Magnetic capture and placement for cardiac assist device
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorsStephanie Kute, Steven Zung-Hong Wu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for capturing and placing a cardiac assist device on a heart. A cardiac assist device is delivered to a chest cavity of a being through an opening provided in a chest wall. A magnetically charged tether is provided at each corner or extremity of the cardiac assist device. Capture instruments magnetically couple with a corresponding tether. The magnetically coupled instruments and tethers then maneuver the cardiac assist device to a desired position about the heart. The cardiac assist device is then secured directly to the heart or to anchoring devices separately provided and secured to the heart.
Claims55
A system for placing a cardiac assist device on at least a portion of a heart, said system comprising:
- a wrap adapted to surround at least the portion of the heart;
- at least one tether extending from the wrap, each tether having a magnetic charge;
- and
- at least one instrument having a magnetic charge, each of the at least one instrument magnetically coupling with a corresponding one of the at least one tether, each of the at least one instrument further comprising a proximal portion adapted to extend externally from a body cavity such that each magnetically coupled instrument and tether are maneuverable to place the cardiac assist device at a desired position adjacent the heart.
A method for placing a cardiac assist device adjacent a heart, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of openings through a chest wall into a chest cavity of a being, the openings accommodating insertion, withdrawal and manipulation of various instruments and devices therethrough;
- inserting a visualizing means into the chest cavity through one of the openings;
- inserting a cardiac assist device into the chest cavity through one of the openings, the cardiac assist device having at least one tether, each tether having a magnetic charge;
- separately inserting at least one instrument into the chest cavity through a corresponding one of the openings, each instrument having a magnetic charge at a distal end thereof, the magnetic charge being opposite the magnetic charge of a corresponding one of the at least one tether, each instrument also having a proximal portion extending exterior of the chest cavity for manipulation by a medical professional;
- magnetically coupling each instrument with a corresponding tether and maneuvering each coupled instrument and tether to position the cardiac assist device at a desired position over the heart;
- securing the cardiac assist device to the heart;
- and
- removing the instruments and visualizing means from the chest cavity.
A cardiac assist device comprising:
- a wrapping means adapted to surround at least a portion of a heart;
- tethers extending from the wrapping means, each tether having a magnetic charge;
- and
- instruments each having a magnetic charge, each of the instruments magnetically coupling with a corresponding one of the tethers, each of the at least one instrument further comprising a proximal portion adapted to extend externally from a body cavity such that each magnetically coupled instrument and tether are maneuverable to place the cardiac assist device at a desired position adjacent the heart.
A method for placing a cardiac assist device adjacent a heart within a patient's chest, the chest being defined by a plurality of ribs, each rib being separated by from an adjacent rib by an intercostal space, the method comprising:
- providing an access opening within the intercostal space between adjacent ribs;
- inserting a cardiac assist device wrap into the chest through the opening, the wrap having at least one tether, each tether haying a magnetic charge;
- maneuvering the wrap to a desired position adjacent the heart;
- and
- securing the wrap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.