Patent · US Expired

Laser device with auto-piercing tip for myocardial revascularization procedures

US6152918A · kind A · utility

165Cited by
32References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 9, 1998
Grant dateNov 28, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 9, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2018/208
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The apparatus 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 auto-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 energy delivery device such as an 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 energy delivery device such as an 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. The apparatus includes a hand-held device controllable by the physician having a removable distal …

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