Apical Instrument Port

Abstract

The invention is directed to a method of treating a patient's heart. In this method an instrument port is secured within a passageway through a wall of an apical region of the patient's heart to allow the passage of a treatment instrument. A number of minimally invasive procedures may be performed within the patient's heart

1 . A minimally invasive method of accessing an interior portion of a patient's heart, comprising:
 a. providing an elongated treatment instrument having an operative distal portion;   b. providing an accessing port having an inner lumen and a valve within the inner lumen, said valve reducing proximal passage of blood through the inner lumen and allowing distal passage of the treatment instrument through the inner lumen;   c. forming a small passageway through a ventricular wall in an apical region of the patient's heart;   d. seating the accessing port within the passageway formed in the apical region of the patient's ventricular wall;   e. advancing the treatment instrument having an operative distal portion through the inner lumen of the seated accessing port into an interior of the patient's heart until the operative distal portion of the treatment instrument is located in a desired treatment area within the patient's heart;   f. treating the patient's heart with the operative distal portion of the treatment instrument; and   g. withdrawing the treatment instrument after treating the patient's heart through the accessing port.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the operative distal portion of the treatment instrument is configured to repair a valve in the patient's heart. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the operative distal portion of the treatment instrument is configured to repair an aortic valve in the patient's heart. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the operative distal portion of the treatment instrument is configured to deliver a stent prostheses through the interior of the patient's heart into the patient's aorta for aneurysm repair or partial aorta replacement. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the operative distal portion of the treatment instrument is configured to repair a para valvular leak. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the operative distal portion of the treatment instrument is configured to extract clots or masses from the interior of the patient's heart. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the operative distal portion of the treatment instrument is configured to deliver stem cells to an interior wall of the patient's heart. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the operative distal portion of the treatment instrument is configured to form a thermal or energy based ablation lesion to treat rhythm disturbances of the patient's heart. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein one or more treatment instruments are inserted through the inner lumen of the instrument port in order to advance a first portion of an artificial chordae tendenae into the left ventricle of the patient's heart, securing the first portion of the artificial chordae tendenae to a free edge of a valve leaflet with a torn or damaged chordae tendenae from within the patient's heart; and securing a second portion of the artificial chordae tendenae to a ventricular wall of the patient's heart. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein a grasping device is advanced through the inner lumen of the instrument port in the ventricular wall into the left ventricle and grasps a free edge of a valve leaflet with a torn or damaged chordae tendeneae and positions the free edge of the valve leaflet in a grasping location. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the first portion of the artificial chordae tendenae is secured to the free edge of the valve leaflet with a torn or damaged chordae tendenae when the free edge thereof is grasped by the grasping device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the grasping device is withdrawn from the interior of the patient's heart and the second portion of the artificial chordae tendenae is then secured to the wall of the patient's heart. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the second portion of the artificial chordae tendenae extends through the passageway in the patient's ventricular wall and is secured to an exterior surface thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the free edge of the valve leaflet which has a torn or damaged chordae tendenae and a free edge of an adjacent valve leaflet are secured together.