Heart stabilizer
AssigneeComputer Motion, Inc.
InventorEdward Ramsey Snow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heart stabilizer that may include a wrist which couples an end effector to a first linkage. The end effector and wrist may be inserted through an incision in the chest of a patient to assist in performing a minimally invasive coronary procedure. The wrist provides dexterity so that the end effector can be placed on the heart to stabilize the same.
Claims31
A heart stabilizer, comprising:
- an end effector;
- a first linkage;
- and,
- a wrist that couples said first linkage to said end effector to allow said end effector to move from a position essentially parallel with said first linkage to a position at an angle oblique to said first linkage.
The heart stabilizer of clam 1, wherein said end effector includes a rack, and a pinion gear that is coupled to said rack.
A heart stabilizer, comprising:
- a first linkage that has a proximal end and a distal end;
- an elbow coupled to said proximal end of said first linkage;
- a wrist coupled to said distal end of said first linkage;
- an end effector coupled to said wrist, said end effector having a paddle;
- and,
- a drive shaft that extends along said first linkage and is coupled to said paddle of said end effector to move said paddle.
A method for applying a heart stabilizer to a heart of a patient that has a chest, comprising:
- inserting an end effector and a wrist through an incision in the chest of the patient, the wrist couples the end effector to a first linkage;
- bending the wrist to place the end effector onto the heart;
- and,
- bending the wrist to move the end effector from a position essentially parallel with the first linkage to a position at an angle oblique to the first linkage.
A retractor, comprising:
- a first linkage;
- an end effector;
- a first joint that couples said end effector to said first linkage;
- a second joint that couples said end effector to said first linkage and pivots about a common plane with said first joint.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.