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:
Feb. 05, 2008
Filed:
Nov. 19, 2003
Gary W. Guenst, Collegeville, PA (US);
Christopher Olig, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Paul A. Pignato, Stacy, MN (US);
Karen Montpetit, Mendota Heights, MN (US);
Thomas Daigle, Corcoran, MN (US);
Douglas H. Gubbin, Brooklyn Park, MN (US);
Scott E. Jahns, Hudson, WI (US);
Katherine Jolly, Shoreview, MN (US);
Gary W. Guenst, Collegeville, PA (US);
Christopher Olig, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Paul A. Pignato, Stacy, MN (US);
Karen Montpetit, Mendota Heights, MN (US);
Thomas Daigle, Corcoran, MN (US);
Douglas H. Gubbin, Brooklyn Park, MN (US);
Scott E. Jahns, Hudson, WI (US);
Katherine Jolly, Shoreview, MN (US);
Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
This invention provides an organ positioning device and method that employs suction to hold organ tissue to the device. The device allows the organ, for example, heart to be positioned in a desired orientation but otherwise allowing movement of the heart as the heart beats. The device is designed to be relatively atraumatic to heart tissue. Generally, the device comprises a resiliently flexible suction head having a plurality of legs that flex to conform to the surface of the heart. The suction head has vacuum passageways in fluid communication with the legs to apply suction between the legs and the surface of the heart.