Abstract: Pericardiotomy devices are disclosed. An example pericardiotomy device includes an elongated shaft and an end effector disposed distally on the shaft. The end effector includes a tip portion and a penetrating element. The tip portion includes an opening configured to engage a target portion of a pericardium and is configured, upon application of vacuum to the tip portion, to separate the target portion of the pericardium from an external surface of a heart. The penetrating element is disposed within the tip portion so that, with vacuum applied to the tip portion, the penetrating element is operative to create an opening in the target portion of the pericardium.

Abstract: A system for landmarking a patient during a medical procedure, such as Magnetic Resonance (MR) Imaging, is disclosed. A video display monitor displays images from a video camera positioned in a location relative to an isocenter of the medical device, and a patient's position is adjusted to align a feature of interest on the patient with a reference marker displayed on the monitor. A landmark may be declared on the feature of interest such that the system can move the patient to place the landmarked feature of interest substantially at the isocenter of the medical device.