Other

Tc1 LLC

Thoratec Laboratories Corporation

Thoratec Corporation

International Research & Development Corporation

Richardson & Associates, Ltd.

Hill, Donald J.

J Donald Hill

Michael A Sims

John C Meade

Andy H Levine

Carine Hoarau

Cameron Dale Hinman

Philip Jon Haarstad

Steven H Reichenbach

James Luis Badia

Stephen Kenneth Sundquist

Eric E May

Andrew R Miller

Nina Boiadjieva

Geoff Briggs

Shuo-Hsiu Chang

George Hsu

Olga M Stanescu

Geoffrey Briggs

Kevin Bourque

John F Cvinar

Cori G Pierce

Julien Duhamel

Dustin Seth West

James L Phillips

Dale W Richardson

Peter Gazzara, Iii

Terry Barnes

Justin Aron Callaway

Justin Aaron Callaway

Robert Joseph Harvey

David E Downie

Seth West

Gordon H Fountain

George Chao-Chih Hsu

Eric May

Peter Gazarra

Michael Sims

John Cvinar

In one general aspect, a cuff for attachment to a heart includes an attachment component configured to engage a blood pump to attach the cuff to the blood pump and a sewing ring for attachment to the heart. The sewing ring is coupled to the attachment component, and the attachment component and the sewing ring each define a central opening configured to admit an inflow cannula of a blood pump. The sewing ring comprises a member that provides rigidity to flatten a portion of a myocardium of the heart when the cuff is attached to the heart.

Ventricular cuff

A coupling system includes an applicator tool and an attachment ring mounted on the applicator tool. Clips are contained within the applicator tool and are deployed through the attachment ring in order to anchor the attachment ring to biological tissue. When deployed, tips of the clips follow a curved trajectory through an annular cuff of the attachment ring and through the underlying tissue. The tips loop back out of the tissue and to a location where they are later trapped or clamped by the attachment ring. While the tips are trapped or clamped, the applicator tool cinches the clips by pulling rear segments of the clips. Thereafter, the applicator tool disconnects from the attachment ring which remains anchored to the tissue and serves as a coupling for a cannula. The cannula can have movable lock members that secure it to the attachment ring.

Coupling system, applicator tool, attachment ring and method for connecting a conduit to biological tissue

An apparatus for automatically fixing sutures used in the surgical replacement of a heart valve, including a first cylinder having a first end and a second end and an interior surface and an exterior surface, and first means for securing fixing suture formed on the exterior surface adjacent to the second end of the first cylinder. The apparatus also includes a second cylinder having second means for securing fixing suture formed on an interior surface of the second cylinder, such that the second means corresponds to and fixedly engages the first means for securing fixing suture, and the first means and the second means secure fixing sutures therebetween.

Automatic suture fixation apparatus for minimally invasive surgery

A system for performing vascular surgery includes a first retractor blade and a second retractor blade and a fulcrum device. The first retractor blade includes a first grasping bar, and the second retractor blade comprises a second grasping bar. The first retractor blade and the second retractor blade are adapted to engage opposing edges of a subcostal incision in a patient. The fulcrum device includes a first fulcrum slot and a second fulcrum slot formed through opposing edges of the fulcrum device. The first fulcrum slot is adapted to receive the first grasping bar and the second fulcrum slot is adapted to receive the second grasping bar, such that the fulcrum device is adapted to apply leverage from the first retractor blade and the second retractor blade to spread the edges of the incision and to allow access to a chest cavity of the patient.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for performing minimally invasive coronary artery bypass graft surgery

A method for automatically fixing sutures to secure a valve sleeve including an annular cuff and a replacement heart valve to an annulus formed in a patient's heart, includes the steps of removing an existing heart valve thereby forming an annulus in the patient's heart, and placing a first cylinder having a first end and a second end and an interior surface and an exterior surface and comprising first securing means formed on the exterior surface adjacent to the second end of the first cylinder, in which the first cylinder includes a valve sleeve having an annular cuff, such that the annular cuff surrounds the exterior surface adjacent to the first end of the first cylinder. Moreover, the method includes creating a blood-tight seal between the cuff of the valve sleeve and the annulus, and securing the plurality of sutures between the first cylinder and the second cylinder.

