Abstract:
Devices, systems, and methods are provided for accessing the interior of the heart, and performing procedures therein while the heart is beating. A tubular access device (22) is positioned through an intercostal space and through a muscular wall of the heart. The access device (22) includes a balloon or flange for sealing (32) the penetration to prevent leakage of blood. An obturator (52) is positionable in the access device, and includes cutting means (60) located at its distal end. Elongated instruments are introduced through the access device to perform surgical procedures including septal device repair, ablation, and electrophysiological mapping.
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:
The invention provides devices and method for performing extremely small-scale, minimally-invasive microsurgery. The instruments of the invention utilize a symmetrical, forceps-like actuator (28) which provides extremely precise actuation and control of the instrument and which mimics the feel of the instruments used in conventional open surgical procedures. The instruments general include a pair of coaxially arranged shafts (22, 46), an end effector (40) at the distal ends of the shafts (22, 46), and an actuator (28) at the proximal end of the shafts (22, 46). The actuator (28) includes a pair of arms (36) pivotally coupled to one of either the outer or inner shaft, and a pair of links (52) pivotally coupled at one end to the arms (36), and at a second end to the other of the shafts. The actuator (28) may be easily adapted for either pull-type or push-type actuation, and for either outer shaft (22) or inner shaft (46) translation. The end effectors (40) may have a variety of configurations, including needle drivers, forceps, scissors, and clip appliers.
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:
Devices, systems, and methods are provided for accessing the interior of the heart, and performing procedures therein while the heart is beating. A tubular access device (22) is positioned through an intercostal space and through a muscular wall of the heart. The access device (22) includes a balloon or flange for sealing (32) the penetration to prevent leakage of blood. An obturator (52) is positionable in the access device, and includes cutting means (60) located at its distal end. Elongated instruments are introduced through the access device to perform surgical procedures including septal device repair, ablation, and electrophysiological mapping.
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:
The invention provides devices and method for performing extremely small-scale, minimally-invasive microsurgery. The instruments of the invention utilize a symmetrical, forceps-like actuator (28) which provides extremely precise actuation and control of the instrument and which mimics the feel of the instruments used in conventional open surgical procedures. The instruments general include a pair of coaxially arranged shafts (22, 46), an end effector (40) at the distal ends of the shafts (22, 46), and an actuator (28) at the proximal end of the shafts (22, 46). The actuator (28) includes a pair of arms (36) pivotally coupled to one of either the outer or inner shaft, and a pair of links (52) pivotally coupled at one end to the arms (36), and at a second end to the other of the shafts. The actuator (28) may be easily adapted for either pull-type or push-type actuation, and for either outer shaft (22) or inner shaft (46) translation. The end effectors (40) may have a variety of configurations, including needle drivers, forceps, scissors, and clip appliers.
Abstract:
The invention provides devices and methods for thoracoscopically arresting the heart and establishing cardiopulmonary bypass, thus facilitating a variety of less invasive surgical procedures on and within the heart and great vessels of the thorax. In one embodiment, the invention provides a thoracoscopic system for arresting a patient's heart including a clamp (32) configured for introduction into the patient's thoracic cavity through a percutaneous intercostal penetration in the patient's chest. The clamp is positionable about the patient's ascending aorta between the coronary arteries and the brachio-cephalic artery. The clamp (32) is coupled to the distal end of an elongated handle means (36) for manipulating the clamp (32) from a location outside of the patient's thoracic cavity. A means for actuating the clamp (36) is coupled to the proximal end (23) of the handle means (36). When actuated, the clamp (32) blocks blood flow through the ascending aorta. A delivery cannula (44) may be used to deliver cardio-plegic fluid into the ascending aorta upstream from the clamp (32) to arrest cardiac function.