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US5071428A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for providing intrapericardial access and inserting intrapericardial electrodes

Assignee: Ventritex Inc
•
Filing: 1991-02-15
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Granted: 1991-12-10
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Expires: 2011-02-15
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Abstract

Abstract Intrapericardial access is provided by clamping the wall of the pericardium between elongate jaw elements carrying axially aligned tubular guides and passing a guide wire through the guides and the pericardial tissue therebetween. In the preferred embodiment the jaw elements include interengageable ratchets for holding the elements in clamping engagement with the wall of the pericardium and aligned pointed extensions for piercing the pericardial tissue clamped between the elements. Further intrapericardial access is provided by an additional tubular guide carried by the jaw element intended to be disposed in the pericardium during placement of the guide wire.

Inventors

  • 👤 Albert K. Chin
  • 👤 Thomas J. Fogarty
  • 👤 Eric S. Fain

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 10:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/0587; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/06; A61B17/06066; A61B2017/06104

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 85 words
Intrapericardial access apparatus comprising: (a) first and second elongate jaw elements, said elements each having a primary open ended tubular guide extending over at least a portion of the length thereof and terminating in an open distal end extending laterally of the element; and, (b) means for securing the elements together in a condition where the open distal ends of the tubular guides may be moved from an aligned closely disposed relationship with one another to one where said open distal ends are spaced apart.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 85 words
Intrapericardial access apparatus comprising: (a) first and second elongate jaw elements, said elements each having a primary open ended tubular guide extending over at least a portion of the length thereof and terminating in an open distal end extending laterally of the element; and, (b) means for securing the elements together in a condition where the open distal ends of the tubular guides may be moved from an aligned closely disposed relationship with one another to one where said open distal ends are spaced apart.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 61 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a secondary open ended tubular guide secured to and extending along at least one of said jaw elements for providing additional access into the interior of the pericardium, said secondary tubular guide extending generally parallel to and terminating short of the distal end of the primary tubular element secured to said one jaw element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for securing the jaw elements together comprises a hinge connection between the elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 37 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a handle secured to each jaw element and extending beyond the hinge connection between the elements to facilitate selective movement of the jaw elements toward and away from one other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 59 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein one of the jaw elements is adapted to be extended intrapericardially and the other of the jaw elements is adapted to be extended extrapericardially; the apparatus further comprising means for holding the jaw elements with the distal ends of the primary guides aligned in clamping engagement with opposite sides of pericardial tissue therebetween.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 59 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one of the jaw elements is adapted to be extended intrapericardially and the other of the jaw elements is adapted to be extended extrapericardially; the apparatus further comprising means for holding the jaw elements with the distal ends of the primary guides aligned in clamping engagement with opposite sides of pericardial tissue therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 35 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising sharpened edges on the distal ends of the primary guides to cut a hole through pericardial tissue upon being clamped into engagement with opposite sides of the tissue.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 34 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the means for holding the jaw elements with the distal ends of the primary guides in clamping engagement with pericardial tissue comprises interengageable ratchet elements on the handles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 49 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a lateral extension on each of the jaw elements, said extensions being disposed to clampingly engage pericardial tissue therebetween when the jaw elements are secured together in the condition with the distal ends of the tubular guides in closely adjacent aligned relationship.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the lateral extensions are disposed closely adjacent the open distal ends of the guides.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 55 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising a secondary open ended tubular guide secured to and extending along at least one of at least one of said jaw elements, said secondary tubular guide extending generally parallel to and terminating short of the distal end of the primary tubular element secured to said one jaw element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 21 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the means for securing the jaw elements together comprises a hinge connection between the elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 37 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a handle secured to each jaw element and extending beyond the hinge connection between the elements to facilitate selective movement of the jaw elements toward and away from one other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 55 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein one of the jaw elements is adapted to be extended intrapericardially and the other of the jaw elements is adapted to be extended extrapericardially; the apparatus further comprising means for holding the jaw elements with the lateral extensions thereof in clamping engagement with opposite sides of pericardial tissue therebetween.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 30 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the means for holding the lateral extensions of the jaw elements in clamping engagement with pericardial tissue comprises interengageable ratchet elements on the handles.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3470875A Cited
US3866615A Cited
US4030509A Cited
US4270549A Cited
US4291707A Cited
US4312337A Cited
US4548203A Cited
US4567900A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-12-09 1995-06-10 1995-12-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-12-09 1999-06-10 1999-12-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-12-09 2003-06-10 2003-12-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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