Abstract: A catheter system for use in minimally invasive cardiac surgical procedures. The catheter system diminishes certain trauma generally associated with invasive cardiac procedures while providing aortic occlusion, extracorporeal circulation, cardiac arrest, and cardiac venting. The catheter system provides a minimally invasive and simplified system that performs total cardiopulmonary bypass with ease of insertion, shortened recovery periods, and improved whole body perfusion wherein the upper body is perfused independently of the lower body. The catheters are refined, with reduced diameters and specialized functions for maximum control of each aspect of cardiopulmonary bypass.

Abstract: A surgical knife which provides improved multi-sided incisions and is preferably allows for a substantially cruciate, or cross-shaped incision. The surgical knife includes a handle and a multi-bladed portion located at one end of the handle. The handle is sized and configured to maximize grip and surgical manipulation thereof. The multi-bladed portion is formed from a primary blade and a secondary blade. The primary blade is configured with two exemplary primary blade members. The primary blade members are formed with sharpened edges which combined to form a sharpened distal point of the primary blade. The secondary blade is formed with sharpened edges and cooperates with the primary blade. The coupling of the primary blade and the secondary blade is such that the distal end of the secondary blade is located at a distance from the sharpened distal point of the primary blade.

Abstract: A surgical knife which provides improved multi-sided incisions and is preferably allows for a substantially cruciate, or cross-shaped incision. The surgical knife includes a handle and a multi-bladed portion located at one end of the handle. The handle is sized and configured to maximize grip and surgical manipulation thereof. The multi-bladed portion is formed from a primary blade and a secondary blade. The primary blade is configured with two exemplary primary blade members. The primary blade members are formed with sharpened edges which combined to form a sharpened distal point of the primary blade. The secondary blade is formed with sharpened edges and cooperates with the primary blade. The coupling of the primary blade and the secondary blade is such that the distal end of the secondary blade is located at a distance from the sharpened distal point of the primary blade.

Abstract: A catheter system for use in minimally invasive cardiac surgical procedures. The catheter system diminishes certain trauma generally associated with invasive cardiac procedures while providing aortic occlusion, extracorporeal circulation, cardiac arrest, and cardiac venting. The catheter system provides a minimally invasive and simplified system that performs total cardiopulmonary bypass with ease of insertion, improved whole body profusion, and shortened recovery periods. The catheters are refined, with reduced diameters and specialized functions for maximum control of each aspect of cardiopulmonary bypass.

Abstract: An aortic knife which provides multi-sided incisions within an aorta for effectuating improved aortotomies. The aortic knife includes a handle and multiple blades radiating from the handle. The handle is sized and configured to maximize grip and surgical manipulation thereof. The multiple blades radiate outwardly and proximally from a distal sharpened point. A substantially cruciate, or cross-shaped, incision results from four sharpened blades extending from the distal sharpened point. Alternatively, the multi-bladed configuration of the aortic knife may comprise three, five, or six or more blades. The blades form equal angles in radiation outwardly and proximally from the distal sharpened point. The method of the invention requires obtaining an appropriately sized aortic knife which is stabbed into a portion of an aorta. An anvil of an aortic punch is then inserted into the incision in the aorta without the stretching necessitated by the conventional single linear incision.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to new and useful methods and apparatus for isolating and immobilizing tissue for improved presentation in a surgical site, preferably in coronary bypass on a beating heart. At the same time, the present invention also helps avert ischemic damage to tissues downstream. A surgical stabilizer in accordance with the present invention offers physical manipulation of a surgical site, which improves the surgeon's sewing, grasping, and visualizing abilities at the site, and in turn, may increase the confidence and patency of the graft. The stabilizer is used to compress or to suction a region of the heart just below a stenotic coronary artery. The surgeon may selectively articulate the tissue by spreading it apart or pushing it together, as per his or her preference, or per the requirements of the surgical situation. The surgeon may lock in place the handle via a ratchet mechanism to hold the specific open or closed articulation of the surgical stabilizer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to new and useful methods and apparatus for improving access to the heart during cardiac surgery, while avoiding damage to the phrenic nerves. The present invention comprises a heart elevation apparatus which is soft and substantially cylindrical, with substantially flat anterior and posterior surfaces. Upon inflation, the anterior surface stabilizes the positioning of the heart and prevents the heart from falling off of the apparatus. The flat posterior surface facilitates positioning of the apparatus on the chest wall. An insulation pad on the posterior surface serves to insulate the phrenic nerves from the frigid bathes commonly employed in cardiac surgical procedures, and also protects the nerves from any compressive forces exerted during the surgery.

Abstract: An endoscope has a fiber optic image bundle which is insertible into a separate sterile sleeve such that the fiber optic image bundle need not be sterilized prior to use. A window formed proximate the distal end of the sleeve facilitates viewing through the fiber optic image bundle. A contractile member urges the fiber optic image bundle into abutment with the window to facilitate proper optical alignment of the distal end of the fiber optic image bundle with the window.

Abstract: An endoscope having a proximal end and a distal end includes a housing disposed at the proximal end and a probe attached to the housing and extending along an axis to the distal end of the endoscope. The probe has a wall with an outer surface and an inner surface which defines a lumen extending along an axis from the housing to the distal end of the endoscope. At least a portion of the wall includes an outer surface with a tapered shape in axial cross-section and a non-circular shape in radial cross-section.