The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 25, 1997
Filed:
Aug. 23, 1994
Michi E Garrison, Belmont, CA (US);
Sean C Daniel, San Francisco, CA (US);
Heartport, Inc., Redwood City, CA (US);
Abstract
The invention provides a system and method for manipulating a tissue structure within a body cavity. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a system and method for retracting and supporting the heart wall to provide access into the heart during a cardiac surgical procedure. The system comprises a tissue supporting member (500) positionable through a first percutaneous intercostal penetration into the thoracic cavity. The tissue supporting member has a contact surface (502) configured for supporting a portion of the heart wall. A retractor (40a) includes a shaft (400) with a proximal end, a distal end configured for introduction through a second percutaneous penetration and a diameter less than the width and length of the contact surface. A hook (428) is slidably coupled to the distal end of the shaft for releasably holding the tissue supporting member such that the contact surface is arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. With this configuration, the shaft and tissue supporting member can be introduced through two separate percutaneous penetrations and connected together within the thoracic cavity for retraction of the heart wall.