Methods of surgically implanting a defibrillator electrode within a patient
AssigneeThomas J. Fogarty
InventorsThomas J. Fogarty, Thomas A. Howell
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Abstract
Improved implantable defibrillator electrodes and methods of implanting such electrodes are disclosed. One embodiment of the defibrillator electrodes includes a flexible conductive mesh and non-conductive mesh. Another embodiment of the defibrillator electrodes includes a flexible conductive mesh, a non-conductive mesh and an insulator therebetween. A third embodiment of the defibrillator electrode compensates for the shape of a human heart. Methods for implanting the defibrillator electrodes include rolling an electrode and inserting the rolled electrode into a subxiphoid opening while thorascopically observing the insertion and manipulation of the defibrillator electrode.
Claims4
A method of surgically implanting a defibrillator electrode within a patient, comprising the steps of:
- deflating the left lung of a patient;
- making an opening in the chest of the patient between a 2nd rib and a 6th rib of the patient;
- inserting a trocar into the opening between the 2nd rib and the 6th rib;
- inserting an optical device into the trocar to permit observation within the patient;
- making a subxiphoid opening;
- releasably securing one end of a defibrillator electrode to a first handle;
- releasably securing an opposite end of the defibrillator electrode to a second handle;
- rotating of the first and second handles toward each other to roll the defibrillator electrode;
- passing the first and second handles and the rolled defibrillator electrode through the subxiphoid opening to position the defibrillator electrode on a surface of the pericardium;
- rotating the first and second handles away from each other to unroll the defibrillator electrode;
- and
- securing the defibrillator electrode to the pericardium.
A method of surgically implanting a defibrillator electrode within a patient, comprising the steps of:
- deflating the left lung of a patient;
- making an opening in the chest of the patient between a 2nd rib and a 6th rib of the patient;
- inserting a trocar into the opening between the 2nd rib and the 6th rib;
- inserting an optical device into the trocar to permit observation within the patient;
- making a subxiphoid opening;
- releasably securing one end of a defibrillator electrode to a first handle;
- releasably securing an opposite end of the defibrillator electrode to a second handle;
- rotating of the first and second handles toward each other to roll the defibrillator electrode;
- passing the first and second handles and the rolled defibrillator electrode through the subxiphoid opening to position the defibrillator electrode on a surface of the pericardium;
- and
- rotating the first and second handles away from each other to unroll the defibrillator electrode.
A method of surgically implanting a defibrillator electrode within a patient, comprising the steps of:
- deflating the left lung of a patient;
- making an opening in the chest of the patient between a 2nd rib and a 6th rib of the patient to permit observation within the patient;
- making a subxiphoid opening;
- releasably securing one end of a defibrillator electrode to a first handle;
- releasably securing an opposite end of the defibrillator electrode to a second handle;
- rotating of the first and second handles toward each other to roll the defibrillator electrode;
- passing the first and second handles and the rolled defibrillator electrode through the subxiphoid opening to position the defibrillator electrode on a surface of the pericardium;
- rotating the first and second handles away from each other to unroll the defibrillator electrode;
- and
- securing the defibrillator electrode to the pericardium.
A method of surgically implanting a defibrillator electrode within a patient, comprising the steps of:
- deflating the left lung of a patient;
- making an opening in the chest of the patient between a 2nd rib and a 6th rib of the patient to permit observation within the patient;
- making a subxiphoid opening;
- releasably securing one end of a defibrillator electrode to a first handle;
- releasably securing an opposite end of the defibrillator electrode to a second handle;
- rotating of the first and second handles toward each other to roll the defibrillator electrode;
- passing the first and second handles and the rolled defibrillator electrode through the subxiphoid opening to position the defibrillator electrode on a surface of the pericardium;
- and
- rotating the first and second handles away from each other to unroll the defibrillator electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.