Patents by Inventor Charles S. Taylor
Charles S. Taylor has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 6746467Abstract: An access platform having a first and a second blade interconnected to a spreader member that laterally drives the blades apart or together and support pads interconnected to a blade. A torsional member is operably interconnected to a blade and the spreader member and is used to vertically displace the interconnected blade and, thus, increase a surgeon's working space and visual access for the dissection of an internal mammary artery. A tissue retractor interconnected to the blades and is used to draw the soft tissue around an incision away from the surgeon's working area.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 1999Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: Cardio Thoracic Systems, Inc.Inventors: Charles S. Taylor, Ivan Sepetka
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Patent number: 6743169Abstract: The invention is methods and devices which a surgeon may use to stabilize the beating heart during a surgical procedure on the heart. Pursuant to the invention, a stabilizing device is introduced through an opening in the chest and brought into contact with the beating heart. By contacting the heart with the device and by exerting a stabilizing force on the device, the motion of the heart caused by the contraction of the heart muscles is effectively eliminated such that the heart is stabilized and the site of the surgery moves only minimally if at all. Typically, in separate steps, the surgeon contacts the heart with the stabilizing means, assesses the degree of movement of the anastomosis site, and exerts a force on the stabilizing means such that the contraction of the beating heart causes orgy minimal excess motion at the surgery site.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2001Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignee: Cardiothoracic Systems, Inc.Inventors: Charles S. Taylor, William N. Aldrich, Thomas L. Baughman, Federico J. Benetti, Brian J. Bennett, Michael J. Billig, Thomas J. Fogarty, John J. Frantzen, Richard S. Ginn, Robert C. Glines, Harry L. Green, Dwight P. Morejohn, Brent Regan, Eugene E. Reis, Amr Salahieh, Ivan Sepetka, Benjamin Sherman, Christian Skieller, Valavanur A. Subramanian, Gary B. Weller, William F. Witt
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Patent number: 6736774Abstract: Surgical procedures on the beating heart are enabled by an incision made in the xyphoid area and specially designed retractors and related devices to facilitate cardiac surgical procedures. Specifically, coronary artery bypass graft procedures (CABG) are achieved using a vertically offsetting retractor or access platform in combination with a beating heart stabilizer. The surgical methodology permits procedures such as the CABG procedure without penetrating the rib cage or performing a sternotomy or thorocotomy.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2001Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Cardiothoracic Systems, Inc.Inventors: Federico J. Benetti, Charles S. Taylor, Michael V. Morejohn
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Publication number: 20040087834Abstract: The invention is methods and devices which a surgeon may use to stabilize the beating heart during a surgical procedure on the heart. Pursuant to the invention, a stabilizing device is introduced through an opening in the chest and brought into contact with the beating heart. By contacting the heart with the device and by exerting a stabilizing force on the device, the motion of the heart caused by the contraction of the heart muscles is effectively eliminated such that the heart is stabilized and the site of the surgery moves only minimally if at all. Typically, in separate steps, the surgeon contacts the heart with the stabilizing means, assesses the degree of movement of the anastomosis site, and exerts a force on the stabilizing means such that the contraction of the beating heart causes only minimal excess motion at the surgery site.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2003Publication date: May 6, 2004Inventors: Federico J. Benetti, Charles S. Taylor, Ivan Sepetka, Amr Salahieh, Robert C. Glines, William N. Aldrich, Brent Regan, John J. Frantzen
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Patent number: 6701930Abstract: The invention is methods and devices which a surgeon may use to stabilize the beating heart during a surgical procedure on the heart. Pursuant to the invention, a stabilizing device is introduced through an opening in the chest and brought into contact with the beating heart. By contacting the heart with the device and by exerting a stabilizing force on the device, the motion of the heart caused by the contraction of the heart muscles is effectively eliminated such that the heart is stabilized and the site of the surgery moves only minimally if at all. Typically, in separate steps, the surgeon contacts the heart with the stabilizing device, assesses the degree of movement of the anastomosis site, and exerts a force on the stabilizing device such that the contraction of the beating heart causes only minimal excess motion at the surgery site.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2001Date of Patent: March 9, 2004Assignee: Cardiothoracic Systems, Inc.Inventors: Federico J. Benetti, Charles S. Taylor, Ivan Sepetka, Amr Salahieh, Robert C. Glines, William N. Aldrich, Brent Regan, John J. Frantzen
