Patent ID: 7497824
Filing Date: 2009-03-03
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. As part of a surgical procedure on a beating heart, a method to minimize the motion of a target area of tissue of the beating heart during the surgical procedure, said method comprising the steps of: introducing an instrument to the outer surface of the beating heart at said target area and proximate to where the surgical procedure is to be performed, wherein said instrument includes a plurality of suction ports opening through a bottom surface of the instrument to apply negative pressure to the target area; manipulating said instrument to rest said plurality of suction ports against the outer surface of the beating heart, applying a negative pressure to the beating heart by attaching a source of negative pressure to said instrument, thereby fluidly communicating the negative pressure to the outer surface of the beating heart; and providing an instrument port traversing inner and outer surfaces extending upwardly from said bottom surface, said instrument port being surrounded by said inner and outer surfaces, and opening to locations adjacent said bottom surface along both said inner and outer surfaces, wherein said locations do not have the negative pressure applied thereto when the negative pressure is applied.