Tissue stabilizer and methods of use

• US 7,503,891 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maquet Cardiovascular LLC (Getinge AB)
• Original Assignee: Maquet Cardiovascular LLC (Getinge AB)
• Inventors: Wallin, Joshua K., Green, Harry Leonard II
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilbert; Samuel G
• Application Number:
  US10/272,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20030088150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,345 Days
• Field of Search: 600/16, 600/36, 600/37, 600/201, 600/210, 600/213, 600/229, 600/209, 600/205, 600/208, 600226-228, 600231-235, 600/214, 600/206, 600/216, 128/897, 128/898, 606/1, 606/191, 606205-208, 606/166
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/02 for holding wounds open; Tractors specula A61B1/32 ; drainage appliances for wounds A61M27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/30 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 2017/00858 high friction or non-slip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0243 for immobilizing local areas of the heart, e.g. while it beats

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. The devices involve tissue stabilizers which provide superior engagement with a tissue structure to be stabilized, for example the beating heart. The tissue stabilizer may have one or more stabilizer feet which provide for adjustment of the orientation of the features which engage the surface of the tissue structure. In one instance, the orientation may be adjusted to ensure the engaging features will be properly aligned with the surface of the tissue structure before engagement. In addition, once engaged with or connected to the tissue structure the orientation may be adjusted to yield an optimum surgical presentation of a portion of the tissue structure, for instance a coronary artery or the like. The tissue stabilizer may be configured to use friction, negative pressure, or both to engage the surface of the heart.

Claims

1. A device for stabilizing tissue within a patient'"'"'s body, said device comprising:

a base member; and

an elongated stabilizer foot comprising a first rigid foot portion and a second rigid foot portion, wherein at least one of said first and second foot portions comprises a plurality of separate openings for delivery of negative pressure to a surface of a tissue, each of said plurality of separate openings having a dedicated edge seal, said first and said second foot portions being adjustable relative to one another by way of one or more malleable joints, said elongated stabilizer foot extending outwardly from said base member in a first direction and fluidically connected with said base member, said foot being rotatable, in its entirety, relative to said base member, about an axis of rotation which is oriented in substantially the same direction as said first direction.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said first and said second rigid foot portions each comprise at least one vacuum port.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said vacuum ports independently engage said tissue.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said malleable joint comprises a malleable tube.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said malleable joint is made of stainless steel.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said malleable joint is made of annealed stainless steel or vacuum annealed steel.

7. A device for stabilizing tissue within a patient'"'"'s body, said device comprising:

a base member; and

an elongated stabilizer foot comprising a first substantially inflexible foot portion having a first length and a second substantially inflexible foot portion having a second length, wherein said second length is shorter than said first length and wherein said first and second foot portions are interconnected by at least one flexible joint permitting positioning of said second foot portion relative to said first foot portion about at least two degrees of freedom;

one of said first and second foot portions being connected to said base member.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said first foot portion connects with said base member and said second foot portion extends distally from said first foot portion.

9. The device of claim 7, comprising a pair of said elongated stabilizer feet extending from said base member.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein said foot comprises at least one opening for delivery of negative pressure to a surface of the tissue, said at least one opening being fluidly connectable with a source of negative pressure.

11. A device for stabilizing tissue within a patient'"'"'s body, said device comprising:

a base member; and

an elongated stabilizer foot comprising at least two elongated substantially inflexible foot portions interconnected by at least one flexible section allowing one of said at least two elongated substantially inflexible foot portions to be adjusted relative to another of said at least two elongated substantially inflexible foot portions to adjust for variations in size and orientation of the patient'"'"'s anatomy, wherein said elongated stabilizer foot comprises at least two separate openings for delivery of negative pressure to a surface of a tissue that are not rotatable with respect to one another, said at least two separate openings being connected to a negative pressure distribution passage via independent passages fluidly connecting said negative pressure distribution passage with said at least two separate openings.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said each said elongated substantially inflexible foot portion comprises at least one opening for delivery of negative pressure to a surface of the tissue, each said opening being fluidly connectable with a source of negative pressure.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said at least one flexible section is fluidly connected with said inflexible foot portions.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein said elongated stabilizer foot is rotatable with respect to said base member.

15. A device for stabilizing tissue within a patient'"'"'s body, said device comprising:

a base member; and

an elongated stabilizer foot comprising a first foot portion and a second foot portion interconnected by and fixed to a flexible section comprising a member that is flexible, wherein said first and second foot portions are relatively rigid, such that a portion of said first foot portion cannot rotate relative to a remainder of said first foot portion and a portion of said second foot portion cannot rotate relative to a remainder of said second foot portion, wherein said elongated stabilizer foot is rotatably connected to said base member; and

wherein said first foot portion has a first length and said second foot portion has a second length, said first length being greater than said second length.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said flexible section comprises a malleable vacuum tube.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein said first and second foot portions each comprise an opening for delivery of negative pressure to a surface of the tissue, said malleable vacuum tube fluidly interconnecting said openings in said first and second foot portions.

18. A device for stabilizing tissue within a patient'"'"'s body, said device comprising:

an elongated, malleable stabilizer foot comprising a first foot portion and a second foot portion interconnected by and fixed to a flexible section, said flexible section comprising a malleable tube permanently and sealably connecting said first and second foot portions, and wherein said elongated stabilizer includes a fitting for insertion into an opening in a base member, thereby rotatably connecting to said base member.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said malleable section comprises a malleable vacuum tube.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein said first and second foot portions each comprise an opening for delivery of negative pressure to a surface of the tissue.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein said openings are fluidly interconnected with an opening in a proximal end portion of said elongated, malleable stabilizer foot for fluid connection with said base member.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein said flexible section comprises a malleable vacuum tube fluidly interconnecting said openings in said first and second foot portions.

23. A device for stabilizing tissue within a patient'"'"'s body, said device comprising:

a base member; and

an elongated stabilizer foot comprising at least two elongated substantially inflexible foot portions interconnected by at least one flexible section, wherein said elongated stabilizer foot comprises at least two separate openings for delivery of negative pressure to a surface of a tissue that are not rotatable with respect to one another, said at least two separate openings being connected to a negative pressure distribution passage via independent passages fluidly connecting said negative pressure distribution passage with said at least two separate openings, and wherein each said elongated substantially inflexible foot portion comprises at least one opening for delivery of negative pressure to a surface of the tissue, each said opening being fluidly connectable with a source of negative pressure.