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Patent number: 6685632Abstract: Surgical devices for stabilizing the heart which facilitate anastomosis under beating heart conditions. Various instruments or devices may be maneuvered and secured on a retractor device to provide stabilization of the heart. An instrument mount is provided which is preferably configured to accept a surgical instrument, such as a tissue stabilizer, and to allow the instrument to be easily maneuvered to a desired position and subsequently locked into position. Stabilizer devices each having at least one surface for contacting the heart and each being adapted to be mounted to the retractor while having the ability to be positioned in the desired location against the heart are provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2002Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Cardiothoracic Systems, Inc.Inventors: Lawrence W. Hu, David J. Paul, Eugene Edward Reis, Harry Leonard II Green, Joshua K. Wallin, Dwight P. Morejohn, Charles S. Taylor, Gary B. Weller, Richard M. Ferrari
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Patent number: 6673013Abstract: Methods and devices used to stabilize a beating heart during a surgical procedure on the heart and to expose a surgical site are disclosed. The stabilizing device is introduced through an opening through the chest and brought into contact with the beating heart, and by exerting a stabilizing force on the device, the motion of the heart caused by the contractions of the heart muscles is effectively eliminated. Exposure members are actuable to reposition a portion of the surface of the heart to better expose a target artery or other surgical site. Accordingly, the heart is stabilized and movement of the site of the surgery is minimized.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2001Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Cardiothoracic Systems, Inc.Inventors: Federico J. Benetti, Charles S. Taylor, Ivan Sepetka, Amr Salahieh, Robert C. Glines, William N. Aldrich, Brent Regan, John J. Frantzen
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Patent number: 6656113Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is disclosed surgical methods and apparatus for accessing and stabilizing the heart. The methods and apparatus facilitate access to an anastomosis site, allows various instruments or devices to be maneuvered and secured in place, and provide stabilization of the heart. The apparatus may involve a tissue stabilizer, and in particular a tissue stabilizer for use in immobilizing or stabilizing a portion of the beating heart using a compressive force delivered to the heart via the tissue stabilizer. The stabilizer may include a stabilizer base and a shaft. The shaft may be secured within an appropriate instrument mount preferably fixed to a retractor or other stable platform as disclosed herein. The stabilizers of the present invention provide improved access to a surgical site at a target vessel on the surface of the heart and may include features which facilitate optimal presentation of the target vessel.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2001Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: Cardiothoracic System, Inc.Inventors: Harry Leonard Green, II, Joshua K. Wallin, Dwight P. Morejohn, Charles S. Taylor, Gary B. Weller, Richard M. Ferrari
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Patent number: 6602189Abstract: An access platform having a first and a second blade interconnected to a spreader member that laterally drives the blades apart or together and a sternal pad interconnected to a blade. The superior blade is preferably pivotally coupled to the spreader member such that it naturally rises as the blades are separated. Alternatively, a vertical displacement member is operably interconnected to a blade and the spreader member and is used to vertically displace the interconnected superior blade and, thus, increase a surgeon's working space and visual access for the dissection of an internal mammary artery. A tissue retractor is interconnected to the blades to draw the soft tissue around an incision away from the surgeon's working area.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2000Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: Cardiothoracic Systems, Inc.Inventors: Federico J. Bennetti, Charles S. Taylor, William N. Aldrich, Ivan Sepetka, Robert G. Matheny, Eugene E. Reis, Brent Regan, Richard M. Ferrari
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Publication number: 20030120291Abstract: Forming a proximal anastomosis on an aortic wall includes method and instrumentation and apparatus for forming an aortic puncture and inserting a fluid-impervious sealing element with a lateral flange and central stem into the vessel through the puncture. An anastomosis of a graft vessel over the puncture is partially completed with the central stem of the sealing element protruding through the partial anastomosis. A removal instrument attaches to the central stem and retrieves the sealing element that disassembles in helical disassociation of the flange and stem into a continuous strand that is withdrawn from the partial anastomosis prior to completion of the procedure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2001Publication date: June 26, 2003Inventors: Albert K. Chin, Dwight Morejohn, Charles S. Taylor
