US6401720B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for thoracoscopic intracardiac procedures
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1999-10-04
•
Granted: 2002-06-11
•
Expires: 2019-10-04
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
- 👤 John H. Stevens
- 👤 Bruce A. Reitz
- 👤 Alex T. Roth
- 👤 William S. Peters
- 👤 Hanson S. Gifford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 20:59
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: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 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.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
62 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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the interior chamber is selected from a right atrium, a right ventricle, and a left atrium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as in claim 2 , wherein a proximal end of the tubular access device is open to the exterior and wherein blood flow through the inner lumen is prevented by the pressure head of blood within the inner lumen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 3 , wherein a lateral side of the patient is disposed upward to permit vertical entry of the tubular access device into the interior chamber from a lateral portion of the chest.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein the tubular access device is introduced percutaneously through an intercostal space.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 5 , 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 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein a lung is collapsed to provide a working space between the ribs and the pericardium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 7 , further comprising percutaneously introducing a viewing scope into the working space and viewing the heart while forming the penetration and positioning the distal end of the access device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 8 , wherein the heart is viewed by viewing a video image obtained from a camera mounted to the viewing scope.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 8 , wherein the heart is directly viewed through an optical passage in the viewing scope.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein the hemostatic seal is formed by expanding a balloon around the access device to occlude the penetration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein the hemostatic seal is formed by radially expanding the access device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein the hemostatic seal is formed by tightening a purse-string suture in the heart wall around the penetration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising performing a procedure on the heart using one or more instruments introduced through the inner lumen of the access device.
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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) | 2005-06-10 | 2005-12-10 | 2006-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-10 | 2009-12-10 | 2010-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-10 | 2013-12-10 | 2014-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |