Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
In a heart procedure where blood flow is temporarily halted to at least one coronary artery on a beating heart, the improvement to the procedure is a localized adjunct treatment in combination therewith comprising the steps of: a) positioning a tissue removing means adjacent affected myocardial tissue prone to blood-flow deprivation where the blood flow is temporarily halted to the at least one coronary artery; and b) forming at least one myocardial revascularizing channel in the affected myocardial tissue using the tissue removal instrument, thereby providing oxygenated blood to and revascularizing the affected myocardial tissue.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
In a heart procedure where blood flow is temporarily halted to at least one coronary artery on a beating heart, the improvement to the procedure is a localized adjunct treatment in combination therewith comprising the steps of: a) positioning a tissue removing means adjacent affected myocardial tissue prone to blood-flow deprivation where the blood flow is temporarily halted to the at least one coronary artery; and b) forming at least one myocardial revascularizing channel in the affected myocardial tissue using the tissue removal instrument, thereby providing oxygenated blood to and revascularizing the affected myocardial tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The procedure of claim 1 wherein in the step b), the tissue removing means provided is a laser energy delivery means for removing the heart tissue.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The procedure of claim 2 wherein in the step b), the tissue removing means positioning is at the heart's epicardial surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The procedure of claim 3 wherein the laser energy delivery means further includes a piercing tip member and the step b) further includes an initial step of mechanically piercing an epicardial surface prior to positioning the laser energy delivery means in myocardial tissue and forming the at least one myocardial revascularizing channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The procedure of claim 3 wherein the step b) further includes forming additional myocardial revascularizing channels at distal portions of the heart in relation to the at least one coronary artery, thereby providing supplemental treatment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The procedure of claim 2 wherein in the step b), the tissue removing means positioning is at the heart's endocardial surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The procedure of claim 6 wherein the laser energy delivery means further includes a piercing tip member and the step b) further includes an initial step of mechanically piercing an endocardial surface prior to positioning the laser energy delivery means in myocardial tissue and forming the at least one myocardial revascularizing channel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The procedure of claim 1 wherein in the step b), the tissue removing means provided is a mechanical cutting means for removing the heart tissue.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The procedure of claim 1 wherein in the step b), the tissue removing means provided is an ultrasound means for removing the heart tissue.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The procedure of claim 1 wherein in the step b), the tissue removing means provided is a radio frequency thermal source means for removing the heart tissue.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The procedure of claim 1 wherein the procedure is a coronary artery angioplasty procedure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The procedure of claim 1 wherein the procedure is a coronary artery bypass grafting procedure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The procedure of claim 1 wherein the procedure is a minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting procedure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
90 words
In a bypass grafting heart procedure that includes transmyocardial revascularization, the improvement to the procedure is for providing assistance to the heart's grafting location, the procedure comprising the steps of: a) positioning a tissue removing means adjacent to affected myocardial tissue of the grafting location; b) forming at least one transmyocardial revascularizing channel in the affected myocardial tissue using the tissue removing means, thereby providing oxygenated blood to and revascularizing the affected myocardial tissue when the heart is active; and c) performing the coronary bypass grafting at the grafting location.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
90 words
In a bypass grafting heart procedure that includes transmyocardial revascularization, the improvement to the procedure is for providing assistance to the heart's grafting location, the procedure comprising the steps of: a) positioning a tissue removing means adjacent to affected myocardial tissue of the grafting location; b) forming at least one transmyocardial revascularizing channel in the affected myocardial tissue using the tissue removing means, thereby providing oxygenated blood to and revascularizing the affected myocardial tissue when the heart is active; and c) performing the coronary bypass grafting at the grafting location.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
135 words
A heart procedural device for a) temporary use on an active heart and b) providing oxygenated blood to myocardial tissue during a heart procedure, the device comprising: a perfusion tube with a tissue penetrating distal end portion adapted for inserting into a heart chamber through myocardial tissue, the perfusion tube forming a conduit between the heart chamber and at least one aperture in the perfusion tube's sidewall, the at least one aperture being adapted to supply oxygenated blood directly into the myocardial tissue during the heart procedure, the perfusion tube is adapted to allow passage of a tissue removal instrument through the perfusion tube and sealing means for allowing the formation of myocardial revascularizing channels; and sealing means for preventing blood from escaping the heart, the sealing means attaches to the perfusion tube's proximal end.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
135 words
A heart procedural device for a) temporary use on an active heart and b) providing oxygenated blood to myocardial tissue during a heart procedure, the device comprising: a perfusion tube with a tissue penetrating distal end portion adapted for inserting into a heart chamber through myocardial tissue, the perfusion tube forming a conduit between the heart chamber and at least one aperture in the perfusion tube's sidewall, the at least one aperture being adapted to supply oxygenated blood directly into the myocardial tissue during the heart procedure, the perfusion tube is adapted to allow passage of a tissue removal instrument through the perfusion tube and sealing means for allowing the formation of myocardial revascularizing channels; and sealing means for preventing blood from escaping the heart, the sealing means attaches to the perfusion tube's proximal end.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 15 wherein the perfusion tube's distal end has a sharpened end for mechanically piercing heart tissue.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
