Organ manipulator apparatus

• US 7,479,104 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2003
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maquet Cardiovascular LLC (Getinge AB)
• Original Assignee: Maquet Cardiovascular LLC (Getinge AB)
• Inventors: Lunsford, John P., Lau, Liming
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilbert; Samuel G
• Application Number:
  US10/615,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20050010197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,023 Days
• Field of Search: 600/201, 600/490, 600205-270
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0206 with antagonistic arms as supports for retractor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/30 Surgical pincettes without pivotal connectionsfor holding suture needles or materials A61B17/0483; wound clamps A61B17/08 ; hand-held gripping tools without pivotal connections in general B25B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0243 for immobilizing local areas of the heart, e.g. while it beats
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/308 with suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/57 Accessory clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/80 Suction pumps A61M1/64, A61M1/71, A61M60/00 take precedence

Abstract

Organ manipulation devices for atraumatically grasping the surface of an organ and repositioning the organ to allow access to a location on the organ that would otherwise be substantially inaccessible. Methods of accessing a beating heart, retracting the heart using an organ manipulation apparatus, and stabilizing a surgical target area with a stabilizer. Both the organ manipulator and stabilizer are fixed to a stationary object which may be a sternal retractor. A system for performing beating heart coronary artery bypass grafting includes a sternal retractor, organ manipulator and stabilizer.

Claims

1. An organ manipulation apparatus comprising:

a suction member configured to exert sufficient force on an organ to move the organ when the suction member is placed against the organ, a relative negative pressure is established in a space between the suction member and the organ, and the suction member is moved;

a compliant seal around a perimeter of said suction member, said compliant seal being substantially C-shaped in cross section and deformable to conform to the shape of a surface of the organ upon contact therewith, the C-shape of said compliant seal being formed around a space, wherein said seal compresses when contacted to tissue such that portions of the C-shaped seal move toward one another reducing the volume of the space;

a support structure adapted to be substantially rigidly fixed to a relatively immovable object; and

a suspension interconnecting said suction member and said support structure, said suspension allowing at least a limited amount movement of said suction member with respect to said support member to accommodate natural movements of the organ.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said compliant seal comprises a silicone gasket.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said compliant seal is mechanically interlocked with said suction member.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said compliant seal is bonded to said suction member.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said compliant seal is integrally molded with said suction member.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said suction member comprises a cup-shaped member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said suction member comprises silicone.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said support structure comprises an articulating arm having a flexible state and a rigid state.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said suspension allows at least a limited amount of rotation of said suction member with respect to said support member to accommodate natural movements of the organ.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said suspension allows a limited amount of translation of said suction member, along an axis of said suction member, with respect to said support structure.

11. A member for use in an organ manipulation apparatus, configured to exert sufficient force on an organ to move the organ when the member is placed against the organ and affixed thereto, said member comprising:

a suction member adapted to establish a relative negative pressure in a space between said suction member and the organ when said suction member is contacted with a surface of the organ; and

a compliant seal around a perimeter of said suction member, said compliant seal being substantially C-shaped in cross section and deformable to conform to the shape of a surface of the organ upon contact therewith, the C-shape of said compliant seal comprising an opening leading into a space, said opening facing an external environment of said member.

12. The member of claim 11, wherein said suction member comprises a cup-shaped member.