Claims
- 1. A method of performing minimally invasive cardiac surgery, comprising the steps of:
creating an access aperture into a patient's chest cavity, wherein the access aperture is considerably smaller than a median sternotomy; providing a cannula having an oval portion with a longer major axis and a shorter minor axis; and inserting the cannula into the chest cavity through the access aperture.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the access aperture does not require cutting a patient's sternum.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cannula is a venous cannula.
- 4. The method of claim 3, wherein a helically wound reinforcing device is integrated into the venous cannula.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cannula is a cardioplegia cannula.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the access aperture is an anterior thoracotomy.
- 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the access aperture is a mini-sternotomy.
- 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the following steps:
providing an obturator received within the cannula; and removing the obturator from the cannula.
- 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of positioning the cannula such that the minor axis extends radially inward from a side wall of the access aperture.
- 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of connecting the cannula to a conventional heart bypass system.
- 11. A method of performing minimally invasive cardiac surgery, comprising the steps of:
creating an access aperture into a patient's chest cavity, wherein the access aperture is substantially smaller than a median sternotomy; providing a cannula having in cross-section an oval portion with a longer major axis and a shorter minor axis; inserting the cannula into the chest cavity through the access aperture; and delivering a fluid through the cannula.
- 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the fluid is blood.
- 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the blood is delivered to a heart bypass system.
- 14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of inserting an additional surgical tool into the chest cavity through the access aperture.
- 15. The method of claim 11, wherein creating the access aperture does not require cutting a patient's sternum.
- 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the cannula is a venous cannula.
- 17. The method of claim 16, wherein a helically wound reinforcing device is integrated into the venous cannula.
- 18. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of performing a surgical procedure on a heart.
- 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of inserting an additional surgical tool into the chest cavity via the access aperture and external to the cannula.
- 20. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of positioning the cannula such that the minor axis extends radially inward from a side wall of the access aperture.
- 21. A method of performing minimally invasive cardiac surgery, comprising the steps of:
creating an access aperture into a chest cavity, wherein the access aperture is considerably smaller than a median sternotomy; providing a cannula having an oval portion with a longer major axis and a shorter minor axis; inserting the cannula into the chest cavity through the access aperture; and venting a fluid from the chest cavity via the cannula.
- 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of inserting an additional tool into the chest cavity through the access aperture.
- 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the entire length of the cannula is oval.
- 24. The method of claim 21, wherein creating the access aperture does not require cutting a sternum.
- 25. The method of claim 21, wherein the cannula is a venous cannula.
- 26. The method of claim 25, wherein a helically wound reinforcing device is integrated into the venous cannula.
- 27. The method of claim 21, wherein the cannula is a cardioplegia cannula.
- 28. The method of claim 21, wherein the access aperture is an anterior thoracotomy.
- 29. The method of claim 21, wherein the access aperture is a mini-sternotomy.
- 30. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of positioning the cannula such that the minor axis extends radially inward from a side wall of the access aperture.
- 31. A method of performing minimally invasive cardiac surgery, comprising the steps of:
creating an access aperture into a chest cavity, wherein the access aperture is considerably smaller than a median sternotomy; providing a cannula having an oval portion with a longer major axis and a shorter minor axis; inserting the cannula into the chest cavity through the access aperture; and inserting an additional surgical tool into the chest cavity through the access aperture.
- 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the entire length of the cannula is oval.
- 33. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of conducting a fluid with the cannula.
- 34. The method of claim 33, wherein the fluid is blood
- 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the blood is delivered to a heart bypass system.
- 36. The method of claim 31, wherein creating the access aperture does not require cutting a patient's sternum.
- 37. The method of claim 31, wherein the cannula is a venous cannula.
- 38. The method of claim 37, wherein a helically wound reinforcing device is integrated into the venous cannula.
- 39. The method of claim 31, wherein the cannula is a cardioplegia cannula.
- 40. The method of claim 31, wherein the access aperture is an anterior thoracotomy.
- 41. The method of claim 31, wherein the access aperture is a mini-sternotomy.
- 42. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of positioning the cannula such that the minor axis extends radially inward from a side wall of the access aperture.
- 43. A method of performing minimally invasive cardiac surgery, comprising the steps of:
creating an access aperture into a chest cavity, wherein the access aperture is considerably smaller than a median sternotomy; providing a cannula having an oval portion with a longer major axis and a shorter minor axis; inserting the cannula into the chest cavity through the access aperture; and performing a surgical procedure on the heart.
