| US 7,338,434 B1 | ||
| Method and system for organ positioning and stabilization | ||
| Philip J. Haarstad, Chanhassen, Minn. (US); Christopher P. Olig, Eden Prairie, Minn. (US); Paul T. Rothstein, Maple Grove, Minn. (US); Michael J. Hobday, Lino Lakes, Minn. (US); David J. S. Kim, Maple Grove, Minn. (US); and James R. Keogh, Maplewood, Minn. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn. (US) | ||
| Filed on Aug. 19, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/643,299. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/424243, filed on Nov. 06, 2002. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/404969, filed on Aug. 21, 2002. | ||
| Int. Cl. A61F 2/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 600—37 [600/201; 600/235] | 39 Claims |
| 1. A heart positioning device for moving a heart to a non-physiological orientation comprising:
a suction head comprising a flexible, resilient material that may be compressed and resiliently return to its original shape
and may flex to permit the suction head to engage and conform to a target tissue on the surface of the heart, the suction
head having a vacuum passageway in fluid communication with the suction head to apply suction between the suction head and
the target tissue on the surface of the heart;
a shaft having a vacuum lumen extending therethrough, the shaft coupled at a distal end to the suction head by a movable joint;
a handle coupled to a proximal end of the shaft for remote manipulation of the position of the suction head to effect movement
of the heart to a non-physiological orientation; and
means on a proximal portion of the heart positioning device for remotely bending the movable joint from a first position in
which the suction head is axially aligned with the shaft to a second, position in which the suction head is axially unaligned
with the shaft.
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