U.S. patent application number 09/982501 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-13 for devices and methods for port-access multivessel coronary artery bypass surgery.
Invention is credited to Boyd, Stephen W., Donlon, Brian S., Peters, William S., Rapacki, Alan R., Vaska, Matthias.
Application Number | 20020069884 09/982501 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26697589 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020069884 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Boyd, Stephen W. ; et
al. |
June 13, 2002 |
Devices and methods for port-access multivessel coronary artery
bypass surgery
Abstract
Surgical methods and instruments are disclosed for performing
port-access or closed-chest coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery
in multivessel coronary artery disease. In contrast to standard
open-chest CABG surgery, which requires a median sternotomy or
other gross thoracotomy to expose the patient's heart, port-access
CABG surgery is performed through small incisions or access ports
made through the intercostal spaces between the patient's ribs,
resulting in greatly reduced pain and morbidity to the patient. In
situ arterial bypass grafts, such as the internal mammary arteries
and/or the right gastroepiploic artery, are prepared for grafting
by thoracoscopic or laparoscopic takedown techniques. Free grafts,
such as a saphenous vein graft or a free arterial graft, can be
used to augment the in situ arterial grafts. The graft vessels are
anastomosed to the coronary arteries under direct visualization
through a cardioscopic microscope inserted through an intercostal
access port. Retraction instruments are provided to manipulate the
heart within the closed chest of the patient to expose each of the
coronary arteries for visualization and anastomosis. Disclosed are
a tunneler and an articulated tunneling grasper for rerouting the
graft vessels, and a finger-like retractor, a suction cup
retractor, a snare retractor and a loop retractor for manipulating
the heart. Also disclosed is a port-access topical cooling device
for improving myocardial protection during the port-access CABG
procedure. An alternate surgical approach using an anterior
mediastinotomy is also described.
Inventors: |
Boyd, Stephen W.; (Redwood
City, CA) ; Rapacki, Alan R.; (San Franicsco, CA)
; Vaska, Matthias; (Palo Alto, CA) ; Donlon, Brian
S.; (Los Altos Hills, CA) ; Peters, William S.;
(Woodside, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Phillip S. Johnson
Johnson & Johnson
1 Johnson & Johnson Plaza
New Brunswick
NJ
08933-7003
US
|
Family ID: |
26697589 |
Appl. No.: |
09/982501 |
Filed: |
October 19, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09982501 |
Oct 19, 2001 |
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09487024 |
Jan 19, 2000 |
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09487024 |
Jan 19, 2000 |
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08281891 |
Jul 28, 1994 |
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08281891 |
Jul 28, 1994 |
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08023778 |
Feb 22, 1993 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
128/898 ;
600/201; 600/210; 606/190; 606/21; 606/23 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 2017/0243 20130101;
A61M 39/0247 20130101; A61B 17/29 20130101; A61B 18/1442 20130101;
A61M 2025/0031 20130101; A61B 2017/3405 20130101; A61F 2007/0054
20130101; A61F 2007/101 20130101; A61M 2205/366 20130101; A61B
17/3403 20130101; A61B 2017/3427 20130101; A61B 2090/064 20160201;
A61M 2039/0279 20130101; A61B 17/0218 20130101; A61B 17/1285
20130101; A61B 90/36 20160201; A61B 2018/00577 20130101; A61B
2017/00663 20130101; A61B 17/064 20130101; A61B 2017/00637
20130101; A61B 2017/0475 20130101; A61M 25/1011 20130101; A61B
17/00234 20130101; A61B 2017/047 20130101; A61B 2017/00247
20130101; A61B 2018/00214 20130101; A61B 2018/00261 20130101; A61M
2025/0003 20130101; A61B 18/1492 20130101; A61B 2017/0237 20130101;
A61B 17/12013 20130101; A61B 17/2909 20130101; A61M 2025/028
20130101; A61B 2090/306 20160201; A61M 2230/005 20130101; A61M
2205/3344 20130101; A61F 7/10 20130101; A61M 2025/1052 20130101;
A61B 2017/0474 20130101; A61B 2017/308 20130101; A61B 2017/306
20130101; A61B 17/0057 20130101; A61F 2007/0001 20130101; A61B
2018/00392 20130101; A61B 17/30 20130101; A61B 2017/2912 20130101;
A61M 2202/047 20130101; A61M 2205/3355 20130101; A61M 2210/127
20130101; A61M 2210/127 20130101; A61B 2017/00243 20130101; A61B
2017/0225 20130101; A61B 2018/00232 20130101; A61B 2018/00363
20130101; A61F 2/2427 20130101; A61B 17/1227 20130101; A61B
2017/3492 20130101; A61M 25/0032 20130101; A61B 17/0469 20130101;
A61B 90/50 20160201; A61M 25/0023 20130101; A61B 17/0467 20130101;
A61B 2017/0472 20130101; A61B 17/068 20130101; A61B 2017/2927
20130101; A61B 2017/2932 20130101; A61B 2017/2943 20130101; A61B
17/06061 20130101; A61B 2018/00291 20130101; A61B 17/122
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
128/898 ;
606/190; 606/21; 606/23; 600/201; 600/210 |
International
Class: |
A61B 018/18; A61B
017/00; A61B 001/32; A61B 019/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of cardiac surgery on a heart within a chest of a
patient, the chest having a sternum and a plurality of ribs, each
rib being separated from an adjacent rib by an intercostal space,
the method comprising the steps of: making at least one access port
into the chest through an intercostal space, a first aspect of the
heart facing the access port, and a second aspect of the heart
facing away from the access port; introducing a retraction
instrument through the access port; and manipulating the retraction
instrument to reposition the heart within the chest into a
retracted position wherein the second aspect of the heart is facing
the access port; wherein the ribs and sternum remain intact during
each of said steps.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the access port is made in a left
lateral portion of the chest and wherein the first aspect of the
heart comprises a left lateral aspect.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the second aspect of the heart
comprises an aspect of the heart selected from a posterior aspect,
a right lateral aspect, and an anterior aspect.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:
visualizing the heart with a visualization instrument introduced
into the chest of the patient through a second access port
positioned within an intercostal space.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:
anastomosing a vascular graft onto a coronary artery on the heart
while the heart is in the retracted position.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the anastomosing step comprises
the substep of introducing an anastomosing instrument into the
chest of the patient through an access port within an intercostal
space.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the anastomosing step comprises
anastomosing the vascular graft onto a circumflex artery.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the anastomosing step comprises
anastomosing the vascular graft onto a right coronary artery.
9. The method of claim 5 wherein the anastomosing step comprises
anastomosing the vascular graft onto a posterior descending
coronary artery.
10. The method of claim 5, wherein the vascular graft is selected
from the group including a left internal mammary artery, a right
internal mammary artery, a gastroepiploic artery, a radial artery,
a saphenous vein, and a prosthetic vascular graft.
11. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of:
dissecting an internal mammary artery from an anterior wall of the
patient's chest; and wherein the anastomosing step comprises
anastomosing the internal mammary artery onto the coronary
artery.
12. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:
anastomosing a second vascular graft onto a second coronary artery
using an anastomosing instrument introduced through an access port
within an intercostal space.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the second vascular graft is
selected from the group including a left internal mammary artery, a
right internal mammary artery, a gastroepiploic artery, a radial
artery, a saphenous vein, and a prosthetic vascular graft.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the second coronary artery
comprises a left anterior descending coronary artery.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the second coronary artery
comprises a circumflex artery.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein the second coronary artery
comprises a right coronary artery.
17. The method of claim 12 further comprising repositioning the
heart into a second retracted position using said retraction
instrument before the step of anastomosing a second vascular
graft.
18. The method of claim 1 wherein the manipulating step comprises
the substep of applying a vacuum between a surface of the
retraction instrument and a surface of the heart to grip the heart
with the retraction instrument.
19. The method of claim 1 wherein the manipulating step comprises
the substep of lifting the heart with a rigid finger on the
retraction instrument.
20. The method of claim 1 wherein the manipulating step comprises
the substeps of placing a flexible loop on the retraction
instrument around the heart and tightening the loop.
21. The method of claim 1 wherein the manipulating step comprises
rotating the heart.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the heart is rotated about an
axis extending longitudinally through the heart from an aortic root
generally toward an apex of the heart.
23. The method of claim 21 wherein the heart is rotated about an
axis disposed at an acute angle between 0.infin. and 90.infin.
relative to a longtitudinal axis extending from an aortic root
toward an apex of the heart.
24. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:
partitioning an ascending aorta of the patient, paralyzing the
heart, and maintaining circulation of oxygenated blood in the
patient.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein the partitioning step comprises
the substep of introducing an intraluminal occlusion device into a
peripheral artery of the patient, transluminally advancing the
intraluminal occlusion device into the ascending aorta and
occluding the ascending aorta between the patient's coronary ostia
and brachiocephalic artery.
26. The method of claim 1 wherein the introducing step comprises
the substeps of inserting the retraction instrument through the
access port in a predeployed state and deploying the retraction
instrument into a deployed state within the chest of the
patient.
27. The method of claim 26 wherein the retraction instrument has a
profile in the predeployed state which is smaller than its profile
in the deployed state.
28. The method of claim 27 wherein the profile in the predeployed
state has a diameter of less than about 12 mm.
29. A method of retracting a heart within a chest of a patient, the
chest having a sternum and a plurality of ribs, each rib being
separated from an adjacent rib by an intercostal space. the method
comprising the steps of: making at least one access port into the
chest through an intercostal space; introducing a retraction
instrument through the access port; applying a vacuum between a
surface of the retraction instrument and a surface of the heart to
grip the heart with the retraction instrument; and manipulating the
retraction instrument to reposition the heart within the chest of
the patient; wherein the ribs and sternum remain intact during each
of said steps.
30. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of applying a vacuum
comprises applying a vacuum through a suction cup attached to the
retraction instrument.
31. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of manipulating
comprises engaging the surface of the heart with a textured surface
on the retraction instrument to reduce slippage of the retraction
instrument on the surface of the heart.
32. The method of claim 29 wherein the access port is positioned so
that a first aspect of the heart is facing the access port, and a
second aspect of the heart is facing away from the access port, the
step of manipulating comprising repositioning the heart so that the
second aspect of the heart is facing the access port.
33. The method of claim 32 wherein the access port is positioned in
a left lateral side of the patient's chest, the first aspect of the
heart comprising a left lateral aspect of the heart.
34. The method of claim 33 wherein the heart is repositioned so
that an anterior aspect of the heart is facing the access port.
35. The method of claim 33 wherein the heart is repositioned so
that a posterior aspect of the heart is facing the access port.
36. The method of claim 33 further comprising performing a surgical
procedure on a third aspect of the heart through a second access
port positioned within an intercostal space.
37. The method of claim 35 wherein the surgical procedure comprises
anastomosing a vascular graft to a coronary artery on the third
aspect of the heart.
38. The method of claim 36 wherein the coronary artery is selected
from the group including the right coronary artery, posterior
descending artery, the left anterior descending coronary artery,
and the circumflex artery.
39. The method of claim 36 wherein the vascular graft is selected
from the group including an internal mammary artery, a
gastroepiploic artery, a radial artery, a saphenous vein, and a
prosthetic vascular graft.
40. The method of claim 36 wherein the second access port is
disposed in an anterior side of the patient's chest.
41. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of manipulating
comprises rotating the heart about a longitudinal axis extending
from an aortic root generally toward an apex of the heart.
42. The method of claim 29 wherein the introducing step comprises
the substeps of inserting the retraction instrument through the
access port in a predeployed state and deploying the retraction
instrument into a deployed state within the chest of the
patient.
43. The method of claim 42 wherein the retraction instrument has a
profile in the predeployed state which is smaller than its profile
in the deployed state.
44. The method of claim 43 wherein the profile in the predeployed
state has a diameter of less than about 12 mm.
45. A method of cardiac surgery on a heart within a chest of a
patient, the chest having a sternum and a plurality of ribs, each
rib being separated from an adjacent rib by an intercostal space,
the method comprising the steps of: making at least one access port
into the chest through an intercostal space; introducing a
myocardial cooling device through the access port: and cooling the
patient's heart using the myocardial cooling device; wherein the
ribs and sternum remain intact during each of said steps.
46. The method of claim 45 wherein the introducing step comprises
the substeps of inserting the myocardial cooling device through the
access port in a predeployed state and deploying the myocardial
cooling device into a deployed state within the chest of the
patient.
47. The method of claim 46 wherein the myocardial cooling device
has a profile in the predeployed state which is smaller than its
profile in the deployed state.
48. The method of claim 47 wherein the profile in the deployed
state has a diameter of less than about 12 mm.
49. The method of claim 46 wherein the deploying step comprises the
substep of inflating the myocardial cooling device with a cooling
fluid.
50. The method of claim 46 wherein the deploying step comprises the
substep of extending the myocardial cooling device from within a
sheath.
51. The method of claim 45 wherein the cooling step comprises the
substep of positioning the myocardial cooling device in thermal
contact with the patient's heart.
