Patent US6251121B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6251121B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and methods for intraoperatively performing surgery
Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc
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Filing: 2000-02-25
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Granted: 2001-06-26
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Expires: 2020-02-25
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and methods for intraoperatively performing surgery to create transmural channels in tissue, for example, as in transmyocardial revascularization, are provided using a device including a mechanical end effector and means for stabilizing the end effector in contact with the tissue. The end effector is adapted to cooperate with a source of suction to evacuate tissue severed during the channel forming process, and may optionally include an electrode for cauterizing the tissue surrounding the channel.
Inventors
- 👤 Vahid Saadat
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:39
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/3205; A61B17/3207; A61B17/320758; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00026; A61B2017/00039; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2017/00247; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/003; A61B2017/00367; A61B2017/00398; A61B2017/00681; A61B2017/00685; A61B2017/00982; A61B2017/00991; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22072; A61B2017/22074; A61B2017/22077; A61B17/30; A61B2017/306; A61B17/34; A61B2017/348; A61B2017/3482; A61B2017/3484; A61B2017/3488; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00184; A61B2018/00196; A61B2018/00202; A61B2018/00208; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/00267; A61B2018/00273; A61B2018/00279; A61B2018/00291; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00392; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00696; A61B2018/00738; A61B2018/00761; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00839; A61B2018/0091; A61B2018/00916; A61B18/1206; A61B2018/124; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1435; A61B2018/1437; A61B18/18; A61B18/1815; A61B2018/1861; A61B90/00; A61B90/03; A61B2090/033; A61B2090/034; A61B90/08; A61B2090/0807; A61B2090/0811; A61B90/36; A61B90/37; A61B2090/378; A61B2090/3782; A61B2217/00; A61B2217/002; A61B2217/005; A61B2218/00; A61B2218/001; A61B2218/002; A61B2218/007; A61B34/00; A61B34/20; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0067; A61M25/0082; A61M25/0084
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of intraoperatively forming a channel in tissue comprising: providing apparatus having an end effector for boring a channel in the tissue and a stabilizing element that stabilizes the tissue against the end effector; contacting the stabilizing element against a selected region of tissue; actuating the end effector to cut a channel in the tissue; evacuating the tissue cut by the end effector by drawing a level of suction through the end effector; and monitoring the level of suction to determine when the channel is fully formed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of intraoperatively forming a channel in tissue comprising: providing apparatus having an end effector for boring a channel in the tissue and a stabilizing element that stabilizes the tissue against the end effector; contacting the stabilizing element against a selected region of tissue; actuating the end effector to cut a channel in the tissue; evacuating the tissue cut by the end effector by drawing a level of suction through the end effector; and monitoring the level of suction to determine when the channel is fully formed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising: applying a burst of RF energy to cauterize the tissue defining the channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the end effector includes a cutting head, and actuating the end effector comprises rotating the cutting head.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as defined in claim 3 wherein evacuating the tissue is performed simultaneously with rotating the cutting head.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as defined in claim 3 wherein rotating the cutting head further comprises varying a speed of penetration of the cutting head into the tissue responsive to a distance that the cutting head has penetrated into the tissue.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as defined in claim 3 wherein rotating the cutting head deposits frictional heat into the tissue that cauterizes the tissue defining the channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the stabilizing element comprises a suction cup and evacuating the tissue comprises aspirating the tissue from the end effector at a first level of suction, and contacting the stabilizing element against the tissue comprises inducing a second level of suction through the suction cup which is lower than the first level of suction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as defined in claim 7 further comprising, after actuating the end effector, de-actuating the stabilizing element to disengage the selected region of tissue.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises means for monitoring cardiac activity, the method further comprising: monitoring the cardiac activity to detect the onset of diastole; and actuating the end effector responsive to the detection of the onset of diastole.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of intraoperatively performing transmyocardial revascularization comprising: providing apparatus comprising an end effector for boring a transmural channel in cardiac tissue, a lumen disposed through the end effector, and a stabilizing element that stabilizes the cardiac tissue against the end effector; drawing a level of suction through the lumen; contacting the stabilizing element against an epicardial surface to counteract wall motion of the cardiac tissue; determining a displacement of the end effector with a control circuit that generates a signal; actuating the end effector, responsive to the signal, to cut a transmural channel in the tissue; and evacuating the cardiac tissue cut by the end effector.