Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
A method for minimizing invasion in a surgical procedure involving a portion of at least one of the heart and great vessels, comprising the steps of: making a parasternal incision exposing a predetermined number of costal cartilages; excising at least one costal cartilage to provide access to the portion of the heart or great vessels of interest, and effecting a surgical procedure through the parasternal incision.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
66 words
A method for minimizing invasion in a surgical procedure involving a portion of at least one of the heart and great vessels, comprising the steps of: making a parasternal incision exposing a predetermined number of costal cartilages; excising at least one costal cartilage to provide access to the portion of the heart or great vessels of interest, and effecting a surgical procedure through the parasternal incision.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of effecting a surgical procedure comprises the steps of: occluding the aorta to facilitate establishing a coronary by-pass; and arresting the heart.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of making a parasternal incision comprises making a right parasternal incision extending from the vicinity of the lower edge of the second costal cartilage to the superior edge of the fifth costal cartilage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of excising at least one costal cartilage comprises the step of excising the third and fourth costal cartilages.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of effecting the surgical procedure comprises performing a surgical procedure involving a portion of at least one of the heart and great vessels, located between a point approximately 3 centimeters above supra annular ridge and the mid ventricular cavity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of effecting the surgical procedure further comprises performing a surgical procedure involving the aortic valve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of effecting the surgical procedure comprises replacing the aortic valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of effecting the surgical procedure comprises replacing the aortic valve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
107 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: the step of making a parasternal incision comprises the step of making a right parasternal incision extending from the vicinity of the lower edge of the second costal cartilage to the superior edge of the fifth costal cartilage; the step of excising at least one costal cartilage comprises the step of excising the third and fourth costal cartilages, and the step of effecting the surgical procedure comprises the steps of: establishing a cardiopulmonary by-pass, whereby the heart is excluded from circulation; incising the aorta to expose the coronary ostia and the aortic valve; arresting cardiac function; operating on the aortic valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the step of effecting the surgical procedure further comprises the steps of placing sutures in the vicinity of each commissure of the aortic valve, and placing tension on such sutures.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the step of effecting the surgical procedure comprises excising the valve cusps of the aortic valve, and securing a replacement valve to the aortic annulus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the step of arresting cardiac function comprises infusing cardioplegia directly into the coronary ostia exposed by incising the aorta.