52. The method of claim 45 wherein the cooling step comprises the
substep of circulating a cooling fluid through the myocardial
cooling device.
53. The method of claim 45, further comprising the step of:
anastomosing a vascular graft onto a coronary artery on the
patient's heart using an anastomosing instrument introduced through
an access port within an intercostal space.
54. The method of claim 45, further comprising the step of:
introducing a retraction instrument into the patient's chest
through an access port within an intercostal space; and
manipulating the retraction instrument to reposition the heart
within the patient's chest.
55. A method of performing coronary artery bypass graft surgery at
a surgical site on a heart within a chest of a patient, the chest
having a sternum and a plurality of ribs, each rib being separated
from an adjacent rib by an intercostal space, the method comprising
the steps of: making first and second access ports into the chest
through at least one intercostal space, the surgical site being on
an aspect of the heart facing away from the first access port;
introducing a retraction instrument through the second access port;
manipulating the retraction instrument to reposition the heart
within the chest into a retracted position wherein the aspect of
the heart containing the surgical site is facing the first access
port; and anastomosing a vascular graft to a coronary artery at the
surgical site using an anastomosing instrument introduced through
the first access port; wherein the ribs and sternum remain intact
during each of said steps.
56. The method of claim 55 wherein the second access port is made
in a left lateral portion of the chest.
57. The method of claim 55 wherein the first access port is made in
an anterior portion of the chest.
58. The method of claim 57 wherein the aspect of the heart is
selected from the group including a posterior aspect, a right
lateral aspect, and a left lateral aspect.
59. The method of claim 55, further comprising the step of:
visualizing the heart with a visualization instrument introduced
into the chest of the patient through a third access port
positioned within an intercostal space.
60. The method of claim 55 wherein the anastomosing step comprises
anastomosing the vascular graft onto a circumflex artery.
61. The method of claim 55, wherein the anastomosing step comprises
anastomosing the vascular graft onto a right coronary artery.
62. The method of claim 55 wherein the anastomosing step comprises
anastomosing the vascular graft onto a posterior descending
coronary artery.
63. The method of claim 55, wherein the vascular graft is selected
from the group including a left internal mammary artery, a right
internal mammary artery, a gastroepiploic artery, a radial artery,
a saphenous vein, and a prosthetic vascular graft.
64. The method of claim 55 further comprising the step of:
dissecting an internal mammary artery from an anterior wall of the
patient's chest; and wherein the anastomosing step comprises
anastomosing the internal mammary artery onto the coronary
artery.
65. The method of claim 64 wherein the step of dissecting comprises
dissecting the right internal mammarv artery from an anterior wall
of the chest using a dissection instrument introduced through an
access port in an intercostal space in a right lateral portion of
the chest.
66. The method of claim 64 further comprising routing the right
internal mammary into a left portion of the chest using a grasping
instrument introduced through an access port in an intercostal
space.
67. The method of claim 66 wherein the right internal mammary
artery is routed through a transverse epicardial sinus of the
patient into the left portion of the chest.
68. The method of claim 67 wherein the grasping instrument is
introduced through an access port in a left lateral portion of the
chest, further comprising tunneling the grasping instrument through
the transverse epicardial sinus into a right portion of the chest
before the step of routing.
69. The method of claim 55, further comprising the step of:
anastomosing the vascular graft onto a second coronary artery using
an anastomosing instrument introduced through an access port within
an intercostal space.
70. The method of claim 69, wherein the first anastomosing step
comprises creating a side-to-side anastomosis between the vascular
graft and the coronary artery and the second anastomosing step
comprises creating an end-to-side anastomosis between the vascular
graft and the second coronary artery.
71. The method of claim 55, further comprising the step of:
anastomosing a second vascular graft onto a second coronary artery
using an anastomosing instrument introduced through an access port
within an intercostal space.
72. The method of claim 84 wherein the second vascular graft is
selected from the group including a left internal mammary artery, a
right internal mammary artery, a gastroepiploic artery, a radial
artery, a saphenous vein, and a prosthetic vascular graft.
73. The method of claim 71 wherein the second coronary artery is
selected from the group including a left anterior descending
coronary artery, a circumflex artery, a right coronary artery, and
a posterior descending coronary artery.
74. The method of claim 71, further comprising the step of:
anastomosing the second vascular graft onto a third coronary
artery.
75. The method of claim 74, wherein the second anastomosing step
comprises creating a side-to-side anastomosis between the second
vascular graft and the second coronary artery and the third
anastomosing step comprises creating an end-to-side anastomosis
between the second vascular graft and the third coronary
artery.
76. The method of claim 55 wherein the manipulating step comprises
the substep of applying a vacuum between a surface of the
retraction instrument and a surface of the heart to grip the heart
with the retraction instrument.
77. The method of claim 55 wherein the manipulating step comprises
the substep of lifting the heart with a rigid finger on the
retraction instrument.
78. The method of claim 55 wherein the manipulating step comprises
the substeps of placing a flexible loop on the retraction
instrument around the heart and tightening the loop.
79. The method of claim 55 wherein the manipulating step comprises
rotating the heart.
80. The method of claim 79 wherein the heart is rotated about an
axis extending longitudinally through the heart from an aortic root
generally toward an apex of the heart.
81. The method of claim 79 wherein the heart is rotated about an
axis disposed at an angle between 0.infin. and 90.infin. relative
to a longtidudinal axis extending from an aortic root toward an
apex of the heart.
82. The method of claim 55, further comprising the step of: cooling
the patient's heart with a myocardial cooling device inserted into
the chest of the patient through an access port in an intercostal
space.
83. The method of claim 55, further comprising the step of:
partitioning an ascending aorta of the patient, paralyzing the
heart, and maintaining circulation of oxygenated blood in the
patient.
84. The method of claim 83 wherein the partitioning step comprises
the substep of introducing an intraluminal occlusion device into a
peripheral artery of the patient. transluminally advancing the
intraluminal occlusion device into the ascending aorta and
occluding the ascending aorta between the patient's coronary ostia
and brachiocephalic artery.
85. The method of claim 55 wherein the introducing step comprises
the substeps of inserting the retraction instrument through the
access port in a predeployed state and deploying the retraction
instrument into a deployed state within the chest of the
patient.
86. The method of claim 85 wherein the retraction instrument has a
profile in the predeployed state which is smaller than its profile
in the deployed state.
87. The method of claim 86 wherein the profile in the predeployed
state has a diameter of less than about 12 mm.
88. The method of claim 55 wherein the step of anastomosing
comprises forming an opening in the coronary artery with a cutting
instrument introduced through an access port in an intercostal
space, and attaching the vascular graft to the coronary artery
around the opening.
89. The method of claim 88 wherein the step of attaching comprises
suturing the vascular graft to the coronary artery using a suturing
instrument introduced through an access port in an intercostal
space.
90. The method of claim 88 wherein the step of attaching comprises
introducing a suture into the chest of the patient through an
access port in an intercostal space and suturing the vascular graft
to the coronary artery with the suture.
91. The method of claim 90 wherein the suture has a first end and a
second end, a first needle attached to said first end and a second
needle attached to said second end, said suture having a length of
about 8 to 10 centimeters, and wherein the step of attaching
comprises tying the suture within the chest of the patient using a
suturing instrument introduced through an access port in an
intercostal space.
92. The method of claim 55 further comprising the step of
dissecting a gastroepiploic artery within an abdomen of the patient
to create a free end thereof, and routing the free end into the
chest, the step of anastomosing comprising anastomosing the free
end to the coronary artery.
93. The method of claim 92 wherein the step of dissecting comprises
dissecting the gastroepiploic artery using a dissection instrument
introduced into the abdomen an access cannula positioned in a wall
of the abdomen.
94. The method of claim 93 wherein the step of dissecting further
comprises visualizing the interior of the abdomen using a scope
introduced through an access cannula into the abdomen.
95. The method of claim 92 wherein the step of routing comprises
creating an opening in a diaphragm of the patient between the
abdomen and the chest, and introducing the free end of the
gastroepiploic artery through the opening into the chest.
96. A myocardial cooling device comprising: a shaft having a
proximal end, a distal end, and at least a first lumen
therebetween; and an inflatable bladder attached to the distal end
of the shaft and having at least one cooling passage therethrough
in communication with the first lumen, said inflatable bladder
having a predeployed state and a deployed state. wherein said
inflatable bladder is insertable through an access port in an
intercostal space when in said predeployed state.
97. The myocardial cooling device of claim 96 wherein said
inflatable bladder is insertable through a cannula having an
internal diameter of 12 millimeters when in said predeployed
state.
98. The myocardial cooling device of claim 96 further comprising a
sheath which covers said inflatable bladder when in said
predeployed state.
99. The myocardial cooling device of claim 98 wherein said
inflatable bladder is extended from said sheath when in said
deployed state.
100. The myocardial cooling device of claim 96 wherein said
inflatable bladder is inflated with a cooling fluid when in said
deployed state.
101. The myocardial cooling device of claim 96 further comprising a
means for circulating a cooling fluid through said at least one
cooling passage.
102. The myocardial cooling device of claim 115 wherein the shaft
further comprises a second lumen in communication with an outlet of
said at least one cooling passage, whereby the cooling fluid may be
delivered through the first lumen into the cooling passage,
circulated therethrough, and received through the second lumen.
103. The myocardial cooling device of claim 96 wherein the at least
one cooling passage comprises a plurality of horizontal passages
interconnected by a series of vertical passages.
104. The myocardial cooling device of claim 96 wherein the
inflatable bladder has a curvature in the deployed state selected
to conform to an exterior surface of the heart.
105. The myocardial cooling device of claim 98 wherein the
inflatable bladder is configured to twist into a helical
configuration when contained within the sheath in the undeployed
state.
106. A surgical retraction device comprising: a shaft having a
proximal end and a distal end; a contact surface adjacent said
distal end for atraumatically contacting living tissue within a
body cavity; and a means for applying a vacuum at said contact
surface.
107. The surgical retraction device of claim 106 wherein said means
for applying a vacuum at said contact surface comprises a passage
from said proximal end to said distal end of said shaft, said
passage being in fluid communication with said contact surface.
108. The surgical retraction device of claim 106 wherein said
contact surface further comprises a friction-increasing
surface.
109. The surgical retraction device of claim 106 wherein said
contact surface is flexibly mounted to said distal end of said
shaft.
110. The surgical retraction device of claim 106 wherein said
contact surface is mounted at an angle of approximately 45 degrees
to a longitudinal axis of said shaft.
111. The surgical retraction device of claim 108 wherein said
friction-increasing surface comprises a multiplicity of bumps
extending from said contact surface.
112. The surgical retraction device of claim 106 wherein said
contact surface is concave.
113. The surgical retraction device of claim 110 wherein said
contact surface is disposed on a distal side of a cup-shaped member
attached to said distal end of said shaft.
114. The surgical retraction device of claim 111 wherein said
cup-shaped member is flexible.
115. The surgical retraction device of claim 112 wherein said
cup-shaped member is sufficiently flexible to conform to a surface
of a patient's heart when a vacuum is applied between said contact
surface and the surface of the heart.
116. The surgical retraction device of claim 113 wherein said
contact surface further comprises a friction-increasing
surface.
117. The surgical retraction device of claim 116 wherein said
friction-increasing surface comprises a multiplicity of bumps
extending from said contact surface.
118. The surgical retraction device of claim 106 wherein said shaft
and contact surface are configured to be positioned through an
access port in an intercostal space.
119. The surgical retraction device of claim 118 wherein access
port has a diameter of 12 mm.
120. The surgical retraction device of claim 118 wherein the
contact surface is on a contact member attached to the distal end
of the shaft, contact surface being larger than the access port in
an unstressed condition, the contact member being collapsible so as
to be positionable through the access port.
121. A surgical retraction device for retracting a body structure
within a body cavity, the body structure having a curved external
surface, the surgical retraction device comprising: a rigid shaft
having a distal end and a proximal end, the shaft having a contact
surface near the distal end with a curvature selected to conform to
the external surface of the body structure; and a textured, porous
material attached to the contact surface for frictionally engaging
the body structure; wherein a distal portion of the shaft including
the contact surface and porous material may be introduced into the
body cavity through an access port with a diameter of at most about
12 mm.
122. The surgical retraction device of claim 121 wherein the porous
material comprises a fabric pad.
123. The surgical retraction device of claim 121 wherein the porous
material comprises surgical gauze.
124. The surgical retraction device of claim 121 wherein the porous
material comprises a foam pad.
125. The surgical retraction device of claim 121 wherein the porous
material is wrapped around a distal portion of the shaft.
126. The surgical retraction device of claim 121 wherein the
contact surface comprises a lateral surface of a distal portion of
the shaft, the distal portion of the shaft having a diameter of
less than about 10 mm.
127. The surgical retraction device of claim 121 wherein the porous
material covers the distal end of the shaft.
128. The surgical retraction device of claim 121 further comprising
an aspiration lumen within the shaft extending from the proximal
end to at least the contact surface, and a plurality of holes in
the contact surface in communication with the lumen, whereby a
vacuum may be applied through the aspiration lumen and the holes to
withdraw fluids from the porous material.
