Methods and apparatus for defibrillating a heart refractory to electrical stimuli
AssigneeAngioTrax, Inc.
InventorsVahid Saadat, John A. Macoviak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods for defibrillating a heart in fibrillation are provided using apparatus that forms a plurality of transmural channels in a wall of the heart. The apparatus includes a single-use handpiece having a mechanical cutting head and means for stabilizing the cutting head in contact with the tissue. The handpiece is coupled by a disposable cable to a controller that houses a vacuum pump and mechanisms for driving the cutting head. The cutting head is adapted to cooperate with the vacuum pump to evacuate tissue severed during the channel forming process.
Claims22
A method of defibrillating a heart in fibrillation comprising steps of:
- providing apparatus having a cutting head for boring a channel in a wall of the heart and means for aspirating tissue severed by the cutting head;
- and
- repeating, until the heart ceases fibrillating, steps of:
- positioning the cutting head against a wall of the heart;
- actuating the cutting head to form a transmural channel in the wall of the heart;
- and
- evacuating tissue cut by the cutting head.
Apparatus for defibrillating a heart in fibrillation, the apparatus comprising:
- a first vacuum source;
- and
- a handpiece having:
- a body, a shaft coupled to the body, the shaft including a lumen;
- a cutting head having a bore coupled to the first vacuum source, a first position wherein the cutting head extends from within the lumen to form a channel in the tissue, tissue severed by the cutting head being aspirated through the bore by the first vacuum source, and a second position wherein the cutting head is retracted within the lumen;
- and
- a stabilizer surface that contacts the heart and the cutting head in contact with the tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.