Patent · US Active

Method and device for organ positioning

US7438680B2 · kind B2 · utility

11Cited by

137References

41Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Medtronic, Inc. · US

Inventors

Gary W. Guenst · Collegeville, US
Christopher P. Olig · Eden Prairie, US
Paul Pignato · Stacy, US
Karen Pilney Montpetit · Woodbury, US
Thomas Daigle · Hanover, US
Douglas H. Gubbin · Brooklyn Park, US
Scott E. Jahns · Hudson, US
Katherine Jolly · Shoreview, US

Key dates

Filing date	Sep 3, 2003
Grant date	Oct 21, 2008
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Aug 19, 2026

Classification

Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
CPC primaryA61N1/36114
WIPO fieldMedical technology
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

This invention provides an organ positioning device and method that employs suction to hold organ tissue to the device. The device allows the organ, for example, heart to be positioned in a desired orientation but otherwise allowing movement of the heart as the heart beats. The device is designed to be relatively atraumatic to heart tissue. Generally, the device comprises a resiliently flexible suction head having a plurality of legs that flex to conform to the surface of the heart. The suction head has vacuum passageways in fluid communication with the legs to apply suction between the legs and the surface of the heart.

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