Surgical stabilizer and closure system

摘要

A system for stabilizing the heart via a helical needle, providing access to the interior of the heart via an introducer sheath, and forming a purse string suture using suture delivered by the helical needle. A helical needle projects distally from the device and terminates in a sharp distal tip. The helical needle is advanced into the heart wall, and is used to stabilize the heart and to pass a purse string suture through the heart tissue. An access port provides access to the interior of the heart via an opening passing through the heart wall in an area circumscribed by the helical needle. The helical needle may have a deflection segment adjacent the distal tip that is more flexible than the rest of the helical distal portion of the helical needle.

主权项

1. A method of accessing the interior of a heart using a device comprising an access port with at least one generally helical needle at a distal end thereof, the method comprising:
positioning a distal end of the generally helical needle against an apex of the heart; advancing the generally helical needle into the heart wall at the apex of the heart without penetrating the interior of the heart, comprising rotating the helical needle in a first rotational direction with the distal end of the generally helical needle held against the apex of the heart; stabilizing the heart by securing the access port and generally helical needle in a generally fixed position; creating a puncture through the heart wall and into the interior of the heart at the apex of the heart using a puncture needle; advancing a treatment instrument into the interior of the heart via the access port and the puncture; performing a procedure on the heart using the treatment instrument; removing the treatment instrument from the interior of the heart; removing the generally helical needle from the heart wall at the apex of the heart, comprising rotating the generally helical needle in a second rotational direction, wherein the second rotational direction is opposite to the first rotational direction, wherein removing the generally helical needle from the heart wall occurs after performing the procedure on the heart using the treatment instrument.