Patent ID: 8663321

Claim:
A method for performing a coronary bypass procedure on a patient's heart comprising: percutaneously inserting an end of at least one catheter into an aorta of a heart; forming a hemostatic connection between the inserted end of the at least one catheter and an inner wall of the aorta, wherein the hemostatic connection prevents blood flow at an interface of the inserted end of the at least one catheter and the inner wall of the aorta; and thereafter, creating an aperture through the wall of the aorta and pericardium via a lumen of the inserted end of the at least one catheter, thereby forming a controlled opening to access a thoracic region of the patient's chest through the at least one catheter, wherein the aperture is bounded by the hemostatic connection; and performing at least one coronary bypass grail procedure through the controlled opening.