129. The surgical retraction device of claim 121 wherein at least a
portion of the shaft is malleable such that the contact surface may
be shaped into various curvatures.
130. A surgical retraction device for retracting a body structure
within a body cavity, the retractor comprising: a rigid shaft
having a proximal end and a distal end: a guide means along the
shaft; and a flexible band extending through the guide means so as
to be slidable with respect to the shaft, the flexible band forming
a loop at the distal end of the shaft and having a first end
attached to the shaft and a second end extending to the proximal
end of the shaft, whereby the size of the loop may be enlarged or
reduced by sliding the band relative to the shaft; wherein a distal
portion of the shaft and the loop may be introduced through an
access port with a diameter of at most 12 mm.
131. The surgical retraction device of claim 130 wherein the band
has a rectangular cross-section.
132. The surgical retraction device of claim 130 wherein the band
is metal.
134. The surgical retraction device of claim 130 wherein the loop
has a friction-increasing inner surface for engaging the body
structure.
135. The surgical retraction device of claim 134 wherein the
friction increasing inner surface comprises a porous material
attached to the band.
136. The surgical retraction device of claim 130 wherein the loop
is formed around an axis which is generally perpendicular to a
longitudinal axis of the shaft.
137. The surgical retraction device of claim 130 wherein the loop
is formed around an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the
shaft.
138. The surgical retraction device of claim 130 wherein the band
is a superelastic alloy.
139. The surgical retraction device of claim 130 wherein the band
is a shape-memory alloy.
140. The surgical retraction device of claim 130 further comprising
a link pivotably coupled to the distal end of the shaft, the first
end of the band being attached to the link.
141. The surgical retraction device of claim 140 wherein the link
is jointed so as to have a proximal section and a distal section
pivotably attached to the proximal section, the proximal section
being pivotably attached to the shaft, and the distal section being
attached to the first end of the band.
142. The surgical retraction device of claim 130 wherein the guide
means comprises a lumen in the shaft, the band being disposed
slidably within the lumen.
143. The surgical retraction device of claim 130 further comprising
actuation means at the proximal end of the shaft for sliding the
band relative to the shaft.
144. A surgical tunneling instrument for tunneling between adjacent
body structures in a body cavity, the tunneling instrument
comprising: a shaft having a distal end, a proximal end and a lumen
therebetween; a linkage extending through the lumen; an
articulating finger at the end of the shaft, the articulating
finger comprising: a first proximal member having a proximal end
and a distal end opposite the proximal end, the proximal end being
pivotably coupled to the shaft at a first point and coupled to the
linkage at a second point laterally offset from the first point; a
second proximal member having a proximal end pivotably coupled to
the shaft and a distal end opposite the proximal end; and a distal
member having a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal
end, the distal end being configured for tunneling between the body
structures, and the proximal end being pivotably coupled to the
distal end of the first proximal member at a third point and
pivotably coupled to the distal end of the second proximal member
at a fourth point laterally offset from the third point; and means
at the proximal end of the shaft for moving the linkage relative to
the shaft, whereby the first proximal member pivots relative to the
shaft about the first point and the distal member pivots relative
to the first proximal member about the third point.
145. The tunneling instrument of claim 144 further comprising means
at the distal end of the distal member for grasping a vascular
structure.
146. The tunneling instrument of claim 145 wherein the grasping
means comprises a hook.
147. The tunneling instrument of claim 145 wherein the grasping
means comprises a snare.
148. The tunneling instrument of claim 145 wherein the grasping
means comprises a pair of grasping jaws, at least one of said
grasping jaws being movable with respect to the other.
149. The tunneling instrument of claim 145 wherein the first and
second points are separated by a first transverse distance, and the
third and fourth points are separated by a second transverse
distance, the first and second transverse distances being less than
about 10 mm.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 08/281,891, filed Jul. 28, 1994, which
itself is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 08/023,778, filed Feb. 22, 1993. The complete
disclosures of these related U.S. patent applications are hereby
incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to devices and
methods for performing thoracoscopic cardiac procedures. More
particularly, the present invention relates to devices and methods
for performing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery for
multivessel coronary artery disease through port-access or
closed-chest thoracoscopic methods.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Coronary artery disease remains the leading cause of
morbidity and mortality in Western societies. Coronary artery
disease is manifested in a number of ways. For example, disease of
the coronary arteries can lead to insufficient blood flow resulting
in the discomfort and risks of angina and ischemia. In severe
cases, acute blockage of coronary blood flow can result in
myocardial infarction, leading to immediate death or damage to the
myocardial tissue.
[0004] A number of approaches have been developed for treating
coronary artery disease. In less severe cases, it is often
sufficient to treat the symptoms with pharmaceuticals and lifestyle
modification to lessen the underlying causes of disease. In more
severe cases, the coronary blockage(s) can often be treated
endovascularly using techniques such as balloon angioplasty,
atherectomy, laser ablation, stents, hot tip probes, and the
like.
[0005] In cases where pharmaceutical treatment and/or endovascular
approaches have failed or are likely to fail, it is often necessary
to perform a coronary artery bypass graft procedure using open
surgical techniques. Such techniques require that the patient's
sternum be opened and the chest be spread apart to provide access
to the heart. A source of arterial blood is then connected to a
coronary artery downstream from an occlusion while the patient is
maintained under cardioplegia and is supported by cardiopulmonary
bypass. The source of blood is often the left or right internal
mammary artery, and the target coronary artery can be the left
anterior descending artery, circumflex artery, right coronary
artery or any one of their branches which might be narrowed or
occluded.
[0006] While very effective in many cases. the use of open surgery
to perform coronary artery bypass grafting is highly traumatic to
the patient. The procedure requires immediate postoperative care in
an intensive care unit, a total period of hospitalization of seven
to ten days, and a recovery period that can be as long as six to
eight weeks.
[0007] It would therefore be desirable to provide other, less
traumatic methods and techniques for performing coronary artery
bypass grafting. It would be particularly desirable if such
techniques did not require opening of the patient's sternum, and
might be even more desirable if such techniques could be performed
using thoracoscopic methods. Such thoracoscopic methods could
decrease morbidity and mortality, cost, and recovery time when
compared to conventional open surgical coronary bypass procedures.
In addition, such methods could be even more efficacious than
open-surgical bypass procedures.
[0008] Treatment of multivessel coronary artery disease involves
rerouting multiple conduits to supply blood to the blocked coronary
arteries downstream of the blockages. Typical conduits used for
CABG surgery in multivessel disease include arterial conduits, such
as the left internal mammary artery (LIMA), the right internal
mammary artery (RIMA) or the right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA), or
venous conduits such as the greater saphenous vein (GSV) or the
lesser saphenous vein (LSV). Often a combination of these and other
conduits is necessary to achieve complete revascularization of the
obstructed coronary arteries. Open-chest approaches to treatment of
multivessel coronary artery disease are described in Alternative
Bypass Conduits and Methods for Surgical Coronary
Revascularization, by Grooters and Nishida, Futura Publishing
Company, Inc., Armonk, N.Y., 1994. Other references for standard
open-chest methods of coronary artery bypass surgery include:
Cardiac Surgery, by Kirklin and Barratt Boyes, John Wiley &
Sons, Inc. New York, 1993 (2nd Ed.), and Rob and Smith's Operative
Surgery, Cardiac Surgery. The C V Mosby Co. St Louis, Mo., 1983
(4th Ed.).
[0009] A major challenge of thoracoscopic CABG surgery in
multivessel disease is the ability to visualize and anastomose all
of the coronary arteries through a limited number of access ports
in order to minimize the trauma to the patient. This is made more
difficult because many of preferred anastomosis sites on the
branches of the right coronary artery and the circumflex artery are
on the posterior aspect of the heart and therefore are difficult to
access and to visualize with the heart in situ. Operating on the
heart in situ would require separate access ports for the left
coronary artery and each of the right coronary artery and the
circumflex artery. Making this many access ports in the patient's
chest would undermine the atraumatic aspect of the thoracoscopic
approach. In open-chest CABG surgery, this problem is solved by
withdrawing the heart from the pericardial sac and manipulating it
to expose the arteries on the posterior aspect. No instruments
currently exist for manipulating the heart within the closed chest
of the patient, making it difficult to duplicate the close-chest
procedure with thoracoscopic techniques. Devices and methods are
therefore necessary for manipulating the heart within the patient's
closed chest to expose each of the coronary arteries for
visualization and anastomosis.
[0010] The additional length of time required for performing
multiple anastomoses in multivessel CABG surgery also poses
difficulties in terms of myocardial preservation during the lengthy
procedure. In open procedures additional myocardial protection can
be provided by topical hypothermia of the heart to reduce oxygen
demand by the myocardium. The instruments and systems currently
available for topical hypothermia in cardiac surgery are not suited
for thoracoscopic techniques. New devices and methods are therefore
necessary for cooling the heart within the patient's closed chest
to extend myocardial preservation during the multivessel CABG
procedure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention describes devices and methods for
performing port-access or closed-chest CABG surgery to treat
multivessel coronary artery disease. All of the major steps of the
port-access CABG procedure are performed through small percutaneous
access ports to avoid the necessity of a median sternotomy or other
gross thoracotomy, as required in prior open-chest approaches. The
methods of the present invention include the steps of dissecting
one or more conduit vessels. preferably arterial conduits, from
their native locations, rerouting the conduit vessels to the heart
and grafting the conduit vessels onto the blocked coronary arteries
downstream of the blockages.
[0012] Generally, the step of dissecting the conduit vessels from
their native locations or the "takedown" is performed through small
access ports using endoscopic visualization. In the case of a LIMA
or RIMA takedown, the access ports are made into the patient's
thoracic cavity through the intercostal spaces and visualization is
achieved using a flexible thoracoscope. Rerouting the LIMA involves
redirecting the distal end of the LIMA to the desired anastomosis
site. The RIMA may be rerouted anteriorly of the heart or it may be
tunneled through the transverse sinus to reach the desired
anastomosis site. In the case of an RGEA takedown, the access ports
are made into the patient's abdomen and visualization is achieved
using a laparoscope. Rerouting the RGEA involves tunneling the
distal end of the RGEA through a hole in the diaphragm to reach the
desired anastomosis site on the heart. If venous grafts, such as
the GSV, or other free grafts are used in place of or in addition
to the arterial conduits, then the takedown or harvesting of the
graft is performed by open or closed surgical techniques as
appropriate and the graft is rerouted to the patient's chest for
anastomosis.
[0013] Specialized instruments for facilitating the takedown and
rerouting steps are provided as part of the present invention. One
instrument provided is a thoracoscopic tunneler for directing an
arterial conduit through the transverse sinus or other tunneling
path. One embodiment of a tunneler has an elongated shaft with a
curved, rigid distal end with a hole through the distal tip for
passing a tape or silastic tube through the transverse sinus to
retract the aorto-pulmonary trunk to facilitate passage of the
arterial conduit through the transverse sinus. Another embodiment
of a tunneler has an elongated shaft with an articulated distal end
with a grasper for reaching through the transverse sinus to grasp
the arterial conduit and draw it through the transverse sinus to
the desired anastomosis site. The two tunneling instruments may be
used separately or in combination. In addition, a specialized
thoracoscopic electrosurgical device may be provided to facilitate
takedown of the arterial conduits. A suitable thoracoscopic
electrosurgical device for this application is described in
co-owned, copending patent application. Ser. No. 08/336.359, filed
Nov. 8, 1994. the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated
by reference.
[0014] The step of grafting the conduit vessels onto the heart is
accomplished under direct visualization using a cardioscopic
microscope inserted through a visualization port into the patient's
thoracic cavity made through an intercostal space in the anterior
wall of the chest. Additional surgical instruments are inserted
through auxiliary ports into the patient's thoracic cavity to
perform the anastomosis of the conduit vessels to the coronary
arteries. The devices and methods of the present invention are
devised to minimize the trauma to the patient by making it possible
to visualize and access all aspects of the heart from a single
centrally located visualization port by manipulating the heart
within the patient's closed chest with instruments inserted through
the auxiliary access ports or through the takedown ports which
remain from the takedown step. Generally, the distal end of each
conduit vessel or graft is anastomosed to a coronary artery
downstream of a blockage. Additionally, the conduit vessels may be
sequentially grafted to more than one coronary artery or branch to
form a "skip graft". If free grafts are used an additional step of
creating a proximal anastomosis must be performed. The proximal end
of the graft may be anastomosed to the ascending aorta or to
another of the conduit vessels to form a Y-graft. The step of
making the proximal anastomosis may be performed before or after
the distal anastomosis, depending on the preferences of the
surgeon.
