Cardiothoracic Systems, Inc.

Microheart, Inc.

Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Maguet Cardiovascular LLC

Robert C Glines

Ivan Sepetka

Dwight P Morejohn

Charles S Taylor

Amr Salahieh

John J Frantzen

William N Aldrich

Federico J Benetti

Brent Ford Regan

Gary B Weller

Benjamin Sherman

Thomas J Fogarty

Richard S Ginn

Eugene Edward Reis

Valavanur A Subramanian

William Friederich Witt

Brian J Bennett

Christian Skieller

Harry L Green

Michael J Billig

Thomas L Baughman

Richard Dean Phipps

Daniel S Brown

Lauren K Lundquist

Ivan Septeka

Robert G Matheny

James A Magovern

Richard M Ferrari

Edmund J Morrissey, Iii

William F Witt

Brent Regan

The invention is methods and devices which a surgeon may use to stabilize the beating heart during a surgical procedure on the heart. Pursuant to the invention, a stabilizing device is introduced through an opening in the chest and brought into contact with the beating heart. By contacting the heart with the device and by exerting a stabilizing force on the device, the motion of the heart caused by the contraction of the heart muscles is effectively eliminated such that the heart is stabilized and the site of the surgery moves only minimally if at all. Typically, in separate steps, the surgeon contacts the heart with the stabilizing means, assesses the degree of movement of the anastomosis site, and exerts a force on the stabilizing means such that the contraction of the beating heart causes orgy minimal excess motion at the surgery site. By fixing the position of the stabilizing means in a configuration where the motion of the beating heart is effectively eliminated, the surgeon is able to stabilize the beating heart for the duration of the procedure. The stabilizing means may be attached to a rigid support or may be attached to a semi-rigid support which is rendered motionless mechanically, chemically, or by human intervention. In certain preferred embodiments, the stabilizing means is affixed to a semi-rigid support which is caused to become rigid, by any of a variety of techniques, such that the position of the stabilizing means becomes fixed by the support, and the heart remains substantially motionless for the duration of the procedure.

Surgical instruments and procedures for stabilizing the beating heart during coronary artery bypass graft

Surgical instruments and procedures for stabilizing the beating heart during coronary artery bypass graft surgery

The present invention relates to a system for delivering and injecting an agent into a target site within the body without penetrating the tissue of the target site with anything other than the agent. The system comprises a nozzle assembly and a propulsion mechanism. The nozzle assembly comprises an ampule with a reservoir, having a reservoir orifice, for containing the agent; a dispersion fixture that has a dispersion orifice; and a channel in fluid communication between the reservoir orifice and the dispersion orifice. The propulsion mechanism is operatively coupled to the reservoir for propelling the agent from within the reservoir, through the reservoir orifice and the channel and the dispersion orifice, at a pressure sufficient to cause the agent to penetrate the target site without penetration of the target site with the dispersion fixture. Methods of using and making the system are also disclosed.

Device and methods for the delivery and injection of therapeutic and diagnostic agents to a target site within a body

The invention is methods and devices which a surgeon may use to stabilize the beating heart during a surgical procedure on the heart. Pursuant to the invention, a stabilizing device is introduced through an opening in the chest and brought into contact with the beating heart. By contacting the heart with the device and by exerting a stabilizing force on the device, the motion of the heart caused by the contraction of the heart muscles is effectively eliminated such that the heart is stabilized and the site of the surgery moves only minimally if at all. Typically, in separate steps, the surgeon contacts the heart with the stabilizing device, assesses the degree of movement of the anastomosis site, and exerts a force on the stabilizing device such that the contraction of the beating heart causes only minimal excess motion at the surgery site. By fixing the position of the stabilizing device in a configuration where the motion of the beating heart is effectively eliminated, the surgeon is able to stabilize the beating heart for the duration of the procedure. The stabilizing device may be attached to a rigid support or may be attached to a semi-rigid support which is rendered motionless mechanically, chemically, or by human intervention. In certain preferred embodiments, the stabilizing device is affixed to a semi-rigid support which is caused to become rigid, by any of a variety of techniques, such that the position of the stabilizing device becomes fixed by the support, and the heart remains substantially motionless for the duration of the procedure.

Methods and devices used to stabilize a beating heart during a surgical procedure on the heart and to expose a surgical site are disclosed. The stabilizing device is introduced through an opening through the chest and brought into contact with the beating heart, and by exerting a stabilizing force on the device, the motion of the heart caused by the contractions of the heart muscles is effectively eliminated. Exposure members are actuable to reposition a portion of the surface of the heart to better expose a target artery or other surgical site. Accordingly, the heart is stabilized and movement of the site of the surgery is minimized. Typically, in separate steps, a surgeon contacts the heart with the stabilizing device, assesses the degree of movement of the anastomosis site, and exerts a force with a stabilizing device such that the contractions of the beating heart causes only minimal excess motion at the surgery site, whereupon exposure members further reposition heart tissue to better expose the surgical site. The stabilizing device may be attached to a rigid support or may be attached to a semi-rigid support which is rendered motionless mechanically, chemically or by human intervention.

