Method and apparatus for using vagus nerve stimulation in surgery
US5913876A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 22, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jun 22, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 22, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2017/0243
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for facilitating coronary surgery on the beating heart wherein the vagus nerve is electrically stimulated to purposely temporarily stop or substantially reduce the beating of the heart under precisely controlled conditions. The apparatus controllably applies the electrical stimulus to preselected locations along the vagus nerve and thus to preselected nerve branches related to the heart. The apparatus includes several clip and probe configurations for establishing electrical contact with the vagus nerve. Such purposely caused temporary stoppage or substantial reduction of the beating of the heart facilitates procedures such as suturing of an anastomosis which would otherwise be more difficult because of the motion induced by the beating heart.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.