Claims
- 1. An organ manipulation device comprising:
an outer shell; and an inner shell disposed within the outer shell, the inner and outer shells defining a space, the inner shell defining a chamber and including an aperture in fluid communication with the space and the chamber.
- 2. The device of claim 1, the outer shell further comprising a vacuum port in fluid communication with the space.
- 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the inner shell has a generally cup-like shape.
- 4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a skirt-like member coupled to the outer shell that extends outward from the outer shell.
- 5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a skirt-like member coupled to the inner shell that extends outward from the outer shell.
- 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the skirt-like member is formed integrally with the inner shell.
- 7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a skirt-like member coupled to at least one of the outer shell and the inner shell, the skirt-like member including a canted surface.
- 8. The device of claim 7, further comprising a supporting structure proximal to an inner diameter of the skirt-like member.
- 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the supporting structure is an O-ring.
- 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the aperture has a substantially rectangular shape.
- 11. The device of claim 1, wherein the aperture has a substantially circular shape.
- 12. The device of claim 1, wherein the inner shell includes a plurality of apertures in fluid communication with the space and the chamber.
- 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of apertures are distributed about the inner shell.
- 14. The device of claim 1, wherein the inner shell includes an inner surface, and wherein the inner surface includes a texture.
- 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the texture comprises ribs.
- 16. The device of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive that bonds the inner shell to the outer shell.
- 17. The device of claim 1, wherein the inner shell includes a lip, and wherein the outer shell includes a shelf that receives the lip.
- 18. The device of claim 1, further comprising an extension that extends distally from at least one of the outer shell and the inner shell.
- 19. The device of claim 18, wherein the extension encloses a channel in fluid communication with the space and the chamber.
- 20. The device of claim 1, further comprising a skirt-like member coupled to at least one of the outer shell and the inner shell, the skirt-like member including a protrusion that extends outward from the inner shell.
- 21. A method comprising:
constructing an inner shell that defines a chamber, the inner shell sized and shaped to receive an organ and to fit inside an outer shell; providing an aperture in the inner shell; and coupling the inner shell to the outer shell to define a space, the aperture in fluid communication with the space and the chamber.
- 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising constructing the outer shell.
- 23. The method of claim 21, wherein coupling the inner shell to the outer shell comprised coupling the inner shell to the outer shell with an adhesive.
- 24. The method of claim 21, wherein the aperture has a rectangular shape.
- 25. The method of claim 21, wherein the aperture has a circular shape.
- 26. The method of claim 21, wherein constructing the inner shell comprises constructing a textured surface on the inner shell.
- 27. The method of claim 21, further comprising coupling a skirt-like member to the outer shell.
- 28. The method of claim 21, further comprising coupling a skirt-like member to the inner shell.
- 29. The method of claim 21, wherein constructing the inner shell comprises extending a distal edge of the inner shell to form a skirt-like member.
- 30. The method of claim 21, further comprising:
providing an extension distally from at least one of the outer shell and the inner shell; and coupling a skirt-like member to the extension.
- 31. The method of claim 21, further comprising:
constructing the inner shell from a first material; and constructing the outer shell from a second material.
- 32. A method comprising:
receiving an organ in a chamber defined by an inner shell; applying vacuum pressure to an outer shell coupled to the inner shell, the outer shell and the inner shell defining a space; and applying vacuum pressure to the chamber via an aperture in fluid communication with the space and the chamber.
- 33. The method of claim 32, further comprising manipulating the organ by manipulating the outer shell.
- 34. The method of claim 32, wherein receiving the organ in the chamber defined by the inner shell comprises engaging an apex of a heart with the inner shell.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/351,621, filed Jan. 23, 2002, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60351621 |
Jan 2002 |
US |