Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of closed-chest surgical intervention within an internal cavity of a patient's heart or great vessel, the method comprising: establishing cardiopulmonary bypass; arresting the patient's heart; forming at least one percutaneous intercostal penetration in a patient's chest; viewing an internal portion of the patient's chest through a scope extending through one of said at least one percutaneous intercostal penetrations in the patient's chest; forming an internal penetration in a wall of the heart or great vessel using cutting means introduced through one of said at least one percutaneous intercostal penetrations in the patient's chest; opening the internal penetration in the wall of the heart; introducing an interventional tool through one of said at least one percutaneous intercostal penetrations and through the internal penetration to perform a surgical procedure within the internal cavity under visualization by means of said scope; and closing the internal penetration in the wall of the heart.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of closed-chest surgical intervention within an internal cavity of a patient's heart or great vessel, the method comprising: establishing cardiopulmonary bypass; arresting the patient's heart; forming at least one percutaneous intercostal penetration in a patient's chest; viewing an internal portion of the patient's chest through a scope extending through one of said at least one percutaneous intercostal penetrations in the patient's chest; forming an internal penetration in a wall of the heart or great vessel using cutting means introduced through one of said at least one percutaneous intercostal penetrations in the patient's chest; opening the internal penetration in the wall of the heart; introducing an interventional tool through one of said at least one percutaneous intercostal penetrations and through the internal penetration to perform a surgical procedure within the internal cavity under visualization by means of said scope; and closing the internal penetration in the wall of the heart.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the patient's heart is arrested by occluding the patient's aorta between the patient's coronary arteries and the patient's brachiocephalic artery with an expandable member on a distal end of an endovascular catheter, and perfusing the patient's myocardium with cardioplegic fluid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the interventional tool is introduced through a cannula positioned in one of said at least one percutaneous intercostal penetrations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the surgical procedure comprises surgically treating a heart valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of removing at least a portion of the heart valve by means of a cutting tool introduced through one of said at least one percutaneous intemostal penetrations and through the internal penetration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of introducing a replacement valve through one of said at least one percutaneous intercostal penetrations and through the internal penetration into the internal cavity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising fastening the replacement valve within the internal cavity by means of an instrument introduced through one of said at least one percutaneous intercostal penetrations and through the internal penetration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the replacement valve is introduced through a cannula positioned in one of said at least one percutaneous intercostal penetrations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 4 wherein one of said at least one percutaneous intercostal penetrations is created in a right lateral portion of the patient's chest.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the internal penetration is made in a wall of the patient's left atrium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the heart valve comprises a mitral valve.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the heart valve comprises an aortic valve.