Abstract:
A method and apparatus (10) for attaching a tubular graft (20) to a body structure (332) is disclosed. The apparatus (10) includes a central rod (12) with an anvil (14) attached at a distal end (16) thereof. Driver pins (24) move distally to eject staples (210) which are housed in a cartridge (26). The staple cartridge (26) has an outer circumference sufficient to accommodate everted end (34) of tubular graft (20), and an inner diameter sufficient to accommodate a majority of the tubular graft (2) therein. Accordingly, the method includes positioning the rod (12) in the graft (20), everting an end (34) of the graft around a shoulder (36) of the staple cartridge (26), inserting the anvil (14) through an opening (334) in the body structure (332), compressing the graft (20) and the body structure (332) between the anvil (14) and shoulder (36), and moving the driver pins (24) distally to engage and drive the staples (210), thus stapling the graft (20) to the body structure (332).
Abstract:
A stereoscopic endoscope is disclosed having two laterally separated objective lens elements (66, 68) at the distal end (50) of an elongated probe for creating a left and right image. Polarizing elements (70, 72) in series with each objective lens are oriented with their principle axes perpendicular. The orthogonally polarized left and right images are combined with one another along a common optical path through the relay section (52). An image decoupling beam splitting section (56) proximal to the relay section (52) uses a polarizing beam splitter to separate the left and right images based on their orthogonal polarization states and directs them toward the left and right eyepieces in the ocular section (58). An optical hinge section (54) allows relative movement between the ocular section (58) and the distal portion of the endoscope.
Abstract:
An instrument delivery member (2) for use in the thoracic cavity and a method for its use, is disclosed. The delivery member (2) has a gas inlet (40) coupled to a sidewall (44) of the instrument delivery member (2). Gas delivered through the inlet (68) passes through the delivery member and out a plurality of gas outlets (38) such that the gas exiting through the gas outlets (38) passes across the through hole (4) of the delivery member (2) to form a gas shield.
Abstract:
Device and methods are provided for less invasive surgical treatment of cardiac valves whereby the need for a gross thoracotomy or median sternotomy is eliminated. In one aspect of this invention, a delivery system (10) for a cardiac valve prosthesis such as an annuloplasty ring (90) or prosthetic valve (262) includes an elongated handle (28) configured to extend into the heart through an intercostal space from outside of the chest cavity, and a prosthesis holder (100) attached to the handle for releasably holding a prosthesis. The prosthesis holder (100) is attached to the handle (28) in such a way that the holder (100), prosthesis (90) and handle (28) have a profile with a height smaller than the width of an intercostal space when the adjacent ribs are unrectrated, preferably less than about 30 mm. In a further aspect, the invention provides a method for repairing or replacing a heart valve which includes the steps of introducing a prosthesis (262) through an intercostal space and through a penetration in a wall of the heart, and securing the prosthesis (262) to an interior wall of the heart, wherein each step is carried out without cutting, removing, or significantly retracting the ribs or sternum.
Abstract:
An elongate member (207) is coated with a coating (209), preferably by co-extrusion, and the coated elongate member (207) is wound in a helical manner around a mandrel (213). The coated elongate member (207) preferably has a square cross-sectional shape so that adjacent portions of the coated elongate member (207) engage one another when the coated elongate member (207) is wound around the mandrel (213). The coated elongate member (207) is then heated so that the coating (209) on adjacent portions of the coated elongate member (207) fuse together to form an integral structure. Another layer (225) of material may be provided on the radially inner or outer wall of the coated elongate member (207).
Abstract:
A device (876A) for anchoring a catheter (960) to a cannula (850) is configured to displace the catheter (960) a predetermined amount relative to the cannula (850), and lock the catheter (960) to the cannula (850). The device (876A) may be used with any catheter and a specific application is for the endo-aortic occlusion catheter (960). Another device for anchoring an aortic occlusion balloon includes a clamp (503) positionable around a portion of the ascending aorta. The balloon (401) may also have surface features (407) which help prevent migration of the balloon (401).
Abstract:
Devices and methods are provided for temporarily inducing cardio-plegia arrest in the heart of a patient, and for establishing cardiopulmonary bypass in order to facilitate surgical procedures onthe heart and its related blood vessels. Specifically, a catheterbased system is provided for isolating the heart and coronary blood vessels of a patient from the remainder of the arterial system(850), and for infusing a cardio-plegia agent into the patient's coronary arteries to induce cardio-plegia arrest in the heart. The system includes an endo-aortic partitioning catheter (10) having an expandable balloon (11, 161) at its distal end, which is expanded within the ascending aorta (12, 157) to occlude the aortic lumen between the coronary ostia and the brachio-cephalic artery. Means for centering the catheter tip (330) within the ascending aorta include specially curved shaft configurations (1600), eccentric (710) or shaped (792) occlusion balloons (161, 350), and a steerable catheter tip (145) which may be used separately or in combination. The shaft of the catheter may have a coaxial (106) or multilumen (602) construction.
Abstract:
A catheter system is provided for accessing the coronary ostia (176, 180) transluminal from a peripheral arterial access site, such as the femoral artery, and for inducing cardioplegia arrest by direct infusion of cardioplegia solution into the coronary arteries. In a first embodiment, the catheter system is in the form of a single perfusion catheter (20) with multiple distal branches (24, 26, 28) for engaging the coronary ostia (176, 180). In a second embodiment, multiple perfusion catheters (82, 84) are delivered to the coronary ostia (176, 180) through a single arterial cannula (104). In a third embodiment, multiple perfusion catheters (112, 114, 116) are delivered to the coronary ostia (176, 180) through a single guiding catheter (126). In a fourth embodiment, multiple catheters (140, 142, 144) are delivered to the coronary ostia (176, 180) through a single guiding catheter (130) which has distal exit ports (134, 136, 138) that are arranged to direct the perfusion catheters into the coronary ostia (176, 180). In each embodiment, the catheters (20) are equipped with an occlusion means (30, 50) at the distal end of the catheter (20) for closing the coronary ostia (176, 180), and isolating the coronary arteries from the systemic blood flow.
Abstract:
A method of treatment of congestive heart failure comprises the steps of introducing an aortic occlusion catheter (26) through a patient's peripheral artery, the aortic occlusion catheter (26) having an occluding member (30) movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position; positioning the occluding member (30) in the patient's ascending aorta; moving the occluding member (30) from the collapsed shape to the expanded shape after the positioning step; introducing cardio-plegia fluid into the patient's coronary blood vessels to arrest the patient's heart; maintaining circulation of oxygenated blood through the patient's arterial system; and reshaping an outer wall of the patient's heart while the heart is arrested so as to reduce the transverse dimension of the left ventricle. The ascending aorta may be occluded and cardio-plegia fluid delivered by means of an occlusion balloon (44) attached to the distal end of an elongated catheter (42) positioned trans-luminal in the aorta from a femoral, subclavian, or other appropriate peripheral artery.
Abstract:
A multi-lumen catheter (10) having a reinforcing member (42) wrapped around at least one of the lumens (40) in a helical manner. An inflation lumen (43) is positioned outside the reinforcing member (42) for inflating a balloon (11) carried by the catheter (10). A two-lumen extrusion (339A) is bonded to the reinforced lumen (337A) to form the multi-lumen catheter. The multi-lumen catheter is particularly useful as an aortic occlusion catheter.