Patent · US Expired

Combined mechanical/optical system for transmyocardial revascularization

US5713894A · kind A · utility

67Cited by
2References
16Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 27, 1996
Grant dateFeb 3, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 27, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2018/00392
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The method for combined mechanical/laser myocardial revascularization of a human heart includes: inserting a mechanical piercing device and an elongated flexible lasing apparatus into the chest cavity of a patient; mechanically piercing, micro-tearing or spreading the epicardium of the heart; and then lasing from beneath the epicardium through the myocardium. The apparatus is guided to an area exterior to a ventricle of the patient's heart, and the distal end of the optical fiber apparatus is placed internal to the exterior wall of the heart through an opening which has been created by mechanically piercing, micro-tearing or spreading the epicardium, so that the myocardium and not the epicardium is irradiated with laser energy to allow passage of said optical fiber distal end or said laser energy into the left ventricular cavity without causing a laser irradiation of the epicardium which might be a cause of operative bleeding and for better allowing the sealing of the epicardium after the apparatus is removed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.