- 44. The method of claim 43, wherein the surgical procedure comprises the step of creating multiple access ports in the patient's chest cavity.
- 45. The method of claim 43, wherein the entire length of the cannula is oval.
- 46. The method of claim 43, further comprising the step of conducting blood with the cannula.
- 47. The method of claim 46, wherein the blood is delivered to a heart bypass system.
- 48. The method of claim 43, wherein creating the access aperture does not require cutting a patient's sternum.
- 49. The method of claim 48, wherein the cannula is a venous cannula.
- 50. The method of claim 49, wherein a helically wound reinforcing device is integrated into the venous cannula.
- 51. The method of claim 43, wherein the cannula is a cardioplegia cannula.
- 52. The method of claim 43, wherein the access aperture is an anterior thoracotomy.
- 53. The method of claim 43, wherein the access aperture is a mini-sternotomy.
- 54. The method of claim 43, further comprising the following steps:
providing an obturator received within the cannula; and removing the obturator from the cannula.
- 55. The method of claim 43, further comprising the step of positioning the cannula such that the minor axis extends radially inward from a side wall of the access aperture.
- 56. The method of claim 43, further comprising the step of connecting the cannula to a heart bypass system.
- 57. A method of performing minimally invasive cardiac surgery, comprising the steps of:
creating an access aperture into a patient's chest cavity, wherein the access aperture is substantially smaller than a median sternotomy; providing a cannula having an oval portion with a longer major axis and a shorter minor axis; inserting the cannula into the chest cavity through the access aperture; and conducting blood between the body and a heart bypass system through the cannula.
- 58. The method of claim 57, wherein creating the access aperture does not require cutting a patient's sternum.
- 59. The method of claim 57, wherein the cannula is a venous cannula.
- 60. The method of claim 59, wherein a helically wound reinforcing device is integrated into the venous cannula.
- 61. The method of claim 57, further comprising the step of inserting an additional surgical tool into the chest cavity via the access aperture and external to the cannula.
- 62. The method of claim 61, further comprising the step of positioning the cannula such that the minor axis extends radially inward from a side wall of the access aperture.
- 63. A minimally invasive cardiac procedure, comprising the steps of:
creating an access aperture through a chest wall, wherein the access aperture is considerably smaller than a traditional cardiac surgery incision; providing a cannula having a portion with a non-circular cross-section; and inserting the cannula into the access aperture.
- 64. The method of claim 63, wherein creating the access aperture does not require cutting a patient's sternum.
- 65. The method of claim 63, wherein the cannula is a venous cannula.
- 66. The method of claim 65, wherein a helical wire reinforces the venous cannula.
- 67. The method of claim 63, wherein the cannula is a cardioplegia cannula.
- 68. The method of claim 63, wherein the access aperture is an anterior thoracotomy.
- 69. The method of claim 63, wherein the access aperture is a mini-sternotomy.
- 70. The method of claim 63, further comprising the following steps:
providing an obturator received within the cannula; and removing the obturator from the cannula.
- 71. The method of claim 63, wherein the non-circular cross-section has a longer major axis and a shorter minor axis, and further comprising the step of positioning the cannula such that the minor axis extends radially inward from a side wall of the access aperture.
- 72. The method of claim 63, further comprising the step of connecting the cannula to a conventional heart bypass system.
- 73. A method of forming a venous cannula, comprising the steps of:
providing a length of tubing having an outer circular cross-section and having a helically wound wire supporting the tubing wall, the length of tubing having a proximal end and a distal end; forming a segment in the length of tubing, the segment having an outer oval cross-section, wherein the proximal end and the distal end of the length of tubing remain with an outer circular cross-section; and providing a flow aperture on the distal end of the length of tubing.
- 74. The method of claim 73, further comprising the step of mounting a luer connector on the proximal end of the length of tubing.
- 75. The method of claim 73, wherein the flow aperture is provided by mounting a flow aperture member having a circular cross-section on the distal end of the length of tubing.
- 76. A method of efficiently utilizing the area of a percutaneous aperture during cardiac surgery, comprising the steps of:
providing a cannula having a proximal circular cross-sectional segment, an intermediate oval cross-sectional segment having a longer major axis and a shorter minor axis, and a distal circular cross-sectional segment having a flow inlet; inserting the distal segment into a chest cavity through the aperture; and positioning the cannula such that the intermediate oval cross-sectional segment extends through the aperture with the minor axis extending inwardly from a side wall of the aperture, thereby efficiently utilizing the area of the aperture.