[0015] Specialized instruments are provided for manipulating the
heart within the closed chest of the patient to rotate the desired
anastomosis site into the visual field of the cardioscopic
microscope. The specialized instruments include retractors which
can manipulate the heart from outside of the body through one or
more of the access ports. One embodiment of a retractor has an
elongated shaft with a handle at the proximal end and a curved,
finger-like manipulator at the distal end. The curved, finger-like
manipulator may be covered with an absorbent and/or frictional
material to improve its effectiveness at retracting, rotating and
manipulating the heart. Another embodiment of a retractor has an
elongated tubular shaft with a suction cup-shaped manipulator at
the distal end. A vacuum is applied between the suction cup
manipulator and the surface of the heart to grip the heart. The
distal surface of the suction cup manipulator may have a textured
or highly frictional surface to increase the grip on the surface of
the heart, especially in a direction tangential to the surface. The
retractor can thus be used to retract or rotate the heart in any
direction to expose the desired anastomosis site.
[0016] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide
myocardial protection to the heart for the duration of the surgical
procedure. A first component of the myocardial protection is to
provide a means for establishing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB)
without the need for performing a thoracotomy or other grossly
invasive procedure. One noninvasive method of establishing CPB
involves the insertion of an endoaortic occlusion catheter into the
ascending aorta through a percutaneous puncture into a peripheral
artery. An inflatable occlusion balloon on the distal end of the
catheter is used to partition the ascending aorta between the
coronary ostia and the brachiocephalic artery to isolate the heart
and coronary arteries from the remainder of the arterial system
while it is supported on cardiopulmonary bypass. Cardioplegic
solution to temporarily stop the heart from beating may be infused
into the coronary arteries through the catheter and/or through a
retroperfusion catheter percutaneously inserted in the coronary
sinus. This method is more completely described in co-owned,
copending patent application. Ser. No. 08/281,891, filed Jul. 28,
1994.
[0017] Another relatively noninvasive method of establishing CPB
involves using a thoracoscopic cross-clamp to isolate the heart and
coronary arteries from the remainder of the arterial system while
it is supported on cardiopulmonary bypass. The thoracoscopic
cross-clamp is inserted into the patient's thoracic cavity through
an access port. Co-owned, copending patent application, Ser. No.
08/173,899, filed Dec. 27, 1993, the entire disclosure of which is
hereby incorporated by reference, describes a specialized
thoracoscopic cross-clamp suitable use with the present invention
and a method of its use for isolating the heart and establishing
CPB.
[0018] A second component of the myocardial protection is to
provide a means for applying topical hypothermia to the heart to
reduce oxygen demand by the myocardium while the patient is on
cardiopulmonary bypass and particularly while the heart is under
cardioplegic arrest. A specialized topical hypothermia system that
can be applied thoracoscopically through small access ports into
the chest is provided as part of the present invention. The topical
hypothermia system includes a flexible heat exchanger which is
collapsible to fit through an access cannula inserted into an
intercostal space. The heat exchanger is deployable to an expanded
position once it is inside of the thoracic cavity. The heat
exchanger is placed in thermal contact with the heart and a cooling
fluid is circulated from outside the body through cooling passages
within the heat exchanger. The temperature of the heart can be
lowered for the duration of the procedure to reduce oxygen demand.
The heat exchanger can also be used for warming the heart at the
end of the procedure by circulating a warm fluid through the
cooling passages.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 shows the takedown step for using the left internal
mammary artery (LIMA) or the right internal mammary artery (RIMA)
as an arterial bypass conduit.
[0020] FIG. 2 shows the tunneling of the RIMA through the
transverse sinus (TS).
[0021] FIG. 3 shows the laparoscopic takedown of the right
gastroepiploic artery (RGEA).
[0022] FIG. 4 shows the tunneling of the RGEA through the diaphragm
into the thoracic cavity.
[0023] FIG. 5 shows the operative ports for performing the
anastomosis of the arterial conduits onto the coronary
arteries.
[0024] FIG. 6 shows a position of the heart for performing an
anastomosis to the right coronary artery (RCA) or the posterior
descending (PDA) branch.
[0025] FIG. 7 shows an alternate position of the heart for
performing an anastomosis to the RCA or the PDA.
[0026] FIG. 8 shows the position of the heart for performing an
anastomosis to the circumflex artery (Cx) or the obtuse marginal
(OM) branches.
[0027] FIG. 9 shows the position of the heart for performing an
anastomosis to the left anterior descending artery (LAD).
[0028] FIGS. 10-15 show the step-by-step sequence of creating an
end-to-side anastomosis.
[0029] FIG. 16 shows the heart of the patient with multiple
completed bypass grafts.
[0030] FIGS. 17-18 show the step-by-step sequence of creating a
side-to-side anastomosis.
[0031] FIG. 19 shows the heart of the patient with sequential
anastomoses on a "skip graft".
[0032] FIG. 20 shows the heart of the patient with a saphenous vein
bypass graft.
[0033] FIG. 21 shows the heart of the patient with a Y-graft.
[0034] FIG. 22 shows a first embodiment of a tunneler for
retracting the pulmonary trunk away from the transverse sinus.
[0035] FIG. 23 shows a schematic diagram of a patient's heart with
the tunneler of FIG. 22 in use.
[0036] FIG. 24 shows a second embodiment of a tunneler having an
articulating distal end.
[0037] FIG. 25 is an enlarged detail drawing of the multilink
articulator on the distal end of the articulating tunneler of FIG.
24.
[0038] FIG. 26 shows an embodiment of the articulating tunneler of
FIG. 24 with a grasper on the distal end for grasping the RIMA and
drawing it through the transverse sinus.
[0039] FIG. 27 shows a schematic diagram of a patient's heart with
the articulating tunneler of FIG. 26 in use.
[0040] FIG. 28 shows a first embodiment of a heart retractor with a
finger-like manipulator on the distal end.
[0041] FIG. 29 shows an alternate embodiment of a heart retractor
having a finger-like manipulator combined with a suction irrigation
lumen.
[0042] FIG. 30A shows a die-cutting pattern for the covering
material to cover the finger-like manipulator of FIG. 28. FIG. 30B
shows an enlarged detail drawing of the die-cutting pattern of FIG.
30A.
[0043] FIG. 31 shows a cross section of a patient showing the heart
retractor of FIG. 28 in use.
[0044] FIG. 32 shows the heart retractor of FIG. 28 fixed to the
operating table to stabilize the heart.
[0045] FIG. 33A shows a side view of a second embodiment of a heart
retractor having a suction cup-shaped manipulator on the distal
end. FIG. 33B shows a longitudinal cross section of the distal end
of the heart retractor of FIG. 33A. FIG. 33C shows a distal end
view of the heart retractor of FIG. 33A.
[0046] FIG. 34 shows a cross section of a patient showing the heart
retractor of FIG. 33 in use.
[0047] FIG. 35 shows the heart retractor of FIG. 33 used to rotate
the heart to expose the Cx and the OM branches on the left aspect
of the heart.
[0048] FIG. 36 shows a third embodiment of a heart retractor with a
flexible snare on the distal end for manipulating the heart.
[0049] FIG. 37 shows the heart retractor of FIG. 36 in a
predeployed position for insertion through an access cannula.
[0050] FIG. 38 shows a cross section of a patient showing the heart
retractor of FIG. 36 in use.
[0051] FIG. 39 shows a fourth embodiment of a heart retractor for
manipulating the heart in a predeployed position for insertion
through an access cannula.
[0052] FIG. 40 shows the heart retractor of FIG. 39 in a deployed
position for manipulating the heart.
[0053] FIG. 41 shows a cross section of a patient showing the heart
retractor of FIG. 39 in use.
[0054] FIG. 42 shows a first embodiment of a topical hypothermia
device for cooling a patients heart to improve myocardial
protection during port-access cardiac surgery.
[0055] FIG. 43 shows the topical hypothermia device of FIG. 42 in a
predeployed position for insertion through an access port.
[0056] FIG. 44 shows the topical hypothermia device of FIG. 42 in a
deployed position.
[0057] FIG. 45 shows the topical hypothermia device of FIG. 42 in
use within the chest of a patient.
[0058] FIG. 46 shows a second embodiment of a topical hypothermia
device for cooling a patients heart to improve myocardial
protection during port-access cardiac surgery.
[0059] FIG. 47 shows the topical hypothermia device of FIG. 46 in a
deployed position.
[0060] FIG. 48 shows a first embodiment of an anterior
mediastinotomy approach for performing closed-chest multivessel
CABG surgery.
[0061] FIG. 49 shows a second embodiment of an anterior
mediastinotomy approach for performing closed-chest multivessel
CABG surgery.
[0062] FIG. 50 shows a top view of a fiberoptically illuminated
oval access cannula.
[0063] FIG. 51 shows a side view of the fiberoptically illuminated
oval access cannula of FIG. 50.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0064] The Surgical Method
[0065] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a patient's thorax
illustrating the takedown step of the port-access CABG procedure.
The takedown step should be performed while the patient is under
general anesthesia, but before the patient has been placed on
cardiopulmonary bypass. If the LIMA is to be used as an arterial
bypass conduit, a series of access ports are created on the left
lateral side of the patient's chest, as shown in FIG. 1. The access
ports are created by incising the skin with a scalpel between two
of the patient's ribs, then an access cannula 112 with a trocar is
pushed through the intercostal space. Preferably, a self-anchoring
access cannula 112 with a 10-12 mm internal diameter is used for
the takedown ports. The placement of the access ports is highly
variable, depending on the preferences of the surgeon and the
anatomy of the patient which is assessed fluoroscopically before
the operation to verify the preferred locations.
[0066] In one preferred embodiment of the method, to allow the
takedown of the LIMA, a first access port 103 is placed in the
third intercostal space I3 on the left lateral side of the
patient's chest, a second access port 104 is placed in the fifth
intercostal space I5, and a third access port 105 is placed in the
sixth intercostal space I6 in a slightly more anterior position
from the first two. Meanwhile, the left and right bronchi are
individually intubated just below the bifurcation of the trachea so
that the lungs can be individually ventilated. The left lung is
deflated to provide clearance between the lung and the left
anterior wall of the thoracic cavity while the patient is
ventilated through the right lung. A flexible thoracoscope 111 is
inserted through one of the access ports, such as the third access
port 105 as shown in FIG. 1. The distal end of the flexible
thoracoscope 111 can be directed toward the anterior wall of the
thoracic cavity just to the left of the sternum S to view the LIMA.
Elongated instruments, such as an electrosurgical device 110 and a
grasper 109, are inserted through the remaining ports 104, 103 to
dissect the LIMA from the anterior wall of the chest. The LIMA is
dissected with an attached pedicle. Side branches of the LIMA are
ligated with ligating clips, applied with a thoracoscopic clip
applier, as the LIMA is dissected from the surrounding tissue. A
length of LIMA of 15-30 cm is dissected from the wall to provide
enough length to reach the chosen anastomosis site. When a
sufficient length of LIMA has been dissected, two ligating clips
are placed side-by-side near the distal end of the LIMA and the
vessel is transected between them.
[0067] If the patient's lungs are ventilated by high frequency
"jet" ventilation, then the RIMA can also be harvested frQm the
access ports 103, 104, 105 on the left side of the patient's chest,
provided the patient's chest has ample space between the heart and
the anterior wall of the thoracic cavity. To do this, both lungs
are partially deflated while continuing to ventilate, thereby
allowing clearance to reach the RIMA from the left side of the
chest. After dissecting the mediastinal pleura, the distal end of
the thoracoscope 111 is directed toward the anterior wall of the
thoracic cavity just to the right of the sternum S to view the RIMA
and the RIMA is taken down in a similar fashion to the LIMA.
[0068] If conventional ventilation is used, sufficient ventilation
cannot be achieved with both lungs partially deflated, so this
option is not available. In this case, access ports 106. 107, 108
symmetrical to the left hand ports are placed in the lateral right
side of the chest, typically in the third I3, fifth I5 and sixth I6
intercostal spaces. The right lung is deflated to provide clearance
between the lung and the anterior wall of the thoracic cavity while
the left lung is ventilated. The flexible thoracoscope 111 is
inserted through one of the access ports and instruments, such as
the electrosurgical device 110, graspers 109 and/or a clip applier,
are inserted through the remaining ports to dissect the RIMA from
the anterior chest wall. A length of 15-30 cm of RIMA with an
attached pedicle is dissected from the chest wall to provide enough
length to reach the chosen anastomosis site. When a sufficient
length of RIMA has been dissected, two ligating clips are placed
side-by-side near the distal end of the RIMA and the vessel is
transected between them.
[0069] When rerouting the RIMA to the anastomosis site, two paths
are possible. The currently preferred path is through the
transverse sinus TS which is a natural passage behind the aorta A
and the pulmonary artery P leading from the right side of the heart
H to the left side. The RIMA is tunneled through the transverse
sinus TS by passing an instrument, such as the articulated
tunneling grasper 150 described below in relation to FIG. 24,
through the transverse sinus TS and drawing the distal end of the
RIMA back through the transverse sinus TS, as shown in FIG. 2.
