Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of performing minimally invasive cardiac valve repair or replacement surgery on a patient comprising the steps of: preparing the patient for surgery; making an incision in the chest of the patient; said incision being approximately 10 cm in length; said incision being made within a region on the chest that enables direct access to a location in the heart approximately 3 cm above the supra annular ridge and in the mid-ventricular cavity; establishing cardiopulmonary bypass using at least one blood conduit placed within the region; exposing a surgical field within said area approximately 3 cm above the supra annular ridge and in the mid-ventricular cavity; and, performing a valve repair or replacement procedure within the surgical field.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of performing minimally invasive cardiac valve repair or replacement surgery on a patient comprising the steps of: preparing the patient for surgery; making an incision in the chest of the patient; said incision being approximately 10 cm in length; said incision being made within a region on the chest that enables direct access to a location in the heart approximately 3 cm above the supra annular ridge and in the mid-ventricular cavity; establishing cardiopulmonary bypass using at least one blood conduit placed within the region; exposing a surgical field within said area approximately 3 cm above the supra annular ridge and in the mid-ventricular cavity; and, performing a valve repair or replacement procedure within the surgical field.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of establishing cardiopulmonary bypass comprises: connecting an arterial return cannula to an appropriate vessel, connecting a venous drain cannula to an appropriate vessel, occluding the aorta, and introducing cardioplegia solution through a coronary ostia.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of performing a valve repair or replacement procedure comprises implanting a prosthetic valve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of exposing comprises: a) dividing the outer layer of muscle tissue below the skin; b) exposing one or more costal cartilages; c) resecting the exposed costal cartilages; d) incising and retracting the pericardium; and e) incising one of the atrial chambers of the heart or the ascending aorta to expose the surgical field.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the valve to be repaired or replaced is the aortic valve, and step e) comprises incising the ascending aorta, wherein the surgical field is an area adjacent the aortic valve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the valve to be repaired or replaced is the mitral valve, and step e) comprises incising the right atrium and intra-atrial septum, wherein the surgical field is an area adjacent the mitral valve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 6 , further comprising: after step e) to expose the surgical field, providing downward traction on the left atrial wall using a deformable retractor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 6 , further comprising: after step e) to expose the surgical field, inserting a resilient ring member into the surgical field between the valve and the left atrial wall to facilitate lifting tissue away from the valve area needing repair.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of performing minimally invasive cardiac valve repair or replacement surgery on a patient comprising the steps of: preparing the patient for surgery; making an incision in the chest of the patient; said incision being approximately 10 cm in length; said incision being confined to a substantially rectangular area on the chest; said rectangular area extending approximately two inches on either side of the sternum and from no higher than the first intercostal space at the top to the sixth intercostal space at the bottom; establishing cardiopulmonary bypass using at least one blood conduit placed within the rectangular area; exposing a surgical field below said incision; and performing a valve repair or replacement procedure within the surgical field.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of performing minimally invasive cardiac valve repair or replacement surgery on a patient comprising the steps of: preparing the patient for surgery; making an incision in the chest of the patient; said incision being approximately 10 cm in length; said incision being confined to a substantially rectangular area on the chest; said rectangular area extending approximately two inches on either side of the sternum and from no higher than the first intercostal space at the top to the sixth intercostal space at the bottom; establishing cardiopulmonary bypass using at least one blood conduit placed within the rectangular area; exposing a surgical field below said incision; and performing a valve repair or replacement procedure within the surgical field.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein said step of establishing cardiopulmonary bypass comprises: connecting an arterial return cannula to an appropriate vessel, connecting a venous drain cannula to an appropriate vessel, occluding the aorta, and introducing cardioplegia solution through a coronary ostia.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein said step of performing a valve repair or replacement procedure comprises implanting a prosthetic valve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of exposing comprises: a) dividing the outer layer of muscle tissue below the skin; b) exposing one or more costal cartilages; c) resecting the exposed costal cartilages; d) incising and retracting the pericardium; and e) incising one of the atrial chambers of the heart or the ascending aorta to expose the surgical field.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the valve to be repaired or replaced is the aortic valve, and step e) comprises incising the ascending aorta, wherein the surgical field is an area adjacent the aortic valve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the valve to be repaired or replaced is the mitral valve, and step e) comprises incising the right atrium and intra-atrial septum, wherein the surgical field is an area adjacent the mitral valve.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 14 , further comprising: after step e) to expose the surgical field, providing downward traction on the left atrial wall using a deformable retractor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 14 , further comprising: after step e) to expose the surgical field, inserting a resilient ring member into the surgical field between the valve and the left atrial wall to facilitate lifting tissue away from the valve area needing repair.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of performing minimally invasive cardiac valve repair or replacement surgery on a patient comprising the steps of: preparing the patient for surgery; making a straight incision of approximately 10 cm in length in the chest of the patient; establishing cardiopulmonary bypass using at least one blood conduit placed in a region near said incision; incising and retracting tissue in the area beneath the incision so as to expose a portion of the heart where surgery is required; and performing a valve repair or replacement procedure on the exposed portion of the heart including establishing cardiopulmonary bypass.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of performing minimally invasive cardiac valve repair or replacement surgery on a patient comprising the steps of: preparing the patient for surgery; making a straight incision of approximately 10 cm in length in the chest of the patient; establishing cardiopulmonary bypass using at least one blood conduit placed in a region near said incision; incising and retracting tissue in the area beneath the incision so as to expose a portion of the heart where surgery is required; and performing a valve repair or replacement procedure on the exposed portion of the heart including establishing cardiopulmonary bypass.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein said step of establishing cardiopulmonary bypass comprises: connecting an arterial return cannula to an appropriate vessel, connecting a venous drain cannula to an appropriate vessel, occluding the aorta, and introducing cardioplegia solution through a coronary ostia.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein said step of performing a valve repair or replacement procedure comprises implanting a prosthetic valve.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of incising and retracting comprises: a) dividing the outer layer of muscle tissue below the skin; b) exposing one or more costal cartilages; c) resecting the exposed costal cartilages; d) incising and retracting the pericardium; and e) incising one of the atrial chambers of the heart or the ascending aorta to expose the portion of the heart where surgery is required.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein the valve to be repaired or replaced is the aortic valve, and step e) comprises incising the ascending aorta, wherein the surgical field is an area adjacent the aortic valve.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein the valve to be repaired or replaced is the mitral valve, and step e) comprises incising the right atrium and intra-atrial septum, wherein the surgical field is an area adjacent the mitral valve.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 22 , further comprising: after step e) to expose the surgical field, providing downward traction on the left atrial wall using a deformable retractor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 22 , further comprising: after step e) to expose the surgical field, inserting a resilient ring member into the surgical field between the valve and the left atrial wall to facilitate lifting tissue away from the valve area needing repair.