Method and System for Organ Positioning and Stabilization

Abstract

This invention provides a system and method for positioning, manipulating, holding, grasping, immobilizing and/or stabilizing a heart including one or more tissue-engaging devices, one or more suction sources, one or more fluid sources, one or more energy sources, one or more sensors and one or more processors. The system and method may include an indifferent electrode, a drug delivery device and an illumination device. The system's tissue-engaging device may comprise a tissue-engaging head, a support apparatus and a clamping mechanism for attaching the tissue-engaging device to a stable object. The system may be used during various medical procedures including the deployment of an anastomotic device, intermittently stopping and starting of the heart, ablation of cardiac tissues and the placement of cardiac leads.

1 . A method of performing an ablation procedure on a heart, comprising:
 providing a suction assisted positioning device;   engaging the heart with the positioning device;   positioning the heart into a non-physiological orientation;   providing a suction assisted ablation device;   engaging the heart with the ablation device; and,   ablating tissue of the heart.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising
 providing at least one fluid adjacent the ablation device.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid is provided adjacent a conductive element of the ablation device. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 evaluating the hemodynamic condition of the heart with a sensor.   
   
   
       5 . A system for performing a medical procedure comprising:
 a heart positioning device;   a suction source in fluid communication with the heart positioning device;   a fluid source in fluid communication with the heart positioning device;   a sensor coupled to the heart positioning device;   a processor operatively connected to the sensor; and,   an energy source connected to the processor.   
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the suction source is operatively connected to the processor, wherein the processor processes output from the sensor and adjusts output from the suction source based on output from the sensor. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the fluid source is operatively connected to the processor, wherein the processor processes output from the sensor and adjusts output from the fluid source based on output from the sensor. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the energy source is operatively connected to the processor, wherein the processor processes output from the sensor and adjusts output from the energy source based on output from the sensor. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the energy source is electrical. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the heart positioning device comprises one or more electrodes electrically coupled to the energy source. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the heart positioning device comprises one or more suction openings in fluid communication with the suction source. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the heart positioning device comprises one or more fluid openings in fluid communication with the fluid source. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a drug delivery means coupled to the heart positioning device for delivering drugs during the medical procedure.   
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a illumination means coupled to the heart positioning device for providing illumination during the medical procedure.   
   
   
       15 . A heart positioning system for performing a medical procedure comprising:
 a suction assisted heart positioning device having one or more tissue contact surfaces;   one or more suction openings positioned along the one or more tissue contact surfaces;   a suction source in fluid communication with the one or more suction openings;   one or more energy transfer elements positioned along the one or more tissue contact surfaces;   an energy source connected to the one or more energy transfer elements;   one or more sensors positioned along the one or more tissue contact surfaces; and,   a processor operatively connected to the one or more sensors.   
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the suction source is operatively connected to the processor, wherein the processor processes output from the one or more sensors and adjusts output from the suction source based on output from the one or more sensors. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the energy source is operatively connected to the processor, wherein the processor processes output from the one or more sensors and adjusts output from the energy source based on output from the one or more sensors. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the energy source is electrical. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more energy transfer elements comprise one or more electrodes electrically coupled to the energy source. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a fluid source in fluid communication with the heart positioning device. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the fluid source is operatively connected to the processor, wherein the processor processes output from the one or more sensors and adjusts output from the fluid source based on output from the one or more sensors. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the heart positioning device comprises one or more fluid openings in fluid communication with the fluid source. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a drug delivery means coupled to the heart positioning device for delivering drugs during the medical procedure. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising an illumination means coupled to the heart positioning device for providing illumination during the medical procedure. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the one or more tissue contact surfaces is flexible. 
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the one or more tissue contact surfaces is shaped to conform to the surface of the heart. 
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising one or more surgeon-controlled switches operatively connected to the suction source. 
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising one or more surgeon-controlled switches operatively connected to the energy source. 
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising one or more surgeon-controlled switches operatively connected to the processor. 
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more tissue contact surfaces are coupled to a support means. 
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the support means comprises an articulating arm capable of being made flexible and rigid. 
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the support means comprises a coupling means for coupling the heart positioning device to a stable object. 
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising a stable object. 
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the stable object comprises a surgical device fixed to a patient's chest. 
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the surgical device comprises a retractor. 
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the coupling means comprises a clamp designed to clamp on the retractor. 
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the surgical device comprises a port. 
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the coupling means comprises a clamp designed to clamp on the port.