A method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of tissue. In particular, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of heart tissue to thereby permit surgery on a coronary vessel in that area without significant deterioration of the pumping function of the beating heart. The local area of heart tissue is immobilized to a degree sufficient to permit minimally invasive or micro-surgery on that area of the heart. The present invention features a suction device to accomplish the immobilization. The suction device is coupled to a source of negative pressure. The suction device has a series of suction ports on one surface. Suction through the device causes suction to be maintained at the ports. The device further is shaped to conform to the surface of the heart. Thus, when the device is placed on the surface of the heart and suction is created, the suction through the ports engages the surface of the heart. The suction device is further fixed or immobilized to a stationary object, such as an operating table or a sternal or rib retractor. Thus, the local area of the heart near the suction device is temporarily fixed or immobilized relative to the stationary object while suction is maintained. In such a fashion, the coronary artery may be immobilized even though the heart itself is still beating so that a bypass graft may be performed. In addition the suction device may be used in either a conventional, open-chest environment or in a minimally-invasive environment, e.g. endoscopic.
RELATED APPLICATION
This is a continuation-in-part application claiming priority from application Ser. No. 08/531,363 filed Sep. 20, 1995 of Borst et al. entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TEMPORARILY IMMOBILIZING A LOCAL AREA OF TISSUE, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,311.
An instrument for coronary artery bypass graft surgery has at least three sets of suction units, respectively provided with a flexible tube; a suction head disposed at an end portion of the flexible tube; a three-way cock mounted on the flexible tube; and a retainer which retains the flexible tube.
An improved stabilization device of the type used to stabilize a portion of a beating heart by substantially eliminating movement of a portion of the surface tissue of the heart upon which surgical procedures are to be carried out comprising a housing having an opening that, in use, defines with the heart a vacuum chamber, the opening being closed by a geometrically stable porous plug structure.
A manipulation mechanism that can be attached to the heart and other organs of the body so that the organs can be positioned, lifted, turned and held in place during diagnosis, testing, treatment and surgical procedures on the organs.
The present invention relates to an irrigation system for use with surgical retractors and devices for stabilizing a predetermined area of the body during a surgical procedure and more particularly to an irrigation system for use with medical devices that are used in connection with minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting surgical procedures, and more specifically to an irrigation system for use with surgical retractors and stabilizing devices configured for use with each other for such surgical procedures wherein the irrigation system provides a controlled flow of fluid to a desired surface of the medical device to maintain a clear surgical site.
This invention provides a system and method for positioning, manipulating, holding, grasping, immobilizing and/or stabilizing a heart including one or more tissue-engaging devices, one or more suction sources, one or more fluid sources, one or more energy sources, one or more sensors and one or more processors. The system and method may include an indifferent electrode, a drug delivery device and an illumination device. The system's tissue-engaging device may comprise a tissue-engaging head, a support apparatus and a clamping mechanism for attaching the tissue-engaging device to a stable object. The system may be used during various medical procedures including the deployment of an anastomotic device, intermittently stopping and starting of the heart, ablation of cardiac tissues and the placement of cardiac leads.