- 77. The method of claim 76, further comprising the step of connecting a luer connector to the proximal segment.
- 78. The method of claim 76, further comprising the step of connecting the cannula to a heart bypass system.
- 79. A cannula for use in conducting fluid to or from a body, comprising:
a cannula body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends; a first fluid aperture formed on the proximal end; and a second fluid aperture formed adjacent the distal end; wherein a cross section of a first portion of the cannula body is non-circular and has a major cross-sectional axis and a minor cross-sectional axis, the length of the major axis being greater than the length of the minor axis and wherein the lumen extending through the first portion of the cannula body has the same cross-sectional shape as the cross section of the first portion of the cannula body.
- 80. The cannula of claim 79, further comprising a third fluid aperture formed proximally a spaced distance from the second fluid aperture.
- 81. The cannula of claim 79, wherein the cross section of the first portion of the cannula body is oval.
- 82. The cannula of claim 79, further comprising a helical reinforcing spring integrally provided in the cannula body.
- 83. The cannula of claim 79, wherein the proximal end and the distal end of the cannula body have a circular cross section and the first portion is disposed between the proximal and distal ends.
- 84. A cannula for use in conducting fluid to or from a body, comprising:
a cannula body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends; a first fluid aperture formed on the proximal end; a second fluid aperture formed adjacent the distal end; and a helical reinforcing spring integrally provided in the cannula body; wherein a cross section of a first portion of the cannula body is non-circular and has a major cross-sectional axis and a minor cross-sectional axis, the length of the major axis being greater than the length of the minor axis and wherein the lumen extending through the first portion of the cannula body has a substantially similar cross-sectional shape as the cross section of the first portion of the cannula body.
- 85. The cannula of claim 84, further comprising a third fluid aperture formed proximally a spaced distance from the second fluid aperture.
- 86. The cannula of claim 84, wherein the cross section of the first portion of the cannula body is oval.
- 87. The cannula of claim 84, wherein the proximal end and the distal end of the cannula body have a circular cross section and the first portion is disposed between the proximal and distal ends.
- 88. A cannula for use in conducting fluid to or from a body, comprising:
a cannula body having a proximal end and a distal end, the cannula body having an outer surface; a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, the lumen defined by an inner surface of the cannula body; a first fluid aperture formed on the proximal end; and a second fluid aperture formed adjacent the distal end; wherein a first portion of the cannula body has a cross section of the outer surface that is non-circular and a cross section of the inner surface that is the same shape as the cross section of the outer surface.
- 89. The cannula of claim 88, further comprising a third fluid aperture formed proximally a spaced distance from the second fluid aperture.
- 90. The cannula of claim 88, wherein the cross section of the outer surface of the first portion of the cannula body is oval.
- 91. The cannula of claim 88, further comprising a helical reinforcing spring integrally provided in the cannula body.
- 92. The cannula of claim 88, wherein a cross section of the outer surface of the cannula body at the proximal end and at the distal end is circular and the first portion is disposed between the proximal and distal ends.
- 93. A cannula for use in conducting fluid to or from a body, comprising:
a cannula body having a proximal end with a circular cross section, a distal end with a circular cross section, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends; a first fluid aperture formed on the proximal end; and a second fluid aperture formed adjacent the distal end; wherein a cross section of a first portion of the cannula body between the proximal end and the distal end is oval.
- 94. The cannula of claim 93, further comprising a third fluid aperture formed proximally a spaced distance from the second fluid aperture.
- 95. The cannula of claim 93, wherein the lumen extending through the first portion of the cannula body has an oval cross-sectional shape.
- 96. The cannula of claim 93, further comprising a helical reinforcing spring integrally provided in the cannula body.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/026,234, filed Dec. 21, 2001, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/012,520 filed Jan. 23, 1998, U.S. Pat. No. 6,447,484, which is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/780,995, filed Jan. 9, 1997, U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,071, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10026234 |
Dec 2001 |
US |
Child |
10407094 |
Apr 2003 |
US |
Parent |
09012520 |
Jan 1998 |
US |
Child |
10026234 |
Dec 2001 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08780995 |
Jan 1997 |
US |
Child |
09012520 |
Jan 1998 |
US |