(nota bene: The patient's chest has been shown with the ribs R cut
away in FIG. 2, and subsequent figures, solely for the purposes of
illustration. An important feature of the port-access surgical
method of the present invention is that the ribs and the sternum
remain intact throughout the surgical procedure.) To facilitate the
tunneling operation, a tunneler 140, such as the one described
below in relation to FIG. 22, can be used to retract the pulmonary
trunk P to allow easier passage of the RIMA through the transverse
sinus TS. The second path for rerouting the RIMA is across the
anterior side of the heart H. This routing of the RIMA is not
currently preferred by most surgeons in open-chest CABG operations
because the oscillating saw commonly used for doing the sternotomy
in redo CABG operations can cause damage to the RIMA if it is
placed in an anterior position. However, it is interesting to note
that redo CABG will not require the oscillating saw to open the
sternotomy if the original CABG operation was done with port-access
techniques that do not require a sternotomy. The less traumatic
reciprocating saw, commonly used in first time CABG surgery, can be
used if a redo operation is necessary because it will be the
patient's first sternotomy. As the techniques for port-access CABG
surgery advance, the simpler anterior route for the RIMA is likely
to become the preferred path.
[0070] If a third arterial conduit is required for complete
revascularization of the heart or if either of the internal mammary
arteries is not available, then the right gastroepiploic artery
(RGEA) is the next choice. FIG. 3 shows the laparoscopic takedown
step for the RGEA. A first laparoscopic access port 113 is placed
above the umbilicus and a second laparoscopic access port 114 is
placed below the diaphragm. A third 115 and fourth 116 access ports
may be placed in the left and right side of the abdomen as shown
for insertion of instruments. The RGEA is dissected from the
greater curvature of the stomach ST using an electrosurgical
device. Ligating clips are placed on branches of the RGEA running
toward the omentum. Branches 117 running toward the stomach are
preferably ligated with suture. A length of 15-30 cm of RGEA with
an attached pedicle is dissected from the stomach to provide enough
length to reach the chosen anastomosis site. When a sufficient
length of RGEA has been dissected, two ligating clips 118 are
placed side-by-side near the distal end of the RGEA and the vessel
is transected between them.
[0071] A hole 119 is made through the diaphragm D in an appropriate
place for reaching the desired anastomosis site using an
electrosurgical device. The distal end of the RGEA is tunneled
upward through the diaphragm D as shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, the
rerouted RGEA is shown being anastomosed to the PDA on a heart H
which has been retracted by the methods described below to expose
the posterior aspect of the heart.
[0072] If a venous graft, such as the greater saphenous vein (GSV),
is needed, a venous takedown procedure can be performed by known
techniques to provide a venous conduit. After harvesting, the vein
can be prepared for use as a graft outside of the body and inserted
into the thoracic cavity through one of the access ports at the
appropriate time in the grafting step of the procedure.
[0073] Simultaneously with the takedown step or steps just
described, the patient can be prepared for cardiopulmonary bypass
by cannulating the femoral artery and the femoral vein using
surgical cutdowns or the percutaneous Seldinger technique.
Additionally, an endoaortic occlusion catheter may be positioned in
the ascending aorta according to the methods described in co-owned,
copending patent application Ser. No. 08/281,891, filed Jul. 28,
1994. According to the methods described therein, an elongated
endoaortic occlusion catheter is introduced into a peripheral
artery, such as the femoral artery and advanced into the ascending
aorta. When it is time to establish CPB before the grafting step
described below, an occlusion balloon on the distal end of the
catheter is inflated to occlude the aortic lumen between the
coronary ostia and the brachiocephalic artery. Once the balloon is
inflated a cardioplegic agent can be infused through a lumen in the
catheter into the aortic root and into the coronary arteries to
induce cardiac arrest. Alternatively, a thoracoscopic cross-clamp
may be introduced through one of the access ports according to the
methods described in co-owned, copending patent application Ser.
No. 08/173,899, filed Dec. 27, 1993, the entire disclosure of which
is hereby incorporated by reference. According to the methods
described therein, an elongated thoracoscopic cross-clamp is
introduced through one of the access ports and, at the appropriate
time, clamped around the ascending aorta to occlude the aortic
lumen. A cardioplegic agent may be introduced antegrade into the
aortic root or retrograde through the coronary sinus to induce
cardiac arrest. This is in preparation for the grafting step of the
method of the present mention which follows.
[0074] At this point in the procedure the pericardium is opened to
expose the heart as completely as possible. Using thoracoscopic
observation, grasping instruments and cutting instruments, such as
knives, scissors and/or an electrosurgical device are inserted
through the takedown ports 103, 104, 105 and a vertical slit
beginning at or near the aortic reflection and extending to the
apex of the heart is made in the pericardium. Thoracoscopic bipolar
electrosurgical cutting scissors, such as model 3803 bipolar
scissors from Everest Medical Corporation. Minneapolis, Minn., have
proven to be an effective instrument for performing the
pericardiotomy. The pericardium is divided to expose the surface of
the heart H to view.
[0075] FIG. 5 shows the operative ports for performing the
anastomosis of the arterial conduits onto the coronary arteries. A
visualization port 120 is placed in the anterior wall of the chest,
typically through the fourth intercostal space 14, about 1-3 cm
from the sternum S. The precise placement of the visualization port
120 is determined by the position of the heart H within the
patient's chest. A probe, such as a 22 gauge needle can be inserted
percutaneously through the intercostal space while observing the
anterior wall of the thoracic cavity through the thoracoscope. When
the needle is observed entering the thoracic cavity above the
target position, for instance above the LAD when the heart is in
its native position, the needle is removed and a trocar is used to
create an access port at that position. An access cannula 121 with
an internal diameter of 10-12 mm is placed in the access port 120
and the cardioscopic microscope (not shown) is inserted through the
cannula. A cardioscopic microscope, adapted especially for this
port-access CABG procedure is available from Karl Zeiss, GmbH,
Germany. The presently preferred configuration uses an OPMI.RTM.
microscope, model MDU or CS, with an NC31 microscope stand, an
endoscopic adapter and a Port-Access StereoVision Probe. Other
types of microscope-based and direct visualization systems which
are particularly well-suited for use in the method of the present
invention are disclosed in co-owned, copending patent applications
Ser. No. 08/135, 387, filed Oct. 8, 1993, and Ser. No. 08/227,366,
filed Apr. 13, 1994, the complete disclosures of which are hereby
incorporated herein by reference. With the microscope positioned in
the visualization port 120, the left anterior descending coronary
artery (LAD) should be within the field of view of the
microscope.
[0076] A number of instrument ports 122 are placed about 3-5 cm
from the visualization port to allow proper angulation of the
instruments into the field of view of the microscope. Typically,
two ports 122 are placed near the sternum S in the third I3 and
fourth I4 intercostal spaces and two more ports 122 are placed to
the left of the visualization port in the third I3 and fifth I5
intercostal spaces. An access cannula 123 with an internal diameter
of 5 mm is placed in each of the instrument ports 122.
[0077] Next the graft vessels, whether arterial or venous conduits,
must be prepared for anastomosis. Preferably, the distal ends of
the graft vessels are prepared outside of the body by passing the
distal end of the graft out through one of the access ports. This
simplifies the procedure because the end of the graft can be
prepared under direct visualization with magnifying surgical loupes
and because standard surgical instruments can be used for preparing
the graft rather than thoracoscopic instruments. The LIMA or RIMA
can be passed out through one of the thoracic access ports (e.g.
access port 103 or 106 in FIG. 1) before rerouting or tunneling the
vessel. The RGEA can be passed out through one of the abdominal
access ports (e.g. access port 113 or 114 in FIG. 3) before
tunneling the RGEA through the diaphragm D. If the graft vessel is
too short to reach the exterior of the body through one of the
access ports, the following graft vessel preparation procedure can
also be carried out within the thoracic cavity using thoracoscopic
instruments and techniques. Prior to preparing the graft vessel,
the blood flow into the vessel must be stopped by placing an
atraumatic clamp (e.g. 124 in FIG. 4) on the upstream end of the
vessel. An atraumatic thoracoscopic bulldog clamp especially suited
for this step of the procedure is described in co-owned. copending
patent application Ser. No. 08/265,477. filed Jun. 24, 1994.
[0078] The graft vessel should be prepared by first determining the
appropriate length of the conduit in order to reach the desired
anastomosis site. The distal end of the graft vessel should then be
skeletonized by stripping the pedicle away from the artery for 5-10
mm. The distal end of the artery is transected to remove the
ligating clip 118 that was previously applied. If desired.
Papavarin may be injected into the lumen of the artery to dilate it
and reverse any arterial spasm. Depending on the technique
preferred by the surgeon, the distal end of the graft vessel can be
slit longitudinally to create a cobra head for the anastomosis.
Once prepared, the graft vessel is reinserted into the thoracic
cavity through the access port.
[0079] When performing multiple anastomoses, it is preferable to do
the most difficult or most difficult to reach anastomosis first.
For example, any anastomosis to the RCA or the PDA should be
performed first since the most retraction of the heart is
necessary. Following that, any anastomosis to the Cx or the OM
branches should be performed. Finally, any anastomosis to the LAD
can be performed last. The RIMA, RGEA or a vein graft may be used
for anastomosis to the RCA or the PDA which are on the posterior
aspect of the heart. Typically. the LIMA, RIMA or a vein graft is
used when a graft is needed for the Cx or the OM branches because
of their location on the left aspect of the heart. The LIMA, or the
RIMA if the LIMA has already been used for the Cx, may be used for
anastomosis to the LAD which is on the anterior aspect of the
heart. Because the manifestations of coronary artery disease are
highly variable, the extent of the disease should be assessed
fluoroscopically beforehand and the anastomosis sites and the best
use of the available conduits strategized carefully. The procedures
for anastomosing to each of the major anastomosis sites will now be
described. These procedures can be performed in combination to
achieve complete revascularization of the heart.
[0080] FIG. 6 shows a first position of the heart H for performing
an anastomosis to the right coronary artery (RCA) or the posterior
descending (PDA) branch. The heart H is manipulated from outside of
the body using instruments inserted through the instrument ports
122 or the takedown ports 103, 104, 105 in the patient's chest.
Using the heart retractor devices described below in connection
with FIGS. 26 and 27 or any suitable means for manipulating the
heart from outside of the body, the heart H is rotated
approximately 180 degrees to the left of the patient to position
the RCA and/or PDA under the microscope in the visualization port
120. With the heart H stabilized in this position, the distal
extremity of the conduit vessel is approximated to the chosen
anastomosis site and an end-to-side anastomosis is performed. The
likely graft vessels for the RCA and the PDA, which include the
RIMA and the RGEA, are shown in phantom lines in FIG. 6. After
completion of the anastomosis, the heart H is rotated back to its
native position or to the desired position for the next
anastomosis.
[0081] FIG. 7 shows an alternate position of the heart H for
performing the anastomosis to the RCA or the PDA. In this variation
of the procedure, the heart H is rotated approximately 180 degrees
about an axis 125 which is at an approximately 45 degree angle to
the sagittal axis of the body. Flipped upward this way, the RCA and
the PDA are positioned under the microscope in the visualization
port 120. With the heart H stabilized in this position, the distal
extremity of the conduit vessel is approximated to the chosen
anastomosis site and an end-to-side anastomosis is performed. The
likely graft vessels for the RCA and the PDA, which include the
RIMA and the RGEA, are shown in phantom lines in FIG. 7. After
completion of the anastomosis, the heart H is rotated back to its
native position or to the desired position for the next
anastomosis.
[0082] FIG. 8 shows the position of the heart H for performing an
anastomosis to the circumflex artery (Cx) or the obtuse marginal
(OM) branches. In order to access the Cx or the OM branches which
are on the left aspect of the heart or the left posterior aspect of
the heart, the heart H is rotated toward the right by 45 to 90
degrees using retraction instruments inserted through the access
ports (e.g. 103, 104, 105). In this position the Cx and/or the OM
branches will be positioned under the microscope in the
visualization port 120. With the heart H stabilized in this
position, the distal extremity of the conduit vessel is
approximated to the chosen anastomosis site and an end-to-side
anastomosis is performed. The likely graft vessels for the Cx and
the OM branches, which include the LIMA and the RIMA, are shown in
phantom lines in FIG. 8. After completion of the anastomosis. the
heart H is rotated back to its native position or to the desired
position for the next anastomosis.
[0083] With the more difficult to reach anastomoses completed and
the heart H back in its native position, as shown in FIG. 9 the
anastomosis to the LAD can now be completed. With the heart H in
its native position, the LAD will be positioned under the
microscope in the visualization port 120. With the heart H
stabilized in this position, the distal extremity of the conduit
vessel is approximated to the chosen anastomosis site and an
end-to-side anastomosis is performed. The likely graft vessels for
the LAD, which include the LIMA and the RIMA, are shown in phantom
lines in FIG. 9.
[0084] Alternatively to manipulating the heart within the closed
chest to expose the different aspects, a second visualization port
126 and instrument ports 127 can be opened on the right side of the
chest. as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 5, to access the right
coronary artery RCA directly. In another alternative approach,
right side access ports may be used alone if only the right
coronary artery RCA and/or the obtuse marginal OM branches are to
be revascularized or if the patient's anatomy favors a right side
approach for multivessel revascularization.
