Apparatus having stabilization members for percutaneously performing surgery and methods of use

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for performing surgery within an organ or vessel are provided. A catheter is provided having a longitudinal axis and an end region carrying an end effector, the end region movable to a series of positions along the longitudinal axis and with an selectable orientation relative to the longitudinal axis. The catheter includes elements for stabilizing the end region of the apparatus within an organ or vessel, and for counteracting reaction forces developed during actuation of the end effector.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a continuation-in-part application of commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 863,877, filed May 27, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,150 which claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60 / 032,196, filed Dec. 2, 1996.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for performing surgery on an interior wall of a hollow-body organ such as the heart, or within the brain cavities and the like. More particularly, the present invention provides a device that enables a clinician to perform surgery on an interior wall of an organ or vessel using apparatus for stabilizing an end effector during the surgery.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]A leading cause of death in the United States today is coronary artery disease, in which atherosclerotic plaque causes blockages in the coronary arteries, resulting in ischemia of the heart (i.e., inadeq...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus and methods, suitable for use in performing TMR and surgery of other hollow-body organs, that include the capability to stabilize within the organ an end region of the device carrying an end effector, for example, to counteract reaction forces created by the end effector during treatment.

[0016]In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, the catheter includes a catheter shaft and a guide member disposed for longitudinal sliding movement within a groove of the catheter shaft. The guide member includes an end region including an end effector maneuverable between a transit position wherein the end region lies parallel to a longitudinal axis of the catheter to a working position wherein the end region and end effector are oriented at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, including a substantially orthogonal position. The catheter shaft preferably may include adjustable outwardly projecting stabilization members to provide a stable platform to counteract reaction forces generated when the end effector contacts the wall of the hollow-body organ.

Problems solved by technology

A leading cause of death in the United States today is coronary artery disease, in which atherosclerotic plaque causes blockages in the coronary arteries, resulting in ischemia of the heart (i.e., inadequate blood flow to the myocardium).

Such surgery creates significant trauma to the patient, requires long recuperation times, and causes a great deal of morbidity and mortality.

In addition, experience has shown that the graft becomes obstructed with time, requiring further surgery.

Such methods have drawbacks, however, ranging from re-blockage of dilated vessels with angioplasty to catastrophic rupture or dissection of the vessel during atherectomy.

Moreover, these methods may only be used for that fraction of the patient population where the blockages are few and are easily accessible.

Neither technique is suitable for the treatment of diffuse atherosclerosis.

Because the end effector of such devices may shift position while in use, such previously known devices may not provide the ability to reliably determine the depth of the channels, nor the relative positions between channels if multiple channels are formed.

None of the foregoing references overcomes problems associated with locating an end region of a catheter against a position on the inside wall of a heart chamber.

Moreover, the prior art is devoid of a comprehensive solution to the above-noted shortcomings of previously-known apparatus for percutaneously performing surgery, and especially for performing TMR.

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