Patent ID: 6332468
Filing Date: 2001-12-25
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method for performing a coronary artery bypass graft on a patient's beating heart comprising the steps of:a) forming at least one opening in the patient's chest,b) percutaneously introducing a viewing means through the patient's chest;c) locating a target artery for an arterial blood supply;d) introducing instruments through one or more small openings formed in the patient's chest to prepare the target artery for fluid connection to a portion of a coronary artery distal from a stenosis;e) introducing instruments through one or more small openings formed in the patient's chest to connect the target artery with the coronary artery and thereby supply arterial blood from the target artery to the coronary artery; andf) viewing at least one of steps c), d) and e) with the viewing means.