Surgical instruments for stabilizing the beating heart during coronary artery bypass graft surgery
US6315717A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 17, 2000 |
| Grant date | Nov 13, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 17, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2017/349
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Methods and devices used to stabilize a beating heart during a surgical procedure on the heart are disclosed. The stabilizing device is introduced through an opening through the chest and brought into contact with the beating heart, and by exerting a stabilizing force on the device, the motion of the heart caused by the contractions of the heart muscles is effectively eliminated. Accordingly, the heart is stabilized and movement of the site of the surgery is minimized. Typically, in separate steps, a surgeon contacts the heart with the stabilizing device, assesses the degree of movement of the anastomosis site, and exerts a force with a stabilizing device such that the contractions of the beating heart causes only minimal excess motion at the surgery site. The stabilizing device may be attached to a rigid support or may be attached to a semi-rigid support which is rendered motionless mechanically, chemically or by human intervention.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.