US5823956A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for thoracoscopic intracardiac procedures
Assignee: Heartport Inc
•
Filing: 1996-05-07
•
Granted: 1998-10-20
•
Expires: 2016-05-07
Abstract
Abstract Devices, systems, and methods are provided for accessing the interior of the heart and performing procedures therein while the heart is beating. In one embodiment, a tubular access device having an inner lumen is provided for positioning through a penetration in a muscular wall of the heart, the access device having a means for sealing within the penetration to inhibit leakage of blood through the penetration. The sealing means may comprise a balloon or flange on the access device, or a suture placed in the heart wall to gather the heart tissue against the access device. An obturator is removably positionable in the inner lumen of the access device, the obturator having a cutting means at its distal end for penetrating the muscular wall of the heart. The access device is preferably positioned through an intercostal space and through the muscular wall of the heart. Elongated instruments may be introduced through the tubular access device into an interior chamber of the heart to perform procedures such as septal defect repair and electrophysiological mapping and ablation. A method of septal defect repair includes positioning a tubular access device percutaneously through an intercostal space and through a penetration in a muscular wall of the heart, passing one or more instruments through an inner lumen of the tubular access device into an interior chamber of the heart, and using the instruments to close the septal defect. Devices and methods for closing the septal defect with either sutures or with patch-type devices are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Alex T. Roth
- 👤 Hanson S. Gifford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 22:06
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B17/0057; A61B17/02; A61B17/0218; A61B17/04; A61B17/0469; A61B17/06; A61B17/06061; A61B17/32; A61B17/320016; A61B17/34; A61B17/3468; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1482; A61B18/1492; A61B90/00; A61B90/50; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2427; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/10; A61M25/1011; A61M39/00; A61M39/02; A61M39/0247; A61B17/0467; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B17/2909; A61B17/3209; A61B17/3211; A61B17/3417; A61B18/1442; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00039; A61B2017/00044; A61B2017/00048; A61B2017/00053; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2017/00247; A61B2017/00349; A61B2017/00575; A61B2017/00579; A61B2017/00592; A61B2017/00597; A61B2017/00606; A61B2017/00619; A61B2017/00623; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/00867; A61B2017/00902; A61B2017/00907; A61B2017/0237; A61B2017/0243; A61B2017/047; A61B2017/0472; A61B2017/0474; A61B2017/0475; A61B2017/2926; A61B2017/2932; A61B2017/2943; A61B2017/2946; A61B17/30; A61B2017/306; A61B17/3403; A61B2017/3405; A61B2017/348; A61B2017/3482; A61B2017/3484; A61B2017/3486; A61B2017/3492; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/0022; A61B2018/00232; A61B2018/0025; A61B2018/00261; A61B2018/00273; A61B2018/00291; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00363; A61B2018/00392; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00577; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00898; A61B2018/00982; A61B2018/1465; A61B90/36; A61B90/37; A61M25/01; A61M25/02; A61M2025/028; A61M2039/0279; A61M2039/0297; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/33; A61M2205/3331; A61M2205/3344; A61M2205/3355; A61M2205/36; A61M2205/366; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S623/00; Y10S623/902; Y10S623/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A thoracoscopic electrophysiology device for introduction into an interior chamber of a patient's heart by passing through an intercostal space defined between the patient's ribs and through an opening in a muscular wall of the patient's heart, the device comprising: a substantially rigid shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the shaft being dimensioned and configured for introduction through an intercostal space defined between a patient's ribs and through an opening in a muscular wall of the patient's heart; a flexible tip mounted to the distal end of the shaft; a handle mounted to the proximal end of the shaft; a movable actuator on the handle; a linkage coupled to the actuator, extending through the shaft and coupled to the flexible tip, wherein moving the actuator deflects the flexible tip; at least one electrode mounted to the flexible tip; an electrical connector mounted to the handle configured for connection to a radiofrequency generator or an electrocardiogram machine; and electrical coupling means extending through the shaft for connecting the electrode to the electrical connector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A thoracoscopic electrophysiology device for introduction into an interior chamber of a patient's heart by passing through an intercostal space defined between the patient's ribs and through an opening in a muscular wall of the patient's heart, the device comprising: a substantially rigid shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the shaft being dimensioned and configured for introduction through an intercostal space defined between a patient's ribs and through an opening in a muscular wall of the patient's heart; a flexible tip mounted to the distal end of the shaft; a handle mounted to the proximal end of the shaft; a movable actuator on the handle; a linkage coupled to the actuator, extending through the shaft and coupled to the flexible tip, wherein moving the actuator deflects the flexible tip; at least one electrode mounted to the flexible tip; an electrical connector mounted to the handle configured for connection to a radiofrequency generator or an electrocardiogram machine; and electrical coupling means extending through the shaft for connecting the electrode to the electrical connector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrophysiology device of claim 1 wherein the shaft and deflectable tip have a combined length in a range of 10 cm to 40 cm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrophysiology device of claim 1 wherein the shaft has a diameter of at least about 5 mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrophysiology device of claim 1 wherein the shaft is substantially straight and has a minimum durometer of 75 Shore A.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrophysiology device of claim 1 wherein the flexible tip comprises an expandable basket having a plurality of electrodes mounted thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrophysiology device of claim 1 wherein a plurality of electrode bands are mounted to the flexible tip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The electrophysiology device of claim 1 wherein the linkage comprises at least one pull wire slidably disposed in a lumen in the shaft and coupled to a distal end of the flexible tip.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The electrophysiology device of claim 1 further comprising a tubular cardiac access device positionable through an intercostal space and through a muscular wall of the heart, the tubular access device having an inner lumen for positioning the flexible tip therethrough into the heart.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The electrophysiology device of claim 8, wherein the cardiac access device is provided with a sealing member for inhibiting leakage of blood through the opening in the wall of the patient's heart.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