[0085] FIGS. 10-15 show the step-by-step sequence of creating an
end-to-side anastomosis. Referring now to FIG. 10, an incision 95
is made in the wall of the coronary artery CA, where the incision
has dimensions selected to match those of the distal end of the
internal mammary artery graft IMA. The incision 95 is made by first
piercing the arterial wall using the tip of a scalpel (not
illustrated). Scissors 96 are then introduced through the
penetration and used to axially extend the penetration, as
illustrated at 97 in FIG. 11.
[0086] The internal mammary artery IMA can be joined to the
extended incision 97 in the coronary artery CA by a variety of
techniques, including suturing, laser welding, microstapling, and
the like. In a currently preferred embodiment of the method of the
present invention, it is preferred to use a continuous suturing
technique as illustrated in FIGS. 10-15. A length of suture 98 has
needles 100 at either end, which are manipulated using forceps 102
to join the distal end 101 of the internal mammary artery IMA graft
to the opening created by the incision 97 in the coronary artery
CA, as shown in FIGS. 11-15. The instrument designs presently
preferred for performing the coronary anastomosis are described in
copending application Ser. No. 08/194,946, filed Feb. 11, 1994, the
entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference. Alternatively, an interrupted suture technique for the
anastomosis can be used, as described in Rob and Smith's Operative
Surgery, Cardiac Surgery for open-chest CABG surgery.
[0087] The presently preferred suture for port-access CABG surgery
is a double-armed suture of 8-10 cm length which was specially
developed for this procedure. The suture 98 has a first needle 100
on one end and a second needle 100 on the other end. Preferably,
the needles 100 are 3/8 circle curved hardened stainless steel
needles with tapered points. The needles 100 are preferably
attached to the suture 98 by crimping. Alternatively, the needles
100 may be adhesively bonded to be suture 98. The preferred suture
material 98 is a multifilament, expanded PTFE suture material with
a size between 8-0 and 6-0 USP, preferably 7-0 USP. Suitable suture
material of this type is available from W. L. Gore, Corporation
under the tradename Goretex.RTM.. A contrasting color which is
highly visible within the thoracic cavity, such as black, blue or
white, is preferred for the suture material.
[0088] The configuration of this suture is especially advantageous
for use in the port-access surgical CABG procedure. The suture can
be inserted into the thoracic cavity through an access port and
manipulated using thoracoscopic needle drivers to sew the
anastomosis and to tie the suture within the thoracic cavity.
Standard sutures, which are normally much longer, are very
difficult to manipulate within the closed chest, especially when
tying the suture using thoracoscopic instruments. The short length
of the suture allows the knots in the suture to be pulled tight
within the confines of the thoracic cavity while grasping the
needles with the needle drivers. The multifilament, expanded PTFE
suture material is much easier to handle and tie within the
confines of the thoracic cavity than monofilament suture material
which is generally stiffer and harder to handle. Additionally, the
multifilament, expanded PTFE suture material has more resistance to
damage than monofilament when it is grasped directly by the needle
drivers, as shown in FIGS. 11, 14 and 15.
[0089] FIG. 16 shows the heart H of a patient after completion of a
total revascularization for multivessel coronary artery disease
using port-access techniques. Three bypass grafts have been made,
using the LIMA as a bypass to one of the OM branches of the Cx, the
RIMA as a bypass to the LAD, tunneled via the transverse sinus TS,
and the RGEA as a bypass to the PDA, tunneled through the
diaphragm.
[0090] A sequential grafting technique or "skip grafting" is useful
for achieving total revascularization when the number of
significant coronary artery stenoses exceeds the number of
available graft conduits. Sequential grafts are created by making a
side-to-side anastomosis with a first coronary artery at an
intermediate point on the graft vessel, then an end-to-side
anastomosis between the distal end of the graft vessel and a second
coronary artery. FIGS. 17-18 show the step-by-step sequence of
creating a side-to-side anastomosis between a graft vessel G and a
coronary artery CA. The side-to-side anastomosis is fashioned in a
diamond-shaped manner, placing the graft vessel arteriotomy 128 at
right angles to the coronary arteriotomy 129. Small arteriotomies,
3-4 mm in length, are used and six to eight continuous stitches 130
are placed through the coronary artery CA and the graft vessel G.
An interrupted suture technique can also be used. FIG. 19 shows the
heart H of a patient with a completed sequential graft. The LIMA
has been first grafted to the diagonal branch LD of the left
anterior descending coronary artery using a side-to-side
anastomosis 131, then grafted to the LAD with an end-to-side
anastomosis 132.
[0091] Free grafts using either arterial conduits or venous
conduits can be used to augment the in situ arterial grafts.
Generally, the proximal end of a free grafts is anastomosed to the
ascending aorta A to provide an arterial blood source and the
distal end of the graft is anastomosed to one of the coronary
arteries. A common source of free grafts is the greater saphenous
vein. Other conduits used as free grafts include the lesser
saphenous vein, the LIMA, the RIMA, the inferior epigastric artery,
the splenic artery, the subclavian artery, and others. FIG. 20
shows the heart H of a patient with a saphenous vein bypass graft
SVG to the LAD. The proximal anastomosis 133 can be created using
suture techniques similar to those described in connection with
FIGS. 10-15 above with the exception that a thoracoscopic tissue
punch would be used to create an aortotomy after the initial
incision with a scalpel. Alternatively, the proximal anastomosis
133 can be created using an anastomosis staple device, such as
those described in co-owned, copending patent application Ser. No.
08/394,333, filed Feb. 24, 1995, the entire disclosure of which is
hereby incorporated by reference.
[0092] Free grafts can be combined with in situ grafts or other
free grafts to create composite bypass grafts to help achieve total
revascularization for multivessel disease. For example, a free
graft can be anastomosed to the distal end of an in situ graft like
the LIMA or RIMA when there is insufficient length of the graft
after takedown. Alternatively, a Y-graft can be created as an
alternative to the sequential grafts described above. FIG. 21 shows
the heart H of a patient with a Y-graft. The Y-graft was created by
joining the proximal end of a free right internal mammary artery
graft F-RIMA to an intermediate point on a LIMA in situ graft with
an end-to-side anastomosis 134, then grafting the distal end of the
RIMA to the Cx with an end-to-side anastomosis 135 and grafting the
distal end of the LIMA to the LAD with an end-to-side anastomosis
136. Other conduits including arterial and venous grafts can be
combined in various combinations to create composite grafts.
[0093] Instrument Descriptions
[0094] FIGS. 22-47 show an armamentarium of instruments for
facilitating the port-access multivessel CABG procedure. FIG. 22
shows a first embodiment of a tunneler 140 for retracting the
pulmonary artery away from the ascending aorta to facilitate
tunneling the RIMA through the transverse sinus TS. The tunneler
140 has an elongated shaft 141 of sufficient length to reach the
great vessels of the heart from the takedown ports in the left
lateral side of the chest, typically 15-30 cm in overall length.
There is a handle 142 on the proximal end of the shaft 141. The
distal portion 143 of the shaft is curved to facilitate passing the
tunneler 140 through the transverse sinus TS from the left side of
the heart. The distal tip 144 of the shaft is rounded to make it
atraumatic. There is a hole 145 through the shaft 141 near the
distal tip 144 of the tunneler 140. In use. a silastic tape 146 or
elastomeric tube is threaded through the hole 145 and the distal
end of the tunneler is inserted through one of the takedown ports
(e.g. 103 in FIG. 23). Under thoracoscope observation, the curved
distal portion 143 is inserted behind the pulmonary artery P and
the ascending aorta A and passed through the transverse sinus TS to
the right side of the heart, as shown in FIG. 23. When the distal
tip 144 of the tunneler 140 emerges on the right side of the heart
H, a grasper is inserted through one of the access ports, typically
one of the takedown ports on the left lateral side of the chest, to
grasp one side of the tape 146. The retractor 140 is withdrawn and
the ends of the tape 146 are passed out through the access ports,
preferably one of the takedown ports located at the third or fourth
intercostal space, and tension is placed on the tape 140 to retract
the main pulmonary artery P and the ascending aorta A (the
aorto-pulmonary trunk), thereby widening the transverse sinus TS.
With the pulmonary artery P and the ascending aorta A retracted, a
grasping instrument, such as the articulated tunneling grasper 150
of FIG. 26, can more easily be reached through the transverse sinus
TS.
[0095] A basic embodiment of the articulated tunneling grasper 150
is shown in FIG. 24. The articulated tunneling grasper 150 has an
elongated tubular shaft 151 with a handle 152 on the proximal end.
A multilink articulator 153 is attached to the distal end of the
shaft 151. The multilink articulator 153 is shown in detail in FIG.
25. The multilink articulator 153 has a head 154 which attaches to
the distal end of the shaft 151. Two links 155, 156 are pivotally
attached to the head 154. The first link 155 is a straight link.
The proximal end of the first link 155 is pivotally attached to the
head 154. The second link 156 is an L-shaped link with a long leg
157 that is approximately the same length as the first link 155,
and a short leg 158 extending perpendicular from the proximal end
of the long leg 157. The second link 156 is pivotally attached to
the head 154 at the proximal end of the long leg 157. An actuator
rod 159 that passes through the tubular shaft 151 connects the end
of the short leg 158 with a sliding actuator button 160 on the
handle 152. The first link 155 and the second link 156 cross one
another and their distal ends are pivotally attached to a third
link 161. The third link 161 is an L-shaped link with a long leg
162 extending distally, and a short leg 163 extending perpendicular
from the proximal end of the long leg 162. When the actuator rod
159 is in its neutral position the multilink articulator 153 is in
a relatively straight position, as shown in FIG. 24 by solid lines
153. When the actuator rod 159 is moved distally with respect to
the head 154, it pivots the second link 156 clockwise, as shown in
FIG. 24 by phantom lines 153'. The relative motion of the first 155
and second links 156, in turn, pivots the third link 161 clockwise,
as shown. When the actuator rod 159 is moved proximally with
respect to the head 154, it pivots the second link 156
counterclockwise, as shown in FIG. 24 by phantom lines 153'. The
relative motion of the first 155 and second links 156, in turn,
pivots the third link 161 counterclockwise. The distal end of the
multilink articulator 153 can thus pivot approximately 90 degrees
in either direction.
[0096] Various end effectors can be attached to the distal end of
the multilink articulator 153 for performing different tasks. The
possible end effectors include a simple hole 164, as shown in FIG.
24, for placing a tape through the transverse sinus TS for
retracting the aorto-pulmonary trunk, or a heart retraction device,
such as a suction retractor or finger retractor, as discussed in
more detail below, or a grasping mechanism, such as a
cable-actuated grasper.
[0097] In one particularly preferred embodiment, shown in FIG. 26,
a cable-actuated grasper 165 is mounted on the distal end of the
multilink articulator 153 shown in FIG. 24. The grasper 165 has a
first 166 and second 167 jaw with grasping surfaces on the facing
surfaces of the jaws 166, 167. At least one of the jaws 166. 167,
and preferably both jaws. are pivotally attached to the distal end
of the third link 166, 167. An actuator cable (not shown) extends
from a control button 168 on the handle 152, through the tubular
shaft, and to a linkage connected to the grasper jaws 166, 167. The
jaws of the grasper 166, 167 can be actuated to open and close
using the control button 168.
[0098] In use, the articulated tunneling grasper 150 is inserted
through one of the takedown ports 103, 104, 105 in a straight
position. The distal end of the grasper 165 is inserted behind the
pulmonary artery P and the ascending aorta A, and through the
transverse sinus TS, as shown in FIG. 27. The multilink articulator
153 is actuated to assume an appropriate curve to pass easily
through the transverse sinus TS. Once the distal end of the grasper
165 emerges from the transverse sinus TS on the right side of the
heart H, as shown in FIG. 27, the multilink actuator 153 can be
used to manipulate the grasper 165 closer to the RIMA. Another
grasper may be inserted through another access port to assist with
handling the RIMA to the articulated tunneling grasper 150. The
grasper 165 is opened, then closed to grasp the pedicle of the RIMA
so as not to damage the vessel. The articulated tunneling grasper
150, with the RIMA in its grasp, is withdrawn through the
transverse sinus TS to the left side of the heart H. The RIMA has
thus been tunneled through the transverse sinus TS from the right
side of the heart to the left side, as discussed above in relation
to FIG. 2.
[0099] Tunneling the RIMA through the transverse sinus TS from the
right side of the heart to the left side is the currently preferred
path for rerouting the RIMA for attachment to the Cx or the OM
branches. Alternatively, the RIMA can be routed across the anterior
side of the heart using the articulated tunneler or another
thoracoscopic grasping device. When rerouting a graft vessel,
particularly when tunneling through a space such as the transverse
sinus TS, it is important to avoid twisting or kinking the graft
vessel. One way to avoid twisting the vessel is to mark a line
along the vessel which can serve as an indicator of whether the
vessel is straight. For instance, the vessel can be marked by
drawing a line along the vessel or on the pedicle with a surgical
marker containing a nontoxic ink, such as methylene blue. The
vessel is preferably marked before takedown to assure that the
vessel is in a straight condition when it is marked. Alternatively,
the clips or sutures that are used to ligate side branches of the
vessel during takedown can be used as markers to determine if the
graft vessel is straight when it is rerouted.
