Device and method for minimizing heart displacements during a beating heart surgical procedure

Abstract

A device for minimizing displacements of the heart when performing a beating heart surgical procedure including two heart engaging members. The heart engaging members are slidably coupled to a retractor. The heart engaging members may be rotated and extended as necessary to reach the target site on the patient's heart. The heart engaging members have curved distal ends which are configured to engage a coronary shunt positioned in the coronary artery. A suture extends around the coronary and is coupled to the heart engaging members.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for reducing displacements of a portion of a patient's heart, comprising: 
 passing a first flexible filament through a portion of a patient's heart;    coupling the first flexible filament to a first heart engaging member;    positioning the first heart engaging member in contact with the patient's heart;    anchoring the heart engaging member relative to the patient's beating heart; and    tensioning the first flexible filament so that displacements of the portion of the patient's heart are reduced.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1   , further comprising the steps of: 
 passing a second flexible filament through another portion of the patient's heart;    coupling the second flexible filament to a second heart engaging member;    positioning the second heart engaging member in contact with the patient's heart;    anchoring the heart engaging member relative to the patient's beating heart; and    tensioning the second flexible element so that displacements of the portion of the patient's heart are reduced.    
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 2   , further comprising the steps of: 
 positioning a coronary shunt in a coronary artery of the patient, the coronary shunt having a blood flow lumen therethrough;    the passing steps being carried out so that the first and second filaments extend around the coronary artery and the coronary shunt.    
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 3   , further comprising the step of: 
 separating a first part of the coronary shunt from a second part of the coronary shunt;    removing the firs part by pulling on a first flexible tether attached to the first part; and    removing the second part by pulling on a second flexible tether attached to the second part.    
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 1   , further comprising the step of: 
 positioning a retractor in the patient's chest, the first heart engaging member being mounted to the retractor.    
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 5   , wherein: 
 the heart engaging member is slidably coupled to the retractor.    
     
     
         7 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein: 
 the coupling step is carried out by passing the flexible filament through a passageway in the heart engaging member.    
     
     
         8 . A device for reducing displacements of a portion of a patient's heart during a beating heart anastomosis, comprising: 
 a support structure;    a first heart engaging member mounted to the support structure, the heart engaging member having a distal end configured to engage a patient's heart; and    a first flexible filament coupled to the first heart engaging member.    
     
     
         9 . The device of    claim 8   , further comprising: 
 a second heart engaging member mounted to the support structure, the heart engaging member also having a distal end configured to engage the patient's heart; and    a second flexible filament coupled to the second heart engaging member.    
     
     
         10 . The device of    claim 9   , wherein: 
 the support structure is a retractor.    
     
     
         11 . The device of    claim 10   , wherein: 
 the first and second heart engaging members are slidably coupled to the retractor.    
     
     
         12 . The device of    claim 8   , further comprising: 
 means for securing the first flexible filament to the first heart engaging member.    
     
     
         13 . A method for reducing displacements of a portion of a patient's heart, comprising: 
 providing a support structure having a first heart engaging member;    positioning a distal end of the first heart engaging member in contact with the patient's heart;    securing the distal end of the first heart engaging member to the patient's heart; and    anchoring the first heart engaging member relative to the patient's beating heart so that displacements of the patient's heart around the distal end of the first heart engaging member are reduced.    
     
     
         14 . The method of    claim 13   , wherein: 
 the securing step is carried out with the distal end of the first heart engaging member being secured to the patient's heart with a filament.    
     
     
         15 . The method of    claim 13   , further comprising the steps of: 
 positioning a distal end of a second heart engaging member in contact with the patient's heart, the second heart engaging member being mounted to the retractor;    securing the distal end of the second heart engaging member to the patient's heart; and    anchoring the second heart engaging member relative to the patient's heart so that displacements of the patient's heart around the distal end of the second heart engaging member are reduced.    
     
     
         16 . The method of    claim 15   , wherein: 
 the providing step is carried out with the first and second heart engaging members being slidably coupled to the retractor.    
     
     
         17 . The method of    claim 13    wherein: 
 the providing step is carried out with the support structure being a retractor.  
 
     
     
         18 . A device for reducing displacements of a portion of a patient's heart during a beating heart anastomosis, comprising: 
 a support structure;    a first heart engaging member mounted to the support structure, the heart engaging member having a distal end configured to contact a patient's heart, the first heart engaging member having means for securing the distal end to the patient's heart; and    a second heart engaging member mounted to the support structure, the heart engaging member also having a distal end configured to contact the patient's heart, the second heart engaging member having means for securing the distal end to the patient's heart.    
     
     
         19 . The device of    claim 18   , wherein: 
 the support structure is a retractor.    
     
     
         20 . The device of    claim 18   , wherein: 
 the first and second heart engaging members are slidably coupled to the retractor.    
     
     
         21 . The device of    claim 18   , wherein: 
 the securing means for the first and second heart engaging members includes a filament.    
     
     
         22 . The device of    claim 18   , wherein: 
 the first and second heart engaging members are pivotably coupled to the support structure.