Patent ID: 8317696

Claim:
A surgical tool for visually assessing the aortic structures contained within a generally tubular aortic root of a patient, the aortic root including an aortic valve, the aortic valve defining a valve axis, the aortic root extending in height along the valve axis between a root base portion located in proximity to a left ventricular outflow tract and a spaced away root sinotubular portion located in proximity to a sinotubular junction, the aortic valve attached to the aortic root through a scalloped valve annulus extending circumferentially around the valve axis, the aortic valve including a plurality of valve cusps connected to the valve annulus, the valve cusps each having a free margin portion spaced from the valve annulus, the free margin including a nodulus of arantius at a substantially midspan location, the valve cusps each defining a nadir at the attachment point with the valve annulus closest to the root base portion, the valve cusps having a geometric height defined by the distance between the nadir and nodulus of arantius, the valve cusps collectively defining commissures at the junction of each of two adjacent cusps in proximity to the valve annulus, said surgical tool comprising: a substantially cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portion defining an external substantially cylindrical surface, said cylindrical portion extending in height along a tool axis between a base portion and a top portion, said cylindrical portion appropriately configured and sized for insertion within the aortic root, said cylindrical portion having a sufficiently optically clear section, whereby, in use, when said surgical tool is placed within the aortic root and the aortic structures are in contact with said external cylindrical surface, the aortic structures are visible through said optically clear section; wherein said cylindrical portion further comprises an array of reference datum and measurement increments visible through said optically clear section, and whereby, in use, visualization and measurement of the aortic structures may be effected with reference to said array; and wherein said surgical tool further comprises a generally elongate handle portion, said handle portion connected to said cylindrical portion for manipulating said surgical tool during insertion of said tool in the aortic root.