[0100] FIG. 28 shows a first embodiment of a heart retractor 170
with a finger-like manipulator 171 on the distal end for rotating
the heart within the closed chest of the patient to expose each of
the coronary arteries to be anastomosed. The retractor 170 has an
elongated shaft 172 of approximately 15-30 cm with a handle 173 on
the proximal end of the shaft. The distal end of the retractor
shaft is curved to create a finger-like manipulator 171. The curved
manipulator 171 has a radius of curvature in one preferred
embodiment of approximately 4.5 cm. The radius of curvature in
other embodiment can range from 3.5-6 cm. The curvature of the
finger-like manipulator 171 subtends an arc of approximately 90 to
180 degrees. The finger-like manipulator 171 has an outer diameter
of approximately 5-10 mm. The finger-like manipulator 171 is
preferably molded of a rigid plastic, such as ABS or nylon.
Alternatively, the finger-like manipulator 171 can be made of
metal, such as stainless steel. In one particular alternative
embodiment, the finger-like manipulator 171 is made of annealed 316
stainless steel which is malleable so that it can be manually bent
to the desired curvature. The exterior of the finger-like
manipulator 171 is covered with an absorbent and/or high friction
material 174 to assist in grasping and manipulating the heart. The
covering 174 of the finger-like manipulator 174 extends to the very
distal end 175 of the manipulator 171 and covers the rounded distal
tip 175. The preferred material 174 for covering the finger-like
manipulator 171 is a nonwoven polyester fabric, embossed with an
open mesh pattern. The nonwoven polyester gives the covering
absorbancy, while the open mesh pattern improves the friction of
the surface. A fabric with a self-sticking adhesive surface is
preferred for convenience in assembling the retractor. The
currently preferred material for the covering 174 of the
finger-like manipulator 171 is a 2.4 oz. nonwoven, embossed
polyester medical tape with Wetstick m adhesive available from
Avery Dennison, Specialty Tape Division, Painesville, Ohio.
[0101] Alternate materials for the covering 174 of the finger-like
manipulator 171 include nonembossed, nonwoven fabrics, such as
polyester surgical felt. While the absorbancy of these materials is
quite acceptable, the friction of the smooth, nonembossed fabric is
less than for embossed materials. Examples of acceptable materials
in this category include Fastsorb 820 and Exsorbx 400 available
from Berkshire Corp, Great Barrington, Mass. or Surgical Felt 6077
or 6079 available from BARD, Vascular Surgery Division, Haverhill,
Mass. Other materials suitable for covering the finger-like
manipulator 171 include woven materials and knit materials made of
polyester, cotton or other fibers. These materials also tend to
have a lower coefficient of friction for gripping tissue. Another
alternate material for the covering of the finger-like manipulator
171 is a composite material, including a first layer of a highly
absorbent material, like surgical felt, and a second layer of
mesh-like material to increasing the coefficient of friction for
gripping the surface of the heart.
[0102] The covering material 174 is preferably die cut in a pattern
that easily conforms to the shape of the finger-like manipulator
171. FIG. 30 shows a die-cutting pattern 176 for the covering
material 174 to cover a finger-like manipulator 171 having a radius
of curvature of 4.5 cm which subtends 180 degrees of arc, and an
outer diameter of 8 mm, such as the one shown in FIG. 28. FIG. 30B
shows an enlarged detail drawing of the die-cutting pattern 176 of
FIG. 30A. The self-adhesive covering material 174 is cut to this
pattern 176 and adhesively bonded to the exterior of the
finger-like manipulator 171.
[0103] The absorbancy, combined with the texture of the covering
174, gives the retractor 170 a good frictional grip on the surface
of the heart. Keeping the interface between the retractor surface
and the surface of the heart dry is important for maintaining a
good frictional grip. Another preferred embodiment of the retractor
170, shown in FIG. 29, combines suction irrigation with the
retractor to augment the absorbancy of the covering material 174.
In this embodiment. a suction lumen 177 extends through the shaft
172 of the retractor 170 and through the finger-like manipulator
171. A series of suction holes 178 connect the suction lumen with
the surface of the finger-like manipulator 171 on the inner curve
of the distal end. A constant or intermittent suction through the
holes 178 will keep the covering material 174 dry to improve the
frictional grip on the surface of the heart.
[0104] In use, the retractor 170 is typically inserted into the
thoracic cavity through one of the takedown ports 103, 104, 105 on
the left lateral side of the chest. The curved finger-like
manipulator 171 of the retractor 170 is hooked around the apex of
the heart H, as shown in FIG. 31. The retractor 170 can be used to
rotate or translate the position of the heart H within the closed
chest. For example, the retractor 170 can be used to roll the heart
H toward the right side of the patient to expose the Cx or the OM
branches on the left aspect of the heart to the microscope in the
visualization port 120. This position of the heart H is shown in
FIG. 7. The retractor 170 can also be used to lift the apex of the
heart and flip the heart 180 degrees to expose the RCA or PDA on
the posterior aspect of the heart H to view. This position of the
heart H is shown in FIG. 9.
[0105] The retractor 170 can be fixed to the operating table 180 to
stabilize the heart H in the desired position, as shown in FIG. 32.
A positioning device 182, such as those available from Omni-Tract
Surgical Div., Minneapolis, Minn. or Mediflex Medical Products,
Islandia. N.Y., is attached to the operating table 180 and bent to
the correct position and locked in place. A clamp 181 on the distal
end of the positioning device 182 is attached to the proximal end
of the retractor 180 to hold it in place and maintain the position
of the heart H during the course of the grafting step.
[0106] FIG. 33A shows a side view of an embodiment of a suction
heart retractor 190 for manipulating the heart within the closed
chest of the patient. The retractor 190 has an elongated tubular
shaft 191 having a suction cup-shaped manipulator 192 on the distal
end. The suction cup-shaped manipulator 192 may be mounted straight
on the shaft 191 or it may be mounted at an angle to the shaft 191.
In one particularly preferred embodiment, there is a 45 degree bend
193 near the distal end of the shaft 191 so that the suction
cup-shaped manipulator 192 is mounted at a 45 degree angle to the
proximal shaft 191. In either embodiment, the suction cup-shaped
manipulator 192 is preferably flexibly mounted to the distal end of
the shaft 191. A vacuum lumen 194 extends through the tubular shaft
from the proximal end to the distal end. The distal end of the
vacuum lumen 194 is in fluid communication with the interior 195 of
the suction cup-shaped manipulator 192. The proximal end of the
vacuum lumen 194 is adapted for attachment to a vacuum source. A
fitting for connecting to the vacuum source, such as a barb fitting
or luer fitting, may be attached to the proximal end of the tubular
shaft 191, or a flexible extension tube 196 may be attached to the
proximal end of the shaft 191 with a fitting at the far end of the
extension tube 196.
[0107] The shaft 191 of the retractor 190 is preferably made of a
rigid material that will support the forces required for
manipulating the heart without significant deformation. Acceptable
materials for the retractor shaft include stainless steel and
liquid crystal polymer. To facilitate forming an angled or curved
shaft, a mineral filled liquid crystal polymer (e.g. calcium
carbonate) is preferred. This material can be heat formed at 350 to
400 degrees F.
[0108] FIG. 33B shows a longitudinal cross section of the distal
end of the heart retractor 190 of FIG. 33A, and FIG. 33C shows a
distal end view of the heart retractor of FIG. 33A. The suction
cup-shaped manipulator 192 has an external diameter of
approximately 12 to 50 mm for a surface area of approximately 110
to 1960 mm.sup.2. The surface area of the suction cup-shaped
manipulator 192 allows a firm grip on the surface of the heart H
when a vacuum is applied to the interior 195 of the suction cup
192, without causing vacuum damage to the tissue. A valve 197 on
the shaft 191 of the retractor 190 allows the surgeon to control
the vacuum to turn it on and off. Preferably, the vacuum should be
limited to a maximum of 150 mmHg to avoid tissue damage. The
suction cup-shaped manipulator 192 is made of a soft, flexible
elastomeric material, such as silicone rubber with a hardness of
approximately 40 to 80 Shore A durometer. The soft, flexible
suction cup-shaped manipulator 192 is designed so that when a
vacuum is applied within the interior 195 of the suction cup 192,
the suction cup 192 conforms to the surface of the heart H and does
not cause deformation of the heart tissue.
[0109] The distal surface 198 of the suction cup-shaped manipulator
192 is textured to create a high friction surface. In one
particularly preferred embodiment, the suction cup-shaped
manipulator 192 has a pattern of bumps 199 on the distal surface
198 and a circular ridge 200 around the periphery of the suction
cup 192. The bumps 199 in one preferred embodiment have a height of
approximately 1 mm with a 120 degree conical end and straight
sides. Other geometries for the friction-increasing bumps 199
include conical, cylindrical or hemispherical, as well as other
possible geometries. The circular ridge 200 around the periphery
has a height of approximately 1-2 mm. The geometry and the pattern
of the bumps 199 create a reliable friction grip on the surface of
the heart H under vacuum without causing any damage to the heart
tissue. An alternative embodiment of the retractor has an absorbent
high friction material (not shown) adhesively attached to or cast
into the distal surface of the suction cup-shaped manipulator 192
in place of the pattern of bumps. A suitable absorbent high
friction material for this application is a nonwoven polyester
fabric embossed with an open mesh pattern.
[0110] In use, the distal end of the retractor 190 is inserted
through one of the access ports, typically one of the takedown
ports 103, 104, 105 in the left lateral side of the patient's
chest. The soft, flexible nature of the suction cup-shaped
manipulator 192 allows it to be folded or collapsed as it is pushed
through the access port. The retractor 190 can be inserted through
an access cannula 112 or the cannula 112 can be removed from the
access port 103 to facilitate insertion of the suction cup-shaped
manipulator 192 directly through the access port 103. In one
preferred embodiment of the method, suction cup-shaped manipulator
192 is placed on the anterior surface of the heart H near the apex,
as shown in FIG. 34, and a vacuum is applied to grip the surface of
the heart. From this position, the retractor 192 can be used to
rotate the heart H in either direction. In FIG. 35, the retractor
190 has been used to rotate the heart H approximately 90 degrees to
the right to expose the Cx and the OM branches on the left aspect
of the heart to view. The retractor 190 can also be used to rotate
the heart 180 degrees to the left to expose the RCA and PDA on the
posterior aspect of the heart, as in FIG. 8. In an alternative
embodiment of the method, the suction cup-shaped manipulator 192 is
placed on the posterior side of the heart near the apex and a
vacuum is applied to grip the surface of the heart. Then, the
retractor 190 is used to lift and rotate the heart to flip it 180
degrees to expose the RCA and PDA on the posterior aspect of the
heart, as in FIG. 7. This retractor 190 can also be fixed to the
operating table to stabilize the heart in the desired position
similarly to the embodiment of FIG. 32.
[0111] FIG. 36 shows a third retraction device 210 for manipulating
the heart within a patient's closed chest. The retraction device
210 has an elongated tubular shaft 211. The tubular shaft 211 has a
right angle bend 212 at the distal end. A first end 213 of a
flexible snare 214 is attached to the shaft 211 at the distal end.
The second end of the flexible snare extends through a lumen within
the tubular shaft 211 and attaches to a sliding handle 215 at the
proximal end. The snare 214 is made of a flexible wire or band.
Preferably, the flexible wire or band is covered with a soft,
flexible friction material to increase the surface area and to
improve the frictional grip on the heart. Suitable materials for
the covering of the snare include soft, flexible polymers or
elastomers or absorbent, high-friction fabrics. The flexible wire
or band 214 of the snare is preferably made of a highly resilient
material such as a superelastic nickel/titanium alloy or a spring
temper stainless steel or titanium alloy.
[0112] FIG. 37 shows the heart retractor of FIG. 36 in a
predeployed position for insertion through an access cannula. When
the sliding handle is in a proximal position, the snare 214' forms
a small loop, as shown in FIG. 37, which easily deforms to fit
through a 10 mm access cannula. When the sliding handle 215 is in a
distal position, the snare 215 forms a large loop 214, as shown in
FIG. 36, which is large enough to encircle the heart H. The wire is
preferably preshaped so that the snare opens up in a loop 214
perpendicular to the axis of the distal segment 216 of the shaft
211. FIG. 38 shows a cross section of a patient showing the
retraction device 210 inserted into the thoracic cavity through one
of the access ports 103 with the snare encircling the heart H. From
this position, the retractor 210 can be used to manipulate the
heart H to a desired position. For example, the retractor 210 can
be used to lift and rotate the heart H to flip it 180 degrees to
expose the RCA and PDA on the posterior aspect of the heart, as in
FIG. 7.
