Apical connectors and instruments for use in heart wall

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an apical connector for use in a heart wall. The apical connector may include a port defining an aperture therethrough, an anchoring device extending distally from the port and configured for advancing at least partially through the heart wall, and a cannula configured for advancing through the aperture of the port and at least partially through the heart wall. The cannula may include a locking tab configured to engage the port and lock the cannula with respect to the port.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An instrument for coring a hole in a heart wall and attaching a cannula to a port of an apical connector, the instrument comprising:
 a handle;   a shaft attached to the handle and extending distally therefrom;   a coring anchor attached to the shaft and extending distally therefrom;   a coring sleeve movably positioned over at least a portion of the shaft;   a coring tube attached to the coring sleeve and extending distally therefrom;   an attachment sleeve movably positioned over at least a portion of the coring sleeve; and   a cannula interface attached to the attachment sleeve and extending distally therefrom.   
     
     
         2 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the coring anchor comprises a coil configured for advancing at least partially through the heart wall. 
     
     
         3 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is rigidly attached to the handle, wherein the coring anchor is rigidly attached to the shaft, wherein the coring tube is rigidly attached to the coring sleeve, and wherein the cannula interface is rigidly attached to the attachment sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the instrument is adjustable between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the coring sleeve and the attachment sleeve are configured to rotate with the handle when the instrument is in the first configuration, and wherein the coring sleeve and the attachment sleeve are configured to rotate relative to the handle when the instrument is in the second configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The instrument of  claim 4 , further comprising a button configured to selectively maintain the instrument in the first configuration. 
     
     
         6 . An instrument for coring a hole in a heart wall and attaching a cannula to a port of an apical connector, the instrument comprising:
 a handle;   a shaft attached to the handle and extending distally therefrom;   a coring anchor attached to the shaft and extending distally therefrom;   a sleeve movably positioned over at least a portion of the shaft;   a cannula interface attached to the sleeve and extending distally therefrom; and   a coring tube attached to the sleeve and extending distally therefrom.   
     
     
         7 . The instrument of  claim 6 , wherein the coring anchor comprises a coil configured for advancing at least partially through the heart wall. 
     
     
         8 . The instrument of  claim 6 , wherein the shaft is rigidly attached to the handle, wherein the coring anchor is rigidly attached to the shaft, and wherein the coring tube is rigidly attached to the attachment sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . The instrument of  claim 6 , wherein the instrument is adjustable between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the sleeve is configured to rotate with the handle when the instrument is in the first configuration, and wherein the sleeve is configured to translate and rotate relative to the handle when the instrument is in the second configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The instrument of  claim 9 , further comprising a button configured to selectively maintain the instrument in the first configuration. 
     
     
         11 . An instrument system for securing a port of an apical connector to a heart wall, coring a hole in the heart wall, and attaching a cannula to the port of the apical connector, the instrument system comprising:
 a first instrument configured to secure the port of the apical connector to the heart wall; and   a second instrument configured for advancing through the first instrument to core the hole in the heart wall and attach the cannula to the port of the apical connector.   
     
     
         12 . The instrument system of  claim 11 , wherein the first instrument comprises a handle, and a port interface attached to the handle and configured for removably attaching to the port of the apical connector. 
     
     
         13 . The instrument system of  claim 11 , wherein the second instrument comprises a handle, a shaft attached to the handle, a coring anchor attached to the shaft and configured for coring the hole in the heart wall, a sleeve movably positioned over at least a portion of the shaft, a cannula interface attached to the sleeve and configured for removably attaching to the cannula of the apical connector, and a coring anchor attached to the sleeve and configured for providing counter-traction for advancing the coring tube into the heart wall. 
     
     
         14 . The instrument system of  claim 13 , wherein the second instrument is adjustable between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the sleeve is configured to rotate with the handle when the second instrument is in the first configuration, and wherein the sleeve is configured to translate and rotate relative to the handle when the second instrument is in the second configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The instrument system of  claim 14 , wherein the second instrument further comprises a button configured to selectively maintain the second instrument in the first configuration. 
     
     
         16 . An instrument for stabilizing an apical connector secured in a heart wall, the instrument comprising:
 a handle; and   a connector interface attached to a distal end of the handle, the connector interface comprising:
 a pair of prongs defining an opening configured for receiving a portion of the connector therebetween; and 
 a protrusion configured for engaging a mating engagement feature of the connector. 
   
     
     
         17 . The instrument of  claim 16 , wherein the prongs have a C-shaped configuration for receiving the portion of the connector therebetween. 
     
     
         18 . The instrument of  claim 16 , wherein the protrusion is positioned about an intersection of the prongs. 
     
     
         19 . The instrument of  claim 16 , wherein the protrusion is aligned with a center of the connector interface. 
     
     
         20 . The instrument of  claim 16 , wherein one or more portions of the instrument are formed of a pliable material.