108 words
A heart procedural device for a) temporary use on an active heart and b) providing oxygenated blood to myocardial tissue during a heart procedure, the device comprising: at least one perfusion tube forming a conduit with a tissue penetrating distal end portion for inserting at least into myocardial tissue, the at least one perfusion tube's sidewall has at least one aperture adapted to supply oxygenated blood directly into the myocardial tissue during the heart procedure; at least one supply tube that inserts into a heart chamber; and manifold means for communicating blood between the at least one supply tube and the at least one perfusion tube's proximal end.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
108 words
A heart procedural device for a) temporary use on an active heart and b) providing oxygenated blood to myocardial tissue during a heart procedure, the device comprising: at least one perfusion tube forming a conduit with a tissue penetrating distal end portion for inserting at least into myocardial tissue, the at least one perfusion tube's sidewall has at least one aperture adapted to supply oxygenated blood directly into the myocardial tissue during the heart procedure; at least one supply tube that inserts into a heart chamber; and manifold means for communicating blood between the at least one supply tube and the at least one perfusion tube's proximal end.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 17 wherein the at least one perfusion tube and the at least one supply tube each have sharpened distal ends for mechanically piercing heart tissue.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 17 wherein the manifold means further includes means for pumping blood therethrough.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
112 words
A heart procedure wherein blood flow to a coronary artery is temporarily interrupted during the procedure, the procedure including the steps of; a) providing means for perfusing blood between a heart chamber and myocardial tissue; b) forming at least one tissue channel for communicating oxygenated blood from the heart chamber directly into the myocardial tissue; c) positioning a distal end of the means for perfusing blood in the at least one channel thereby providing oxygenated blood from the heart chamber to the myocardial tissue; and d) removing the means for perfusing blood after restoring blood flow to the coronary artery, whereby the myocardial tissue is provided with oxygenated blood during the procedure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
112 words
A heart procedure wherein blood flow to a coronary artery is temporarily interrupted during the procedure, the procedure including the steps of; a) providing means for perfusing blood between a heart chamber and myocardial tissue; b) forming at least one tissue channel for communicating oxygenated blood from the heart chamber directly into the myocardial tissue; c) positioning a distal end of the means for perfusing blood in the at least one channel thereby providing oxygenated blood from the heart chamber to the myocardial tissue; and d) removing the means for perfusing blood after restoring blood flow to the coronary artery, whereby the myocardial tissue is provided with oxygenated blood during the procedure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
47 words
The procedure of claim 20 wherein the step a) further includes providing and positioning a tissue removal instrument at a distal end of the means for perfusing blood, thereby facilitating channel formation in step b), and removing the tissue removal instrument from the means for perfusing blood.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
90 words
The procedure of claim 21 wherein in the step a), the means for perfusing blood comprises a perfusion tube with a tissue penetrating distal end portion adapted for inserting into the heart chamber through myocardial tissue, the perfusion tube forming a conduit between the heart chamber and at least one aperture in the perfusion tube's sidewall, the at least one aperture provides oxygenated blood directly into the myocardial tissue, and a sealing means for preventing blood from escaping the heart, the sealing means attaches to the perfusion tube's proximal end.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
92 words
The procedure of claim 20 wherein in the step a), the means for perfusing blood comprises at least one perfusion tube forming a conduit with a tissue penetrating distal end portion for inserting at least into myocardial tissue, the at least one perfusion tube's sidewall having at least one aperture for supplying oxygenated blood directly into the myocardial tissue, at least one supply tube that inserts into a heart chamber, and manifold means for communicating blood between the at least one supply tube and the at least one perfusion tube's proximal end.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
44 words
The procedure of claim 23 wherein in step a), the means for perfusing blood further includes pumping means, and the procedure further includes a step of actuating the pumping means thereby enhancing transport of oxygenated blood between the heart chamber and the myocardial tissue.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The procedure of claim 24 wherein the step of actuating the blood pumping means is done manually.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The procedure of claim 24 wherein the step of actuating the blood pumping means is done automatically.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The procedure of claim 24 wherein the step of actuating the blood pumping means is repeated at least once during the procedure.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The procedure of claim 24 wherein the step of actuating the blood pumping means is repeated at a specific rate during the procedure.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The procedure of claim 20 wherein the procedure is a coronary artery angioplasty procedure.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The procedure of claim 20 wherein the procedure is a coronary artery-bypass grafting procedure.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The procedure of claim 20 wherein the procedure is a minimally invasive direct coronary artery-bypass grafting procedure.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
The procedure of claim 20 wherein the procedure further includes a step of forming myocardial revascularizing channels thereby providing supplemental treatment.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
35 words
The procedure of claim 14 wherein the step b) further includes forming additional transmyocardial revascularizing channels at distal portions of the heart in relation to the at least one coronary artery, thereby providing supplemental treatment.