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Patent number: 6547821Abstract: Methods and devices for passively assisting the cardiac function of the heart are disclosed. A method of increasing the cardiac output of a heart includes providing a site of surgical access to the portion of the heart to be restrained, reducing the cardiac expansion of the portion of the heart to be restrained, and maintaining the reduction of cardiac expansion of the portion of the heart to be restrained for a substantial amount of time. Cardiac assist devices for increasing the cardiac output of the heart are disclosed comprising a reinforcing portion configured to contact a portion of the heart tissue wherein the reinforcing portion restricts the expansion of the portion of the heart tissue. The reinforcing portion can be a number of structures, including pads, frames, straps, and other retaining means for limiting cardiac expansion of the portion of the heart tissue to be restrained.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 1998Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Cardiothoracic Systems, Inc.Inventors: Charles S. Taylor, Michael V. Morejohn
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Publication number: 20030060686Abstract: An access platform having a first and a second blade interconnected to a spreader member that laterally drives the blades apart or together and a sternal pad interconnected to a blade. The superior blade is pivotally coupled to the spreader member such that it naturally rises as the blades are separated. Alternatively, a vertical displacement member is operably interconnected to a blade and the spreader member and is used to vertically displace the interconnected superior blade and, thus, increase a surgeon's working space and visual access for the dissection of an internal mammary artery. A tissue retractor is interconnected to the blades to draw the soft tissue around an incision away from the surgeon's working area.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2002Publication date: March 27, 2003Inventors: Charles S. Taylor, William N. Aldrich, Dwight P. Morejohn
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Publication number: 20030036677Abstract: The invention is devices and techniques which use a negative (suction) pressure or vacuum, applied through a surgical instrument, to fix the position of a portion of the surface of a beating heart so that a surgical procedure can be more easily performed. The devices apply a negative pressure at several points on the outer surface of the heart such that a portion of the heart is fixed in place by the suction imposed through the surgical instrument. Because the instrument fixes the position of the tissue, and because the instruments remain at a constant distance from the particular portion of the heart where the surgery is being performed, the device may also serve as a support or platform so that other surgical instruments or devices can be advantageously used at the site.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2002Publication date: February 20, 2003Inventor: Charles S. Taylor
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Patent number: 6508759Abstract: A surgical microscope comprising a microscope body, lens means attached to the microscope body for magnifying an object image, an eyepiece attached to the microscope body for viewing the magnified object image, and coupling means attached to the microscope body for retaining a supplementary lens in optical alignment with the lens means, the coupling means being configured for introducing the supplementary lens through a percutaneous penetration into a body cavity, wherein the eyepiece and the lens means are configured to facilitate stereoscopic viewing. In a variation of the surgical microscope, a plurality of binocular eyepieces are attached to the microscope body to allow multiple persons to contemporaneously view the magnified object image.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1999Date of Patent: January 21, 2003Assignee: Heartport, Inc.Inventors: Charles S. Taylor, Brian S. Donlon, Timothy R. Machold
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Publication number: 20020169360Abstract: Methods and devices for passively assisting the cardiac function of the heart are disclosed. A method of increasing the cardiac output of a heart includes providing a site of surgical access to the portion of the heart to be restrained, reducing the cardiac expansion of the portion of the heart to be restrained, and maintaining the reduction of cardiac expansion of the portion of the heart to be restrained for a substantial amount of time. Cardiac assist devices for increasing the cardiac output of the heart are disclosed comprising a reinforcing portion configured to contact a portion of the heart tissue wherein the reinforcing portion restricts the expansion of the portion of the heart tissue. The reinforcing portion can be a number of structures, including pads, frames, straps, and other retaining means for limiting cardiac expansion of the portion of the heart tissue to be restrained.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2002Publication date: November 14, 2002Applicant: Cardiothoracic Systems, Inc., a California CorporationInventors: Charles S. Taylor, Michael V. Morejohn