[0113] FIG. 39 shows a fourth retractor device 220 for manipulating
the heart within the close chest of a patient in a predeployed
position for insertion through an access cannula. The retractor 220
has an elongated tubular shaft 221 with a handle 226 on the
proximal end. In a preferred embodiment, the distal end 222 of the
shaft has an angled portion at an approximately 0 to 45 degree
angle to the proximal portion of the shaft 221. A flexible band 223
extends through a lumen within the tubular shaft 221 and extends
beyond the distal end of the shaft 221. The distal end of the band
223 is pivotally attached to a distal link 224. The distal link 224
is, in turn, pivotally attached to a proximal link 225 which, in
turn, is pivotally attached to the distal end 222 of the tubular
shaft 221. The proximal end of the band 223 is attached to a
sliding actuator button 227 on the handle 226. When the activator
button 227 is in a proximal position, the distal portion of the
flexible band 223 is positioned parallel to and in close proximity
to be proximal 225 and distal links 224, as shown in FIG. 39. When
the activator button 227 is in a distal position, the distal
portion of the flexible band 223 extends from the distal end of the
tubular shaft 221 to form a loop 228 together with the proximal 225
and distal links 224, as shown in FIG. 40. In the illustrative
embodiment of FIGS. 39 and 40, the handle 226 has a semicircular
cassette 229 for storage of the band 223 when the band is in the
proximal position. Other embodiments of the retractor 220 could
have a circular storage cassette or a linear configuration for
storing the retracted band 221. Preferably, the flexible band 223
is made of a resilient material such as a spring tempered stainless
steel or titanium alloy. The proximal 225 and distal links 224 are
also preferably made of a stainless steel or titanium alloy. The
surfaces of the flexible band 223 and/or the proximal 225 and
distal links 224 facing the inside of the loop 229 are preferably
covered with a soft, flexible friction material to improve the
frictional grip a the retractor on the heart H. Suitable materials
for the covering of the loop 228 include soft, flexible polymers or
elastomers or absorbent, high-friction fabrics.
[0114] In use, the distal end of the retractor loop 220 is inserted
into the thoracic cavity through one of the access ports 103,
typically one of the takedown ports 103. 104, 105 on the left
lateral side of the chest. The actuator button 227 is advanced
distally to open the loop 228 large enough to encircle the heart H.
The loop 22 is passed around the heart H from the apex end and
tightened gently around the heart, as shown in FIG. 41. A force
limiter can be incorporated into the actuating mechanism of the
retractor 220 to prevent excessive force on the heart H. From this
position, the retractor 220 can be used to manipulate the heart H
to a desired position. For example, the retractor 220 can be used
to lift and rotate the heart to flip it 180 degrees to expose the
RCA and PDA on the posterior aspect of the heart, as in FIG. 7.
[0115] FIGS. 42-45 show a topical hypothermia device 230 which can
be used to improve myocardial protection during the port-access
multivessel CABG procedure. The topical hypothermia device 230 has
a flexible heat exchanger 231 which has at least one fluid passage
232 therethrough to circulate a cooling fluid. The flexible heat
exchanger 231 is collapsible to a predeployed position which can
easily fit through an access port into the chest of the patient.
The flexible heat exchanger 231 is attached to the distal end of an
elongated tubular shaft 233. The tubular shaft 233 is preferably
made of a rigid material such as stainless steel or a rigid
plastic. An inflow lumen 234 extends through the tubular shaft 233
and is fluidly connected to the flexible heat exchanger 231. A
return lumen 235 extends through the tubular shaft 233 parallel to
the inflow lumen 234. The inflow lumen 234 and the return lumen 235
may be formed of extruded plastic tubes which are inserted through
the tubular shaft 233. Alternatively, the lumens 234, 235 may be
formed integrally with the tubular shaft 233 by extrusion. The
proximal ends of the inflow lumen 234 and the return lumen 235 are
adapted for attachment to a circulating pump 236 and a reservoir of
cooling fluid 237, which is preferably a saline solution.
[0116] In the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 42, the flexible heat
exchanger 231 is made from two sheets of flexible plastic which are
heat sealed or RF sealed together to form a serpentine cooling path
232 through the heat exchanger 231. Preferred materials for
manufacturing the flexible heat exchanger 231 include polyurethane,
vinyl, polypropylene, nylon, etc. The flexible heat exchanger 231,
in one preferred embodiment, has a length of 12-18 cm and a width
of 7-10 cm. Optionally, the flexible heat exchanger 231 may have a
flexible backbone 238 which extends from the distal end of the
tubular shaft 233 to the distal edge of the heat exchanger 231. The
flexible backbone 238 may be made from a flexible polymer,
elastomer, or a resilient metal wire, such as spring temper
stainless steel or a superelastic nickel/titanium alloy, or a
composite of metal and plastic. The flexible heat exchanger 231 is
rolled, folded or twisted and placed in an introducer sheath 239 in
the predeployed position as shown in FIG. 43. Preferably, the
introducer sheath 239 is sized to fit through an access cannula
with a 10-12 mm internal diameter.
[0117] In use, the topical hypothermia device 230 is prepared in
the predeployed position by first priming the flexible heat
exchanger 231 by filling it with cooling fluid and connecting the
proximal end of the inflow lumen 234 and the return lumen 235 to
the circulating pump 236 and the reservoir of cooling fluid 237.
The flexible heat exchanger 231 is rolled and covered with the
introducer sheath 239. The topical hypothermia device 230 is
inserted through one of the access ports 104 in this predeployed
position. The distal end of the introducer sheath 239 is placed
under the heart H and then withdrawn proximally with respect to the
flexible heat exchanger 231, thereby placing the flexible heat
exchanger 231 underneath the heart H. Alternatively, the sheath 239
can be withdrawn after the topical hypothermia device 230 is
introduced through the access port 104 and the flexible heat
exchanger 231 placed under the heart H with the help of the
flexible backbone 238. The circulating pump 236 is turned on to
force cooling fluid into the flexible heat exchanger 231 and
through the cooling passage 232. The flexible heat exchanger 231
inflates with cooling fluid and spreads out under the heart H to
make good thermal contact with the myocardium, as shown in FIG. 45.
Preferably. the flexible heat exchanger 231 is constructed so that
it curves to conform to the exterior of the heart H when inflated
to the deployed position, as shown in FIG. 44, to create a better
thermal contact with the myocardium. Typically, a cooling fluid at
0-4 degrees Celcius is circulated through the flexible heat
exchanger 231 with a flow rate of greater than 350 ml/min to
rapidly cool the heart.
[0118] In an alternate embodiment of the topical cooling device,
the flexible heat exchanger 231 may also be covered with a thermal
insulating material, such as surgical felt, to prevent thermal
shock to the myocardial tissue. Another way to avoid thermal shock
to the myocardial tissue is to use a more moderate temperature for
the cooling fluid, with better thermal contact and a higher flow
rate to rapidly cool the myocardium without the risk of thermal
shock.
[0119] FIG. 46 shows an alternate embodiment of the topical cooling
device 240, which is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 42 except
for the construction of the flexible heat exchanger 241. In this
embodiment, the flexible heat exchanger is in the form of a ring
made by heat sealing two sheets of plastic together. The cooling
fluid enters one side of the ring-shaped heat exchanger and follows
a serpentine cooling path 242 through the heat exchanger 241 around
to the other side of the ring. A preformed, resilient wire loop 248
is attached around the outside of the ring-shaped heat exchanger
241 to initialize the shape of the heat exchanger 241 during
deployment, as shown in FIG. 47.
[0120] The topical cooling device 230, 240 can be used alone to
induce hypothermic cardiac arrest in the patient's heart or the
topical cooling device 230, 240 can be used in conjunction with
cardioplegic arrest to improve the myocardial protection during the
surgical procedure. In addition, the topical cooling device 230,
240 can be used to rewarm the heart after the completion of the
surgical procedure by circulating warm fluid through the flexible
heat exchanger 231, 241. In addition to the multivessel CABG
procedure of the present invention, the topical cooling device 230,
240 will find utility for improving myocardial protection in any
open-chest or closed-chest cardiac surgery.
[0121] Another closely related surgical approach for performing
closed-chest multivessel CABG surgery is through an anterior
mediastinotomy, that is, through an incision into the mediastinum,
the mass of tissues and organs between the lungs that includes the
heart. Another term for this surgical approach is a rib-sparing,
anterior mini-thoracotomy. There are two ways to perform the
anterior mediastinotomy for this approach. The first way is through
an intercostal incision 250, 25-50 mm long, in the fourth I4 or
fifth I5 intercostal space to the left of the sternum S, as shown
in FIG. 48. The second way is to create a larger access port 260 by
removing either the third C3, fourth C4 or fifth C5 costal
cartilage, preferably on the left side of the sternum S. When one
of the costal cartilages is removed, it creates an access port 260
approximately 50-60 mm square, as shown in FIG. 49. The access port
260 can be held open using a tissue spreader for an access cannula
which is oval or square in shape. Actual cutting or removal of ribs
is not necessary. The best position for the port may be decided by
viewing through the lateral IMA takedown ports in the third or
fourth intercostal space and probing with a needle to find the best
position and line of sight for the particular anastomosis site. It
should be noted that, because the anterior mediastinotomy may cut
across the path of the internal mammary artery, it is preferable to
make the access port after completion of the IMA takedown.
[0122] A tissue spreader or oval cannula 251 for retraction would
be useful to maintain the access channel. Retraction of the ribs
should be kept to a minimum in order to reduce the trauma to the
patient. For introduction without retraction of the ribs, the oval
cannula 251 should have interior dimensions of approximately 12 mm
width and 25-50 mm length, and a thin wall of approximately 1 mm
thick. For varying degrees of retraction, the width of the oval
cannula 251 can be increased anywhere from 12 mm to 25 mm, which
should be sufficient for adequate visualization and instrument
access. Visualization and instrument insertion can thus be
accomplished through a single elongated access port, rather than
using separate visualization and instrument ports as in the
port-access approach described above. Visualization can be
accomplished using a surgical microscope, as described above, or by
direct visualization through the access port 250, 260, with or
without magnifying loupes. The cannula 251 should be configured to
facilitate retraction of the pedicle through the lumen of the
cannula without harm so that the distal end of the graft vessel can
be prepared for anastomosis outside of the body under direct
visualization. Therefore, the cannula 251 should have no sharp
edges that could harm the graft vessel or pedicle. The insertion
length of the cannula 251 should be about 25-50 mm.
[0123] Preferably, illumination means are incorporated into the
oval cannula 251 or into the tissue spreader used to maintain the
access channel. A light conduction path is incorporated into the
wall of the oval cannula 251 or into the blades of the tissue
spreader to direct a beam of light distally onto the surgical site.
A light source is connected to the light conduction path. The light
source can be integrated into the device or an external light
source may be connected to the device by an optical cable.
[0124] An exemplary embodiment of an illuminated access device is
shown in a top view in FIG. 50 and a side view in FIG. 51. This
particular embodiment is an illuminated oval cannula 251, however
the following inventive features can also be incorporated into a
blade retractor, tissue spreader, or standard circular access
cannula. Optical fibers 252 are embedded into the wall of the oval
cannula 251. The optical fibers terminate at the distal end of the
cannula 251 to direct a beam of light distally toward the surgical
site. A narrow or diffuse beam of light can be created depending on
the arrangement and the numerical aperture of the optical fibers.
At the proximal end of the cannula 251, the optical fibers 252
gather together into an optical connector 253 for connection to an
external light source. In one currently preferred embodiment, a
multiplicity of small diameter optical fibers are distributed
evenly about the periphery of the oval cannula 251. The wall of the
oval cannula 251 can be made of an opaque material to avoid light
escaping from the optical fibers 252 from interfering with
visualization through the lumen 254 of the cannula 251.
Alternatively, the interior and/or exterior wall of the cannula 251
can be made transparent or translucent to create a diffuse ambient
light within or around the cannula 251.
[0125] Anastomosis between the graft vessel and the coronary artery
is performed using instruments inserted through the access port
250, 260. One advantage of this approach is that the access port
250, 260 is large enough so that the surgeon can insert a finger
through the access port or oval cannula 251 to directly palpate the
heart, for instance to locate a stenosis in the coronary artery. It
may be advantageous to elevate the heart within the thoracic cavity
to facilitate palpation of the heart and/or performing the
anastomosis. A device similar to the topical cooling devices 230,
240 of FIGS. 42-47 may be used to elevate the heart H within the
thoracic cavity by inserting it underneath the heart and inflating
it, with or without circulating cooling fluid. The tunneling and
retraction devices of FIGS. 22-41 can be used through the access
port or through the takedown ports to manipulate the heart to
expose different aspects of the heart for visualization and
anastomosis of multiple coronary arteries according to the methods
described above. Alternatively, a second mediastinal access port
250', 260' can be opened on the right side of the chest to access
the right coronary artery directly. In another alternative
approach, a right side mediastinal access port 250', 260' may be
used alone if only the right coronary artery is to be
revascularized or if the patient's anatomy favors a right side
approach for multivessel revascularization.
* * * * *