Patent ID: 9511219
Filing Date: 2016-12-06
CPC Classification: A61B,A61N

Claim Text:
1. A device adapted for the thoracoscopic placement of a lead at a target site on an epicardial surface of a heart, the device comprising: (a) an inner tubular lead conduit having a flexible inner tubular lead conduit distal end comprising an inner suction foot portion, said inner tubular lead conduit adapted to conduct a vacuum to said inner suction foot portion; (b) a lead drive head having a flexible distal end and inserted within said inner tubular lead conduit so as to extend to said flexible inner tubular lead conduit distal end; (c) a lead extending through said lead drive head and having a lead distal end portion, said lead distal end portion extending from said distal end of said lead drive head for contact with the epicardial surface of the heart; (d) an outer tubular lead conduit having a flexible outer lead conduit distal end comprising an outer suction foot portion, said outer tubular lead conduit adapted to conduct a vacuum to said outer suction foot portion while being adapted to slidingly conduct said inner tubular lead conduit, so as to permit said inner tubular lead conduit to be extended from said outer lead conduit distal end; (e) an elongated sheath body having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and having a proximal inlet and a distal lead outlet for extending said inner and outer lead conduits therethrough, said elongated sheath body comprising a lead receiving passageway for receiving and conducting said inner and outer tubular lead conduits between said proximal inlet and said distal lead outlet; said lead drive head adapted to releasably engage said lead distal end portion such that said engagement is releasable such that said lead drive head may be released from said lead distal end portion once said lead is attached to said epicardial surface of a heart; (f) a first actuator adapted to articulate said inner suction foot portion and said outer suction foot portion while said inner suction foot portion is disposed within said outer suction foot portion; and (g) a second actuator adapted to articulate said inner suction foot portion when said inner suction foot portion is extended from said outer suction foot portion.