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Patent number: 6478734Abstract: An access platform having a first and a second blade interconnected to a spreader member that laterally drives the blades apart or together and a sternal pad interconnected to a blade. The superior blade is pivotally coupled to the spreader member such that it naturally rises as the blades are separated. Alternatively, a vertical displacement member is operably interconnected to a blade and the spreader member and is used to vertically displace the interconnected superior blade and, thus, so increase a surgeon's working space and visual access for the dissection of an internal mammary artery. A tissue retractor is interconnected to the blades to draw the soft tissue around an incision away from the surgeon's working area.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 1999Date of Patent: November 12, 2002Assignee: Cardiothoracic Systems, Inc.Inventors: Charles S. Taylor, William N. Aldrich, Dwight P. Morejohn
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Publication number: 20020137982Abstract: The invention is devices and techniques which use a negative (suction) pressure or vacuum, applied through a surgical instrument, to fix the position of a portion of the surface of a beating heart so that a surgical procedure can be more easily performed. The devices apply a negative pressure at several points on the outer surface of the heart such that a portion of the heart is fixed in place by the suction imposed through the surgical instrument. Because the instrument fixes the position of the tissue, and because the instruments remain at a constant distance from the particular portion of the heart where the surgery is being performed, the device may also serve as a support or platform so that other surgical instruments or devices can be advantageously used at the site.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2001Publication date: September 26, 2002Inventor: Charles S. Taylor
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Patent number: 6453906Abstract: A surgical instrument is configured to aid in performing a procedure of detaching an internal mammary artery (IMA) and the like, from the connecting tissues and side branch vessels which surround the artery in its native location, wherein the detaching procedure is preliminary to the performing of a coronary artery bypass grafting procedure and wherein the IMA is detached via a minimally invasive thoracotomy. To this end, an elongated slender rod includes a handle at its proximal end and an artery engaging loop, arc, fork configuration, or hook at its distal working end. Embodiments may incorporate electrosurgical capability or electrical insulation. A surgeon thus has means for harvesting an intact and undamaged graft vessel from its native location through a minimally invasive incision with enhanced speed, visibility, and freedom of motion.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2000Date of Patent: September 24, 2002Assignee: CardioThoracic Systems, Inc.Inventors: Charles S. Taylor, Hani Shennib, Michael V. Morejohn
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Publication number: 20020111537Abstract: The invention is methods and devices which a surgeon may use to stabilize the beating heart during a surgical procedure on the heart. Pursuant to the invention, a stabilizing device is introduced through an opening in the chest and brought into contact with the beating heart. By contacting the heart with the device and by exerting a stabilizing force on the device, the motion of the heart caused by the contraction of the heart muscles is effectively eliminated such that the heart is stabilized and the site of the surgery moves only minimally if at all. Typically, in separate steps, the surgeon contacts the heart with the stabilizing means, assesses the degree of movement of the anastomosis site, and exerts a force on the stabilizing means such that the contraction of the beating heart causes orgy minimal excess motion at the surgery site.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2002Publication date: August 15, 2002Inventors: Charles S. Taylor, Dwight P. Morejohn, Benjamin Sherman, Gary B. Weller, William F. Witt, Caralin R. Adair
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Publication number: 20020099270Abstract: The invention is methods and devices which a surgeon may use to stabilize the beating heart during a surgical procedure on the heart. Pursuant to the invention, a stabilizing device is introduced through an opening in the chest and brought into contact with the beating heart. By contacting the heart with the device and by exerting a stabilizing force on the device, the motion of the heart caused by the contraction of the heart muscles is effectively eliminated such that the heart is stabilized and the site of the surgery moves only minimally if at all. Typically, in separate steps, the surgeon contacts the heart with the stabilizing means, assesses the degree of movement of the anastomosis site, and exerts a force on the stabilizing means such that the contraction of the beating heart causes orgy minimal excess motion at the surgery site.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2002Publication date: July 25, 2002Inventors: Charles S. Taylor, William N. Aldrich, Thomas L. Baughman, Federico J. Benetti, Brian J. Bennett, Michael J. Billig, Thomas J. Fogarty, John J. Frantzen, Richard S. Ginn, Robert C. Glines, Harry L. Green, Dwight P. Morejohn, Brent Regan, Eugene E. Reis, Amr Salahieh, Ivan Sepetka, Benjamin Sherman, Christian Skieller, Valavanur A. Subramanian, Gary B. Weller, William F. Witt