초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for facilitating coronary surgery on the beating heart wherein the vagus nerve is electrically stimulated to purposely temporarily stop or substantially reduce the beating of the heart under precisely controlled conditions. The apparatus controllably applies the electrical sti

A method and apparatus for facilitating coronary surgery on the beating heart wherein the vagus nerve is electrically stimulated to purposely temporarily stop or substantially reduce the beating of the heart under precisely controlled conditions. The apparatus controllably applies the electrical stimulus to preselected locations along the vagus nerve and thus to preselected nerve branches related to the heart. The apparatus includes several clip and probe configurations for establishing electrical contact with the vagus nerve. Such purposely caused temporary stoppage or substantial reduction of the beating of the heart facilitates procedures such as suturing of an anastomosis which would otherwise be more difficult because of the motion induced by the beating heart.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed:] [1.]1. A system for performing a selected surgical procedure on a patient's beating heart, comprising:an electrical nerve stimulator for supplying a vagus nerve stimulating electrical signal;a plurality of clips attachable to positions on a vagus nerve, each clip comprising a pai

[ What is claimed:] [1.]1. A system for performing a selected surgical procedure on a patient's beating heart, comprising:an electrical nerve stimulator for supplying a vagus nerve stimulating electrical signal;a plurality of clips attachable to positions on a vagus nerve, each clip comprising a pair of generally confronting jaws of electrically insulating material, an electrode embedded in the confronting jaws and electrically coupled to the electrical nerve stimulator, and a spring for maintaining the clip normally closed firmly on a vagus nerve; andcontrol circuitry coupled to the electrical nerve stimulator for supplying one or more preselected nerve stimulating signals to respective one or more of the plurality of clips for temporarily stopping or substantially reducing the beating of the heart.