EP0799604A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser device for transmyocardial revascularization procedures
Assignee: Artivion Inc
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Filing: 1997-04-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-04-02
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for performing a laser myocardial revascularization of a human heart comprises a hand-held device with an elongated flexible lasing assembly including an axially movable fiber bundle which can be placed into the chest cavity of a patient. At the distal head end of the device laser energy from the distal end of the fiber bundle is initially reduced to form a relatively small opening in the epicardium of the heart. The fiber bundle is moved through the opening so that lasing with full laser power takes place beneath the epicardium to form a larger channel through the myocardium that extends into the left ventricular cavity. After the channel has been formed, the optical fiber bundle is retracted from the channel and back through the small epicardium opening so as to minimize operative bleeding and allow sealing of the epicardium after the apparatus is removed.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard L. Mueller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 07:33
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2017/00247; A61B17/02; A61B2017/0237; A61B2017/0243; A61B17/30; A61B2017/306; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00273; A61B2018/00291; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00392
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
A surgical device for performing a trans-myocardial revascularization procedure on a patient's heart, said device comprising: - a handle portion; - a tubular neck portion connected to said handle portion; - a head member attached to the distal end of said neck portion having an end face adapted to engage the outer surface of a heart being treated, a central opening in said end face and a body portion extending from said end face connected to said neck portion; - an optical fiber means having a proximal end connectable to a source of laser energy; said fiber means extending through said handle portion and into said neck portion with its distal end within said body portion of said head member, said fiber means having a diameter at its distal end for emitting a full laser beam of substantially the same diameter; - means on said handle portion for engaging said fiber means for moving it axially therein and thereby moving its distal end within said head member to a first position near the epicardium layer of the heart; and - laser power reduction means for providing a laser pulse from said fiber means at said first position having reduced energy and thereby making an opening in the epicardium that is smaller than the diameter of said full laser beam; - whereby said fiber bundle can thereafter be moved axially forward to form a channel in the myocardium of the heart with said full laser beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
37 words
The surgical device of claim 1 wherein said laser power reduction means comprises means for partially shielding said distal end of said fiber bundle so that laser energy therefrom will form a laser beam of reduced diameter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The surgical device of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said removable head member has a concave end face.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The surgical device of claim 3 including vacuum means connected to said handle portion for creating a suction at said central opening of said head member to draw the patient's heart tissue into said concave end face.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The surgical device according to claim 4 wherein said vacuum means includes a tubular conduit extending from a vacuum source and, connected to said handle portion for communicating with said head member to cause a suction at the epicardium of the patient's heart.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The surgical device according to any one of the preceding claims including a sensing means at said central opening of said head member for positioning the distal tip of said fiber bundle at a desired optimum distance from the epicardial surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The surgical device according to claim 6 wherein said sensing means is responsive to increased axial pressure from said fiber bundle to allow its passage through said central opening and into the myocardium of the patient's heart.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The surgical device according to claim 6 wherein said sensing means comprises an expandable split ring seated within a circular groove at said central opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
The surgical device according to claim 8 wherein said split ring has an inner diameter that is less than the diameter of said fiber means so that when said distal tip of the fiber means is against said split ring, the ring will shield a peripheral portion of a laser beam from said distal tip to form an opening in the epicardium of a reduced size.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The surgical device according to claim 9 wherein said split ring is coated with a metal alloy for absorbing laser energy.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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