Automatic suture fixation apparatus and method for minimally invasive cardiac surgery

A coupler includes a saddle, a channel, a tissue clamp, and a flange. The channel has a first end of substantially elliptical cross-section connected to the saddle and a second end of substantially circular cross-section. The tissue clamp is positioned around the channel. The flange is formed adjacent to the second end of the channel. A conduit coupling device is formed by securing flanges of two couplers together with a clamping ring.

Conduit coupling devices and methods for employing such devices

An apparatus for automatically fixing sutures used in the surgical replacement of a heart valve, includes a first cylinder having a first end and a second end and an interior surface and an exterior surface. An annular lip is formed on the exterior surface adjacent to the second end of the first cylinder. The apparatus further includes a second cylinder having second securing means formed on an interior surface of the second cylinder, such that the second securing means corresponds to and are adapted to fixedly engage the first securing means.

There is disclosed a method and apparatus for effecting cardio-valve replacement surgery. A clamp adapted to be fastened to an ether screen has multiple arms. These arms are linked together by a double clamp having two parts which are pivotable with respect to each other and within which the arms are both rotatable and slidable and which arms are simultaneously clamped in whatever position they may have been set. The clamping is effected by a draw bolt passing through both parts of the double clamp. At the free end of the arms is a clamp adapted to hold a replacement cardio-valve holder. The clamps and the arms are adjusted to present a replacement valve in a position such that it can be sutured into the heart of the patient without the surgeon having concern about the possibility of malalignment of the valve or suturing.

Cardio-valve assist unit and method for performing cardio-valve

There is disclosed a method for effecting cardio-valve replacement surgery. A clamp adapted to be fastened to an ether screen has multiple arms. These arms are linked together by a double clamp having two parts which are pivotable with respect to each other and within which the arms are both rotatable and slidable and which arms are simultaneously clamped in whatever position they may have been set. The clamping is effected by a draw bolt passing through both parts of the double clamp. At the free end of the arms is a clamp adapted to hold a replacement cardio-valve holder. The clamps and the arms are adjusted to present a replacement valve in a position such that it can be sutured into the heart of the patient without the surgeon having concern about the possibility of malalignment of the valve or suturing.

An implanted device for determining the patentcy of a transplanted vein directly connecting the aorta to transfer blood to a coronary artery has a physiologically inert bulb of flexible material disposed and retained in pressure transferring relationship to the distal region of the transplanted vein. A cuff or non-expansible sleeve surrounds the bulb and the vein and is held in position. The bulb has a single opening leading into one end of an implanted catheter. The other end of the catheter opens through a single opening in a thick-walled reservoir implanted in a subcutaneous location convenient for piercing by a hypodermic needle. At least a part of the reservoir wall is able to close upon withdrawal of the needle. The bulb, catheter and reservoir are completely filled, without distention, by an appropriate, usually isotonic, liquid. There may be a break-away connection in the catheter and various radio-opaque indicia for X-ray monitoring.

Device for determining the patentcy of a blood vessel

A catheter anchor for holding a catheter in position in a patient has a base in the form of a disc with a flat surface normal to a central axis. There is a transverse, resilient bar extending across the disc on the side opposite the flat surface. The bar has at least one reentrant groove in it to receive and grasp the catheter. There may be an additional reentrant groove in the bar expandable by a plug to constrict the catheter groove. Also, there may be a pawl sheet adapted to grip the catheter and abut the bar to inhibit unwanted insertion of the catheter into the patient. From the flat surface of the disc a number of needles extend approximately helically and symmetrically with the axis and with their exposed points engageable with the patient's tissue by rotation. There may also be a central guide needle extending from the flat surface along the axis.

Catheter anchor

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

J Donald Hill