Apparatus and methods for cardiac surgery
OwnerTimothy Dietz, Daniel M. Brounstein +2inventors
InventorsTimothy Dietz, Daniel M. Brounstein, Meir Moshe, Jaime R. Gannoe
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Abstract
The invention provides a stabilizer having a suction foot to stabilize a patient's heart. One embodiment of the stabilizer has two suction feet, each having two chambers with different volumes. A shoulder having a suction manifold is formed with an inner surface of at least one chamber so as to enhance the preferential draw of medial tissue. The volumes of the chambers and the orifices and suction manifold are configured to produce vacuum independence between the chambers and between the suction feet.
Claims17
A suction foot for stabilizing an epicardial surface of the heart, comprising:
- a housing having a first chamber that defines a first volume and a second chamber that defines a second volume, and wherein the first volume is less than the second volume;
- and
- the housing having a manifold that fluidly communicates with the first chamber through a first orifice and fluidly communicates with the second chamber through a second orifice.
A stabilizer for stabilizing an epicardial surface of the heart, comprising:
- a bendable frame;
- a first suction foot connected to the frame;
- a second suction foot connected to the frame at a location spaced apart from the first suction foot;
- the frame including at least two living hinges to permit the frame to be bent to a position that conforms to the epicardial surface of the heart.
A stabilizer for stabilizing an epicardial surface of the heart comprising:
- an arm;
- and
- a first foot having at least one suction chamber and including a medial edge having a friction-reducing means to promote medial tissue being drawn into the suction chamber.
A suction foot for stabilizing an epicardial surface of the heart comprising:
- a housing including a chamber having an orifice for fluidly communicating with a suction source, the chamber having a wall and an inner surface;
- and
- a shoulder connected to the perimeter of the inner surface adjacent the wall that is adapted to prevent tissue drawn into the chamber from blocking the orifice, while providing sufficient vacuum to maintain tissue capture.
A method of performing a coronary anastomosis on a heart of a patient comprising:
- providing a stabilizer having a shaft and a suction assembly, the suction assembly having a first foot and a second foot spaced apart from the first foot, the first foot and second foot having at least one chamber, and an inlet port that fluidly communicates with a suction source and the at least one chamber, and wherein the chamber includes a medial edge that includes a friction-reducing means;
- accessing a coronary artery on the patient's heart;
- positioning the first foot and second foot to contact the surface of the heart so that the coronary artery is positioned between the first foot and the second foot;
- applying suction to the chamber of the first foot and the second foot via the suction source to evacuate the chamber;
- preferentially drawing medial tissue into the chamber;
- and
- performing an anastomosis on the coronary artery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.