Patent ID: 7485090
Filing Date: 2009-02-03
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A device to facilitate a surgical procedure on a heart, said device comprising: a main body having an outer surface and an inner surface, said outer and inner surfaces opposing one another, said main body further comprising a bottom surface disposed transversely to bottom ends of said inner and outer surfaces, extending between and connecting said inner and outer surfaces at said bottom ends; at least one suction port extending between said opposing inner and outer surfaces, opening through said bottom surface and adapted to engage a surface of the heart such that at least a portion of the surface of the heart becomes fixed relative to said main body, wherein said inner surface is configured to define a working space above the surface of the heart when said bottom surface of said main body is fixed thereto; a sealed, airtight, pressure conducting chamber within said main body, adapted to be operably connected to a source of negative pressure to conduct the negative pressure to at least one of said at least one suction ports; at least one passage interconnecting at least one of said at least one ports with said pressure conducting chamber; wherein each said passage has a diameter smaller than a diameter of each said port, respectively; and at least one instrument guide defining at least one instrument path traversing across both said inner and outer surfaces, through a wall formed by said opposing outer and inner surfaces, and through which a surgical instrument may be introduced for controlled manipulation in the working space relative to said main body.