Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for accessing an interior chamber of a beating heart, said method comprising: forming a penetration through a muscular wall of the heart into the interior chamber; positioning a distal end of a tubular access device having an inner lumen through the penetration; and forming a hemostatic seal between the device and the penetration to inhibit blood loss through the penetration, wherein the tubular access device is introduced percutaneously through an intercostal space.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for accessing an interior chamber of a beating heart, said method comprising: forming a penetration through a muscular wall of the heart into the interior chamber; positioning a distal end of a tubular access device having an inner lumen through the penetration; and forming a hemostatic seal between the device and the penetration to inhibit blood loss through the penetration, wherein the tubular access device is introduced percutaneously through an intercostal space.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the tubular access device is passed percutaneously through an intercostal space selected from the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh intercostal space.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for accessing an interior chamber of a beating heart, said method comprising: forming a penetration through a muscular wall of the heart into the interior chamber; positioning a distal end of a tubular access device having an inner lumen through the penetration; forming a hemostatic seal between the device and the penetration to inhibit blood loss through the penetration; and performing a procedure on the heart using one or more instruments introduced through the inner lumen of the access device.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for accessing an interior chamber of a beating heart, said method comprising: forming a penetration through a muscular wall of the heart into the interior chamber; positioning a distal end of a tubular access device having an inner lumen through the penetration; forming a hemostatic seal between the device and the penetration to inhibit blood loss through the penetration; and performing a procedure on the heart using one or more instruments introduced through the inner lumen of the access device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein the procedure comprises repairing a septal defect in the heart.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein the procedure comprises performing electrophysiological mapping.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein the procedure comprises performing electrophysiological abalation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein the procedure comprises repairing a heart valve in the heart.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein the procedure comprises removing a material from the heart selected from thrombi, vegetations, myxomas, and neoplasms.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for accessing an interior chamber of a beating heart, said method comprising: forming a penetration through a muscular wall of the heart into the interior chamber; positioning a distal end of a tubular access device having an inner lumen through the penetration; and forming a hemostatic seal between the device and the penetration to inhibit blood loss through the penetration, wherein the heart remains beating throughout each of the steps of forming a penetration, positioning, and forming a hemostatic seal.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for accessing an interior chamber of a beating heart, said method comprising: forming a penetration through a muscular wall of the heart into the interior chamber; positioning a distal end of a tubular access device having an inner lumen through the penetration; and forming a hemostatic seal between the device and the penetration to inhibit blood loss through the penetration, wherein the heart remains beating throughout each of the steps of forming a penetration, positioning, and forming a hemostatic seal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for accessing an interior chamber of a beating heart, said method comprising: forming a penetration through a muscular wall of the heart into the interior chamber; positioning a distal end of a tubular access device having an inner lumen through the penetration; and forming a hemostatic seal between the device and the penetration to inhibit blood loss through the penetration, wherein the penetration is formed by an obturator removably positioned in the inner lumen of the tubular access device.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for accessing an interior chamber of a beating heart, said method comprising: forming a penetration through a muscular wall of the heart into the interior chamber; positioning a distal end of a tubular access device having an inner lumen through the penetration; and forming a hemostatic seal between the device and the penetration to inhibit blood loss through the penetration, wherein the penetration is formed by an obturator removably positioned in the inner lumen of the tubular access device.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for accessing an interior chamber of a beating heart, said method comprising: forming a penetration through a muscular wall of the heart into the interior chamber; positioning a distal end of a tubular access device having an inner lumen through the penetration; and forming a hemostatic seal between the device and the penetration to inhibit blood loss through the penetration, wherein ribs and sternum remain intact during each step of forming a penetration, positioning, and forming a hemostatic seal.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for accessing an interior chamber of a beating heart, said method comprising: forming a penetration through a muscular wall of the heart into the interior chamber; positioning a distal end of a tubular access device having an inner lumen through the penetration; and forming a hemostatic seal between the device and the penetration to inhibit blood loss through the penetration, wherein ribs and sternum remain intact during each step of forming a penetration, positioning, and forming a hemostatic seal.