longitudinal axis of said threaded shaft.
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Specification