243 words
In combination, a cardiac access device for introduction into an interior chamber of a patient's heart by passing through an intercostal space defined between adjacent ribs and through an opening in a muscular wall of the patient's heart, and a thoracoscopic electrophysiology device configured to pass through the access device and into the interior chamber of the heart, the combination comprising: a cardiac access device comprising an elongate body configured to extend through an intercostal space defined between a patient's adjacent ribs and also through an opening in a muscular wall of the patient's heart, the elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, the elongate body including a first portion configured to extend through the intercostal space so as to be located within the patient's body, and a second portion distal to the first portion configured to extend through said opening so as to be located in the interior chamber of the patient's heart; and an electrophysiology device comprising a substantially rigid shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the shaft being dimensioned and configured for introduction through the lumen of said cardiac access device, and a flexible tip mounted to the distal end of the shaft; wherein the flexible tip of the electrophysiology device is provided with at least one electrode coupled to an electrical connector configured for connection to a radiofrequency generator or an electrocardiogram machine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
243 words
In combination, a cardiac access device for introduction into an interior chamber of a patient's heart by passing through an intercostal space defined between adjacent ribs and through an opening in a muscular wall of the patient's heart, and a thoracoscopic electrophysiology device configured to pass through the access device and into the interior chamber of the heart, the combination comprising: a cardiac access device comprising an elongate body configured to extend through an intercostal space defined between a patient's adjacent ribs and also through an opening in a muscular wall of the patient's heart, the elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, the elongate body including a first portion configured to extend through the intercostal space so as to be located within the patient's body, and a second portion distal to the first portion configured to extend through said opening so as to be located in the interior chamber of the patient's heart; and an electrophysiology device comprising a substantially rigid shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the shaft being dimensioned and configured for introduction through the lumen of said cardiac access device, and a flexible tip mounted to the distal end of the shaft; wherein the flexible tip of the electrophysiology device is provided with at least one electrode coupled to an electrical connector configured for connection to a radiofrequency generator or an electrocardiogram machine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination of claim 10, wherein the cardiac access device further comprises a sealing member adjacent the second portion of the elongate body to inhibit leakage of blood through the opening in the wall of the patient's heart.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 10, wherein the electrophysiology device is an ablating instrument comprising at least one electrode carried by the flexible tip for delivering electrical current to cardiac tissue.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination of claim 12, wherein the ablating instrument comprises an actuator for moving the flexible tip into a desired orientation to position the electrode against cardiac tissue.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination of claim 10, wherein the electrophysiological instrument is a mapping instrument comprising an expandable mechanism supporting a plurality of electrodes coupled to a device for detecting electrical potential between the electrodes, and the expandable mechanism is movable from a collapsed orientation to an expanded orientation to move the electrodes into contact with the cardiac tissue.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combinations of claim 14, wherein the mapping instrument comprises an actuator for moving the expandable mechanism into said expanded orientation to position the electrodes against cardiac tissue.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 10, wherein the distal end of the cardiac access device is provided with means for forming an opening in the wall of the patient's heart.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3124136A
Cited
US3874388A
Cited
US4007743A
Cited
US4061135A
Cited
US4345600A
Cited
US4598698A
Cited
US4605002A
Cited
US4665906A
Cited
US5067957A
Cited
US4573473A
Cited
US4621638A
Cited
US4628937A
Cited
US4822345A
Cited
US4786155A
Cited
US4779611A
Cited
US4836204A
Cited
US4915107A
Cited
US5029574A
Cited
US4960424A
Cited
US4901721A
Cited
US5053046A
Cited
US4917089A
Cited
US5192301A
Cited
US5336182A
Cited
US5358478A
Cited
US5209747A
Cited
US5108420A
Cited
US5345937A
Cited
US5178133A
Cited
US5338317A
Cited
US5183464A
Cited
US5361752A
Cited
US5425357A
Cited
US5450843A
Cited
US5402772A
Cited
US5309896A
Cited
US5386817A
Cited
US5451235A
Cited
US5425744A
Cited
US5328467A
Cited
US5363861A
Cited
US5397331A
Cited
WO1993010714A1
Cited
US5147374A
Cited
US5353783A
Cited
US5400770A
Cited
WO1993013712A1
Cited
US5334217A
Cited
US5486193A
Cited
US5383888A
Cited
US5405360A
Cited
US5425737A
Cited
US5411481A
Cited
US5318525A
Cited
US5314466A
Cited
US5368592A
Cited
US5403328A
Cited
US5188636A
Cited
US5242457A
Cited
EP0573273A2
Cited
US5391156A
Cited
DE4222291C1
Cited
US5312341A
Cited
US5403329A
Cited
US5309910A
Cited
US5293869A
Cited
US5313943A
Cited
US5330492A
Cited
US5364351A
Cited
US5275166A
Cited
US5380291A
Cited
US5421323A
Cited
WO1994013211A1
Cited
US5284488A
Cited
US5381794A
Cited
US5409483A
Cited
US5329927A
Cited
US5334210A
Cited
US5346459A
Cited
US5383466A
Cited
WO1995001190A1
Cited
US5425747A
Cited
US5433739A
Cited
US5564440A
Cited
US5358488A
Cited
US5381795A
Cited
US5507811A
Cited
WO1995030374A1
Cited
US5433727A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-10-19 | 2002-04-20 | 2002-10-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-10-19 | 2006-04-20 | 2006-10-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-10-19 | 2010-04-20 | 2010-10-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |