Abstract: A mitral valve annuloplasty ring and method for implanting a mitral valve annuloplasty ring to treat mitral insufficiency by reestablishing the normal shape and contour of the mitral valve annulus. The annuloplasty ring is flexible and can be readily adjusted to different sizes and shapes. The method substantially eliminates scarring subsequent to the annuloplasty procedure to maintain flexibility of the ring and the annulus indefinitely.

Abstract: The invention provides surgical systems and methods for ablating heart tissue within the interior and/or exterior of the heart. A plurality of probes is provided with each probe configured for introduction into the chest for engaging the heart. Each probe includes an elongated shaft having an elongated ablating surface of a predetermined shape. The elongated shaft and the elongated ablating surface of each probe are configured to ablate a portion of the heart. A sealing device affixed to the heart tissue forms a hemostatic seal between the probe and the penetration in the heart to inhibit blood loss therethrough.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for using tubular material to replace a semilunar heart valve (i.e., an aortic or pulmonary valve). To create such a replacement valve, the native valve cusps are removed from inside an aorta or pulmonary artery, and the inlet end of a tubular segment is sutured to the valve annulus. The outlet (distal) end of the tube is either "tacked" at three points distally, or sutured longitudinally along three lines; either method will allow the flaps of tissue between the suture lines to function as movable cusps. This approach generates flow patterns that reduce turbulence and closely duplicate the flow patterns of native semilunar valves. An article of manufacture is also disclosed, including a sterile biocompatible synthetic material which has been manufactured in tubular form, by methods such as extrusion or coating a cylindrical molding device, to avoid a need for a suture line or other seam to convert a flat sheet of material into a tubular shape.

Abstract: This invention comprises a method of using tubular material to replace an atrioventricular (AV) heart valve (i.e., a mitral or tricuspid valve, positioned between an atrial chamber and a ventricular chamber) during cardiac surgery. Preferably, the tubular material should be inherently tubular; i.e., it should be created in tubular form from its inception, rather than by using a longitudinal suture line or other seam to convert a flat sheet of material into a tubular shape. Suitable tubular materials include (1) biocompatible synthetic materials which are manufactured in tubular form, by methods such as extrusion or coating a cylindrical molding device, using material which is sufficiently thin and flexible to serve as leaflets in AV heart valves; and (2) a segment of submucosal tissue harvested from a small intestine, either from the patient who is undergoing the cardiac surgery, or from an animal or human cadaver if the harvested tissue is properly treated to reduce antigenicity.

Abstract: A chart recorder of simple construction is provided for moving a strip of chart paper past a marker, the recorder providing a final marked chart strip which is not tightly rolled so it can be easily handled and viewed, with the recorder constructed so the marked chart strip can be viewed prior to opening a security-sealed housing. The chart strip (26) has a leading portion (30) connected to a first end (44) of a long string (42), with the second end (46) of the string mounted on a windup drum (52) that is driven by an ordinary clock drive (56). Thus, as the string is slowly wound up, the string pulls the chart strip along the string path. The recorder includes a guide (64) with a wide guide surface (100) that includes a narrow groove portion (102), and with the guide surface extending in a loop (62) of at least about 180.degree.. The housing (12) can be largely transparent so the marked chart can be viewed from outside the housing prior to opening the housing.

Abstract: This invention comprises a method of using tubular material to replace a heart valve during cardiac surgery. To create a replacement atrioventricular (mitral or tricuspid) valve, the tube inlet is sutured to a valve annulus from which the native leaflets have been removed, and the tube outlet is sutured to papillary muscles in the ventricle. To create a semilunar (aortic or pulmonary) valve, the tube inlet is sutured to an annulus from which the native cusps have been removed, and the tube is either "tacked" at three points distally inside the artery, or sutured longitudinally along three lines; this allows the flaps of tissue between the three fixation points at the valve outlet to function as movable cusps. These approaches generate flow patterns that closely duplicate the flow patterns of native valves.