Surgical instrument for stabilizing the beating heart during coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Methods and devices used to stabilize a beating heart during a surgical procedure on the heart are disclosed. The stabilizing device is introduced through an opening through the chest and brought into contact with the beating heart, and by exerting a stabilizing force on the device, the motion of the heart caused by the contractions of the heart muscles is effectively eliminated. Accordingly, the heart is stabilized and movement of the site of the surgery is minimized. Typically, in separate steps, a surgeon contacts the heart with the stabilizing device, assesses the degree of movement of the anastomosis site, and exerts a force with a stabilizing device such that the contractions of the beating heart causes only minimal excess motion at the surgery site. The stabilizing device may be attached to a rigid support or may be attached to a semi-rigid support which is rendered motionless mechanically, chemically or by human intervention.

Surgical instruments for stabilizing the beating heart during coronary artery bypass graft surgery

A modular drug delivery system for use by cardiothoracic surgeons and interventional cardiologists for delivery of molecular and cellular therapies that target genes, molecules and peptides. The regulated drug delivery devices comprise a modular mechanically actuated drug delivery module (DDM) that can be attached to either a surgical viewing endoscope hand-piece or specialized catheter for interventional procedures. The DDM provides metering of drugs to treatment sites and allows for quick interchangeability with other component parts such as a viewing scope end portion for MIS or other surgical procedures or a flexible catheter shaft for percutaneous procedures.

Drug delivery module

A device for occlusion of a body passageway and subsequent perfusion of the body passageway with arterial return blood, cardioplegia and other fluid is disclosed. The device of the present invention is an expandable cannula comprising a flexible, expandable tubular elongate body having a first diameter and a second diameter, wherein the expandable cannula is inserted having a first diameter and then expanded to a second diameter to provide perfusion flow to the body passageway through at least one arterial return aperture provided on the distal end of the expandable tubular elongate body in fluid communication with a perfusion lumen provided within the cannula. The device may be further provided with one or more additional lumens for providing additional functions to the vessel lumen and may also include an expandable occluding member fixed at the distal end of the cannula for isolating the surgical area from the rest of the arterial system. A preferred method of use of the present invention is also disclosed wherein having a first diameter is inserted endovascularly into the vessel of a patient and advanced to a point of interest. At the point of interest, the device is expanded to a second diameter and perfusion flow to the vessel lumen is provided. Following the performance of a surgical procedure, perfusion flow is terminated and the device is removed from the vessel.

Expandable cannula for performing cardiopulmonary bypass and method for using same

An instrument platform and retractor, for holding and organizing cannulas, instruments and sutures during a surgical procedure, wherein the instrument platform has a platform body which is mountable to the retractor and includes a central opening and cannula notches formed therein adjacent to the central opening for securing cannulas during a surgical procedure. The platform body also includes suture grips and instrument mounts for securing surgical instruments and sutures during a surgical procedure. The retractor includes a pair of blades and a spreader mechanism detachably mounted to blade arms.

Retractor and instrument platform for a less invasive cardiovascular surgical procedure

The present invention relates to a vascular clamp assembly. The vascular clamp assembly includes at least one bendable elongated shaft with a proximal part and distal part. A pair of clamping members are located at the distal part of the shaft. The clamp includes means for moving the clamping members between an open position and a clamping position.

Vascular clamp and method for using the same

A low profile unobtrusive occluder device is disclosed which is particularly applicable for occluding blood vessels in minimally invasive beating heart CABG surgical procedures, wherein relatively small surgical openings are provided. At least one flexible member is provided on the occluder, which is placed against the vessel. A suture thread is passed under the vessel to encompass the vessel between the occluder and suture thread. The suture thread is selectively attached to the occluder such that the flexible member, when deformed, applies continuous selected tension on the suture thread to apply a corresponding compression on the vessel which occludes the flow of blood. An applicator is attached to the occluder to enable installation thereof, but is detachable after installation such that only the low profile occluder remains on the heart surface during surgery. The applicator is re-attached to the occluder to facilitate removal of the latter. In an alternative embodiment, the occluder is formed as an adjustable part of a heart contacting member of a thoracotomy stabilizer apparatus.

Low profile vessel occluder with and without detachable applicator

Several embodiments of a clamping device are disclosed, for tightening and securing a purse string suture used to seal the tissue around a cannula or a catheter or the like placed in a heart, major vessel or other tissue structure. The clamping device includes a compressible sleeve means solidly secured at a proximal end to a compression-applying means such as a clamp mechanism. A suture-pulling needle is inserted through a common lumen, whereby the trailing ends of the suture thread which forms the purse string suture may be pulled through the compressible sleeve means and clamp mechanism. Application of a force to the clamp mechanism while it is not locked to the trailing ends compresses the compressible sleeve means. Release of the clamp mechanism locks the enclosed trailing ends of the suture thread. The compressed sleeve means applies constant and precalibrated tension on the purse string suture to continuously maintain the seal about the cannula. The clamping device is removed by unlocking the clamp mechanism and withdrawing the device from the suture thread.

Cannula purse string suture clamping device

Growing community of inventors

Cameron Park, CA, United States of America

Robert C Glines