US 6,656,113 B2 · Surgical instruments and procedures for stabilizing a localized portion of a beating heart

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, there is disclosed surgical methods and apparatus for accessing and stabilizing the heart. The methods and apparatus facilitate access to an anastomosis site, allows various instruments or devices to be maneuvered and secured in place, and provide stabilization of the heart. The apparatus may involve a tissue stabilizer, and in particular a tissue stabilizer for use in immobilizing or stabilizing a portion of the beating heart using a compressive force delivered to the heart via the tissue stabilizer. The stabilizer may include a stabilizer base and a shaft. The shaft may be secured within an appropriate instrument mount preferably fixed to a retractor or other stable platform as disclosed herein. The stabilizers of the present invention provide improved access to a surgical site at a target vessel on the surface of the heart and may include features which facilitate optimal presentation of the target vessel.

Claims35

Dependent claims

An apparatus for stabilizing a localized portion of a beating heart comprising:

a substantially rigid base member formed from a unitary piece of sheet material having a first side and a second side, said base member having a first section adapted to contact the surface of the beating heart and a second section at a fixed angle to said first section, said first section defining a first contact surface, a second contact surface, and an open space therebetween;
and
a ball-shaped member connected to said second section at a location which is offset from said open space.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

09/866,109Filed 25 May 2001 · division

Priority

20 Feb 1996

Published

US 2001/0025136 A127 Sep 2001

Granted

2 Dec 2003

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification26 codes

A61B 17/00234
Surgical instruments, devices or methods: for minimally invasive surgery
A61B 17/0206
For holding wounds open, e.g. retractors; Tractors: with antagonistic arms as supports for retractor elements
A61B 17/0218
For holding wounds open, e.g. retractors; Tractors: for minimally invasive surgery
A61B 17/0483
For suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials: hand-held instruments for holding sutures

Family

Application08/603,758Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Feb 1996

Application08/789,751Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 27 Jan 1997

Application08/931,158Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 16 Sep 1997

Application09/305,813Parent of this division · filed 4 May 1999

US 2001/0025136 A1Pre-grant publication · published 27 Sep 2001

US 6,290,644 B1Parent of this division

Application09/305,813Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 6,036,641 AParent of this continuation-in-part

US 6,346,077 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 5,894,843 AParent of this continuation-in-part

US 2002/0010388 A1Published application

US 6,656,113 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Surgical instruments and procedures for stabilizing a localized portion of a beating heart

Life of this patent

Surgical instruments and procedures for stabilizing a localized portion of a beating heart

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims35