Surgical devices for imposing a negative pressure to stabilize the cardiac tissue during surgery

Abstract

The invention is devices and techniques which use a negative (suction) pressure or vacuum, applied through a surgical instrument, to fix the position of a portion of the surface of a beating heart so that a surgical procedure can be more easily performed. The devices apply a negative pressure at several points on the outer surface of the heart such that a portion of the heart is fixed in place by the suction imposed through the surgical instrument. Because the instrument fixes the position of the tissue, and because the instruments remain at a constant distance from the particular portion of the heart where the surgery is being performed, the device may also serve as a support or platform so that other surgical instruments or devices can be advantageously used at the site. In certain preferred embodiments, the devices described herein have structures to facilitate the use of additional surgical instruments such that the placement of negative pressure device permit the surgeon to advantageously manipulate the other instruments during surgery. The negative pressure is preferably imposed through a plurality of ports which may be disposed in a substantially planar surface of the instrument which contacts the cardiac tissue.

1 . A device for imposing a negative pressure on the surface of the heart comprising a housing having a bottom surface shaped to engage the surface of the heart, a plurality of suction ports having openings disposed in the bottom surface of the housing, a vacuum line operably connected to the suction ports.  
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a means for introducing a negative pressure located in the interior of the housing.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the means for introducing a negative pressure is comprised of a pressure conducting space connected to an inlet and to each suction port.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the housing is annular and has a plurality of suction ports disposed about the periphery.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4  further comprising at least one instrument port located in the annular housing.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the housing is dome-shaped.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein the means for introducing a negative pressure is comprised of an inlet and a pressure conducting chamber connected to each suction port.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 6  further comprising at least one instrument port located in the dome-shaped portion of the housing.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the instrument port is further comprised of means for attaching an instrument.  
   
   
       10 . A device for imposing a negative pressure on the surface of the heart comprising: a shaft attached to a suction port assembly, wherein said suction port assembly is comprised of a block having a plurality of suction ports disposed therein, and wherein said block is attached to a vacuum line.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the openings of the plurality of suction ports are disposed in the bottom surface of the block.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11  further comprising means for introducing a negative pressure contained within said block and connected to each of said plurality of suction ports.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12  comprising a pair of shafts interlinked by a pivot, wherein each shaft is attached to a suction port assembly.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the suction port assembly is comprised of an array of said plurality of suction ports, wherein each suction port has a passage communication with a pressure conducting space on the interior of said block, and wherein the pressure conducting space has an inlet an d is attached to a vacuum line affixed to the shaft.