Medtronic, Inc.

Robert Reetz

Steven C Christian

Christopher P Olig

Michael J Hobday

Douglas H Gubbin

William Steinberg

Paul T Rothstein

Philip Jon Haarstad

Roderick E Briscoe

Tom P Daigle

Thomas Daigle

Brian Ross

David J S Kim

Ann Margaret Thomas

Eric Meyer

Jeffrey D Sandstrom

Patrick Cloutier

Christopher Plott

Adam Podbelski

Andrew Olson

Eric Fox

Gerard C Forest

James R Keogh

Matthew David Bonner

Scott Eric Jahns

Cynthia T Clague

Raymond W Usher

Katherine S Jolly

Ana R Buhr

Jeffrey Sandstorm

A tissue stabilizer including an elongated arm, a collet, and a head-link assembly. The collet is disposed at a distal end of the arm. The head-link assembly includes a tube and a spreading mechanism. The tube forms an intermediate section and opposing arms each terminating at a tip. The spreading mechanism can adjust a lateral distance between the tips, and includes first and second articulating members each having a leg and a collet interface body. The first member further includes a female hinge feature, whereas the second member includes a male hinge feature differing from the female hinge feature. The legs of are mounted to discrete regions of the tube, and the male hinge feature is pivotably coupled to the female hinge feature. Automatic spreading of a lateral distance between the tips occurs in response to a compressive force applied to the collet interface bodies.

Tissue stabilizing device and methods including a self-expandable head-link assembly

Suction-assisted tissue-engaging devices, systems, and methods are disclosed that can be employed through minimal surgical incisions to engage tissue during a medical procedure through application of suction to the tissue through a suction member applied to the tissue. A shaft is introduced into a body cavity through a first incision, and a suction head is attached to the shaft via a second incision. The suction head is applied against the tissue by manipulation of the shaft and suction is applied to engage the tissue while the medical procedure is performed through the second incision. A system coupled to the shaft and a fixed reference point stabilizes the shaft and suction head. When the medical procedure is completed, suction is discontinued, the suction head is detached from the shaft and withdrawn from the body cavity through the second incision, and the shaft is retracted through the first incision.

Methods and apparatus providing suction-assisted tissue engagement through a minimally invasive incision

The invention provides a system and method for harvesting a vessel section. The system comprises a vessel support member, a handle, and a tubular cutting device. The vessel support member is introduced into the vessel section to be harvested. The tubular cutting device may comprise an outer tubular member or an outer and an inner tubular member. The outer tubular member carries at least one cutting element. The tubular member or members are advanced over the vessel section and vessel support member to core out the vessel section and tissue adjoining the vessel section.

Minimally invasive coring vein harvester

Tissue stabilizers including a clamp assembly, a turret assembly, an articulating arm having a tension element extending therethrough, a collet assembly and a head-link assembly are disclosed. Methods of stabilizing tissue are also disclosed.

Methods and devices for stabilizing tissue

Growing community of inventors

Rockford, MN, United States of America

Robert Reetz