Xyphoid access for cardiac surgical procedures
AssigneeCardiothoracic Systems, Inc.
InventorsFederico J. Benetti, Charles S. Taylor, Michael V. Morejohn
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Abstract
Surgical procedures on the beating heart are enabled by an incision made in the xyphoid area and specially designed retractors and related devices to facilitate cardiac surgical procedures. Specifically, coronary artery bypass graft procedures (CABG) are achieved using a vertically offsetting retractor or access platform in combination with a beating heart stabilizer. The surgical methodology permits procedures such as the CABG procedure without penetrating the rib cage or performing a sternotomy or thorocotomy.
Claims20
A minimally invasive method of accessing a beating heart to perform a surgical procedure, comprising:
- making an incision proximate to or through a xyphoid appendage without substantially transecting a sternum;
- inserting an offsetting retractor into the incision, and contacting tissue on one side of the incision with a first portion of the retractor, while contacting tissue on an opposite side of the incision with a second portion of the retractor, thereby orienting the retractor substantially in a horizontal plane;
- and
- moving the second portion of the retractor in a direction substantially perpendicular to the horizontal orientation of a remainder of the retractor, thereby vertically offsetting at least a portion of the rib cage.
Surgical apparatus for accessing a beating heart via a xyphoid incision comprising:
- a vertical offset assembly having the ability to vertically offset a portion of a rib cage, said retractor assembly comprising:
- a main body;
- and
- a lifting arm movably mounted to said main body for movement with respect to said main body, substantially in a predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to a main axis of said main body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.