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of intraoperatively performing transmyocardial revascularization comprising: providing apparatus comprising an end effector for boring a transmural channel in cardiac tissue, a lumen disposed through the end effector, and a stabilizing element that stabilizes the cardiac tissue against the end effector; drawing a level of suction through the lumen; contacting the stabilizing element against an epicardial surface to counteract wall motion of the cardiac tissue; determining a displacement of the end effector with a control circuit that generates a signal; actuating the end effector, responsive to the signal, to cut a transmural channel in the tissue; and evacuating the cardiac tissue cut by the end effector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as defined in claim 10 further comprising: applying a burst of RF energy to cauterize the cardiac tissue defining the transmural channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as defined in claim 10 wherein the end effector includes a cutting head, and actuating the end effector comprises rotating the cutting head.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as defined in claim 12 wherein evacuating the tissue is performed simultaneously with rotating the cutting head.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as defined in claim 12 wherein rotating the cutting head comprises varying a speed of penetration of the cutting head into the cardiac tissue responsive to the signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as defined in claim 12 wherein rotating the cutting head deposits frictional heat into the cardiac tissue that cauterizes the cardiac tissue defining the transmural channel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as defined in claim 10 wherein evacuating the cardiac tissue cut by the end effector further comprises monitoring the level of suction to determine when the transmural channel is fully formed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method as defined in claim 10 wherein the stabilizing element comprises a suction cup, evacuating the tissue comprises aspirating the cardiac tissue from the end effector at a first level of suction, and contacting the stabilizing element against the epicardial surface comprises inducing a second level of suction through the suction cup which is lower than the first level of suction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as defined in claim 10 wherein the apparatus further comprises means for monitoring cardiac activity, the method further comprising: monitoring the cardiac activity to detect the onset of diastole; and actuating the end effector responsive to the detection of the onset of diastole.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of intraoperatively performing transmyocardial revascularization comprising: providing apparatus comprising an end effector for boring a transmural channel in cardiac tissue, a lumen disposed through the end effector, and a stabilizing element that stabilizes the cardiac tissue against the end effector; drawing a level of suction through the lumen; contacting the stabilizing element against an epicardial surface to counteract wall motion of the cardiac tissue; actuating the end effector, responsive to the level of suction exceeding a predetermined level, to cut a transmural channel in the cardiac tissue, the transmural channel extending between the epicardial surface and an endocardial surface; and evacuating the cardiac tissue cut by the end effector through the lumen.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of intraoperatively performing transmyocardial revascularization comprising: providing apparatus comprising an end effector for boring a transmural channel in cardiac tissue, a lumen disposed through the end effector, and a stabilizing element that stabilizes the cardiac tissue against the end effector; drawing a level of suction through the lumen; contacting the stabilizing element against an epicardial surface to counteract wall motion of the cardiac tissue; actuating the end effector, responsive to the level of suction exceeding a predetermined level, to cut a transmural channel in the cardiac tissue, the transmural channel extending between the epicardial surface and an endocardial surface; and evacuating the cardiac tissue cut by the end effector through the lumen.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as defined in claim 19 further comprising: applying a burst of RF energy to cauterize the cardiac tissue defining the transmural channel.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as defined in claim 19 wherein the end effector includes a cutting head, and actuating the end effector comprises rotating the cutting head.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as defined in claim 21 wherein evacuating the tissue is performed simultaneously with rotating the cutting head.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method as defined in claim 21 wherein rotating the cutting head further comprises varying a speed of penetration of the cutting head into the cardiac tissue responsive to a distance that the cutting head has penetrated into the cardiac tissue.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as defined in claim 21 wherein rotating the cutting head deposits frictional heat into the cardiac tissue that cauterizes the cardiac tissue defining the transmural channel.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as defined in claim 19 wherein evacuating the cardiac tissue cut by the end effector further comprises monitoring the level of suction to determine when the transmural channel is fully formed.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method as defined in claim 19 wherein the stabilizing element comprises a suction cup, evacuating the tissue comprises aspirating the cardiac tissue from the end effector at a first level of suction, and contacting the stabilizing element comprises inducing a second level of suction through the suction cup which is lower than the first level of suction.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as defined in claim 19 wherein the apparatus further comprises means for monitoring cardiac activity, the method further comprising: monitoring the cardiac activity to detect the onset of diastole; and actuating the end effector responsive to the detection of the onset of diastole.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-06-25 | 2004-12-25 | 2005-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-06-25 | 2008-12-25 | 2009-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-06-25 | 2012-12-25 | 2013-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |