Assembly and method of implanting a heart assist system

• US 8,827,887 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2012
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thoratec LLC
• Original Assignee: Thoratec LLC
• Inventors: Curtis, Donald, Baumberger, Alicia, Di Paola, John Mark, Hoarau, Carine, Harold, Nathan, Franco, Fabian
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertram, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US13/474,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20120296151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 600/16
• US Class Current: 600/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/04 for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials suture materials A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32053 Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695; for use on the cornea A61F9/007
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3462 with means for changing the diameter or the orientation of the entrance port of the cannula, e.g. for use with different-sized instruments, reduction ports, adapter seals expandable cannulas A61B17/3417
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3478 Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00252 for by-pass connections, i.e. connections from heart chamber to blood vessel or from blood vessel to blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1107 for blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1125 Forceps, specially adapted for performing or assisting anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1135 End-to-side connections, e.g. T- or Y-connections Y-shaped blood vessel prostheses A61F2002/065
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3425 for internal organs, e.g. heart ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3443 with means for adjusting the length of a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 of the patient or his organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/064 with special features to facilitate anastomotic coupling anastomosis of natural blood vessels A61B17/11
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/148 in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/178 drawing blood from a ventricle and returning the blood to the arterial system via a cannula external to the ventricle, e.g. left or right ventricular assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/232 Centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/237 the blood flow through the rotating member having mainly axial components, e.g. axial flow pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/508 : Electronic control means, e.g. for feedback regulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/857 : Implantable blood tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/861 : Connections or anchorings for connecting or anchoring pumps or pumping devices to parts of the patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/863 : Apex rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/865 : Devices for guiding or inserting pumps or pumping devices into the patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/88 : Percutaneous cables

Abstract

A needle guard is used when suturing the cuff of an attachment ring to the heart. The needle guard is disposed in the attachment ring to prevent other parts of the attachment ring from being punctured by a suturing needle. The needle guard can include one or more grooves to inhibit relative movement between the needle guard and the attachment ring during suturing. The needle guard is removed upon completion of suturing and to allow insertion into attachment ring of an inflow conduit of a heart assist device. An articulated clamp is used to compress the attachment ring into engagement with the inflow conduit. The attachment include an annular rib that grabs the inflow conduit.

Claims

1. A method of attaching an attachment ring of a heart assist system to the heart, the method comprising:

inserting a needle guard into an attachment ring, including inserting a cylindrical side surface of the needle guard into a ring channel that passes through the attachment ring, wherein the cylindrical side surface extends entirely through the ring channel;

inserting a suture through heart tissue and a cuff of the attachment ring while the needle guard is temporarily disposed within the attachment ring, the suture connecting the attachment ring to the heart tissue; and

removing the needle guard out of the attachment ring after the inserting of the suture.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the inserting of the needle guard includes abutting a stop member of the needle guard against a top end of the attachment ring.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the inserting of the needle guard includes aligning a groove on the cylindrical side surface of the needle guard with a ring seal of the attachment ring.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the inserting of the suture includes:

passing a needle into the heart tissue at a point located radially outward from the cuff, the needle connected to the suture;

followed by

passing the needle out from the heart tissue at a point located directly beneath the cuff;

followed by

passing the needle up through the cuff so that the suture is pulled through the heart tissue and the cuff.

5. The method of claim 1, A method of attaching an attachment ring of a heart assist system to the heart, the method comprising:

inserting a needle guard into an attachment ring; and

inserting a suture through heart tissue and a cuff of the attachment ring while the needle guard is temporarily disposed within the attachment ring, the suture connecting the attachment ring to the heart tissue,

wherein the inserting of the suture is performed while a bottom tip of the needle guard is located below an outer surface of the heart tissue.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the inserting of the needle guard includes abutting a stop member of the needle guard against a top end of the attachment ring.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the inserting of the needle guard includes aligning a groove on a cylindrical side surface of the needle guard with a ring seal of the attachment ring.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising removing the needle guard out of the attachment ring after the inserting of the suture.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the inserting of the suture includes:

passing a needle into the heart tissue at a point located radially outward from the cuff, the needle connected to the suture;

followed by

passing the needle out from the heart tissue at a point located directly beneath the cuff;

followed by

passing the needle up through the cuff so that the suture is pulled through the heart tissue and the cuff.