Surgical method for stabilizing the beating heart during coronary artery bypass graft surgery
US5894843A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 20, 1996 |
| Grant date | Apr 20, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 20, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2017/349
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention is methods and devices which a surgeon may use to stabilize the beating heart during a surgical procedure on the heart. Pursuant to the invention, a stabilizing device is introduced through an opening in the chest and brought into contact with the beating heart. By contacting the heart with the device and by exerting a stabilizing force on the device, the motion of the heart caused by the contraction of the heart muscles is effectively eliminated such that the heart is stabilized and the site of the surgery moves only minimally if at all. Typically, in separate steps, the surgeon contacts the heart with the stabilizing device, assesses the degree of movement of the anastomosis site, and exerts a force on the stabilizing device such that the contraction of the beating heart causes only minimal excess motion at the surgery site. By fixing the position of the stabilizing device in a configuration where the motion of the beating heart is effectively eliminated, the surgeon is able to stabilize the beating heart for the duration of the procedure. The stabilizing device may be attached to a rigid support or may be attached to a semi-rigid support which is rendered motionles…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.