Abstract: An optimal electrophysiologic mapping system for map-directed arrhythmia surgery and cardiac research allows rapid and accurate interpretation of cardiac activation sequences. The system can display activation or potential distribution data on an anatomically accurate 3-D model of the heart and allows fast, interactive control of viewing characteristics, including control of which cardiac surfaces are displayed, control of virtual lighting, rotational control of the displayed image, etc. The system employs two computer programs, GETPIC3 and MAP3, and runs on a Silicon Graphics workstation capable of rapid graphics calculations and displays. The system utilizes 3-D models of epicardial and endocardial surfaces created with the GETPIC3 program from a sequence of 2-D images of a heart. The individual surfaces are triangulated and may be smoothed using a spline function. The MAP3 program displays activation times either as static isochronous maps or as dynamic time-since-last-activation maps.

Abstract: This invention comprises a method of using tubular material to replace a heart valve during cardiac surgery. To create a replacement atrioventricular (mitral or tricuspid) valve, the tube inlet is sutured to a valve annulus from which the native leaflets have been removed, and the tube outlet is sutured to papillary muscles in the ventricle. To create a semilunar (aortic or pulmonary) valve, the tube inlet is sutured to an annulus from which the native cusps have been removed, and the tube is either "tacked" at three points distally inside the artery, or sutured longitudinally along three lines; this allows the flaps of tissue between the three fixation points at the valve outlet to function as movable cusps. These approaches generate flow patterns that closely duplicate the flow patterns of native valves. A preferred tubular material comprises submucosal tissue from the small intestine of the same patient who is undergoing the cardiac operation.

Abstract: This invention provides a device and method for cooling an internal organ during surgery. The device involves a porous, water-permeable net, preferably made of hydrophilic elastic fabric. The net is fitted and secured around the organ and cold saline solution is infused into the net, preferably by means of a side-hole catheter. The cold liquid passes through the net, directly contacting and chilling the organ. As the liquid drips out of the net, it is removed from the patient's chest or abdomen by suction tube. To provide convenient access to any location on the surface of the organ (for example, to operate on a coronary artery which must be bypassed) a cut is made through a part of the net overlying the location that must be operated on. This exposes the artery without affecting the ability of the net to cool the rest of the organ.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for providing an electrophysiologic indicator of reversible myocardial ischemic injury as well as a procedure and apparatus for providing a method of assessing the status of myocardial preservation during elective cardioplegic arrest in order to assure complete electromechanical arrest from the onset of the application of the standard cardioplegic techniques. The procedure for establishing an indication of reversible myocardial ischemic injury involves implanting multiple electrodes in the myocardial tissue and sensing the instantaneous unipolar electrical potentials of the electrodes and comparing those sensed potentials with a series of registered potentials for healthy tissue.

Abstract: An opening switch device for interrupting the flow of high amperage currents such as those which occur in inductive energy storage systems is disclosed. The opening switch includes a plasma focus device incorporating an auxiliary electrode through which the current to be interrupted flows. This current is interrupted due to the enhanced resistance which occurs in the plasma focus device. A second embodiment of the plasma focus switch includes the application of an external magnetic field which is compressed by the plasma focus effect along with the current flowing through the auxiliary electrode.

Abstract: A garment having differential thermal properties for retaining heat adjacent to the arm and shoulder muscles of an athlete, while allowing the remaining body muscles to naturally cool. The garment comprises a sleeve for covering the arm and a skirt attached to the sleeve for covering the deltoid, pectoral and tarus major and minor muscles adjacent the throwing arm. A coupler is provided for removably attaching the skirt and sleeve to the uniform of the athlete. In a first preferred embodiment this coupler may be a plurality of Velcro patches.

Abstract: This invention relates to an umbrella having a centrally located vertical shaft, a plurality of generally equally spaced ribs collapsibly coupled to a top end of the vertical shaft and a detachable cover stretched over the spaced ribs and fastened thereto by cooperating fabric fasteners located at the distended ends of the ribs.