Research Medical, Inc.

Baxter Research Medical, Inc.

John C Alexander, Jr

Carl A Swindle

An aortic knife which provides multi-sided incisions within an aorta for effectuating improved aortotomies. The aortic knife includes a handle and multiple blades radiating from the handle. The handle is sized and configured to maximize grip and surgical manipulation thereof. The multiple blades radiate outwardly and proximally from a distal sharpened point. A substantially cruciate, or cross-shaped, incision results from four sharpened blades extending from the distal sharpened point. Alternatively, the multi-bladed configuration of the aortic knife may comprise three, five, or six or more blades. The blades form equal angles in radiation outwardly and proximally from the distal sharpened point. The method of the invention requires obtaining an appropriately sized aortic knife which is stabbed into a portion of an aorta. An anvil of an aortic punch is then inserted into the incision in the aorta without the stretching necessitated by the conventional single linear incision. The punch is then centered and fired; the resulting aortotomy lacks the lateral nicks associated with the prior art. Alternatively, the knife may be used for cannulation of a vessel.

Apparatus and method for improved aortic incision

The present invention is directed to new and useful methods and apparatus for improving access to the heart during cardiac surgery, while avoiding damage to the phrenic nerves. The present invention comprises a heart elevation apparatus which is soft and substantially cylindrical, with substantially flat anterior and posterior surfaces. Upon inflation, the anterior surface stabilizes the positioning of the heart and prevents the heart from falling off of the apparatus. The flat posterior surface facilitates positioning of the apparatus on the chest wall. An insulation pad on the posterior surface serves to insulate the phrenic nerves from the frigid bathes commonly employed in cardiac surgical procedures, and also protects the nerves from any compressive forces exerted during the surgery. A web member in the interior of the inflatable chamber prevents the inflatable chamber from blowing up into a ball, and instead constrains the anterior and posterior surfaces, thus resulting in flat or concave appearance, depending on the level of inflation in the inflation chamber. Insertion and proper placement of the apparatus in a deflated state is preferably through an incision in the thoracic wall or through an opening in the sternum. The apparatus is positioned beneath the heart along the chest wall, such that the heart balances stably thereon. The apparatus is then selectively inflated, which elevates the heart and improves the surgeons access thereto. After completion of the cardiac surgical procedure, the apparatus is deflated and then removed from the patient.

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Kenilworth, IL, United States of America

John C Alexander, Jr