Albert Chin150 E 27Th St APT 1G, New York, NY 10016

6348037, Feb 19, 2002

Mar 7, 2000

09/521279

Albert K. Chin - Palo Alto CA
John P. Lunsford - San Carlos CA
Jeffrey W. Baxter - San Jose CA

Origin Medsystems, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

A61B 1702

600235, 600209

A retractor and a surgical tool are positioned within a cannula, and a dissection cradle of the retractor is positioned at the distal end of the cannula. The retractor includes a first portion with an axis approximately parallel to the axis of the cannula and a second portion with an axis skewed relative to the axis of the cannula. The dissection cradle is located at the distal end of the second portion of the retractor, and may include two substantially parallel, spaced legs with the retractor shaped in a loop between and in a plane skewed relative to the axes of the legs, and with the loop directed away from the surgical tool. Thus, in operation, when the surgeon locates a vessel and side branch of interest, the surgeon extends the retractor to cradle the vessel in the dissection cradle. Once cradled, the retractor may be fully extended to urge the vessel away from the axis of the cannula to isolate the side branch for exposure to the surgical tool. The dissection cradle may include a forward shoulder for positioning a suture loop.

6361543, Mar 26, 2002

Mar 18, 1997

08/828751

Albert K. Chin - Palo Alto CA
Jeffrey A. Smith - Sunnyvale CA
John P. Lunsford - San Carlos CA
Frederic H. Moll - San Francisco CA

Sherwood Services AG - Schaffhausen

A61B 1700

606190, 600207, 60410314

An apparatus and method for separating a first layer of tissue from a second layer of tissue. An inflatable balloon is mounted to a delivery device. The inflatable balloon has a first, inwardly-displaced portion which everts when the balloon is inflated. The balloon is inserted into a patient between the first and second tissue layers when the balloon is in the deflated state. The balloon is then inflated so that the first portion is everted thereby minimizing trauma to the tissue layers.

6406425, Jun 18, 2002

Aug 8, 2000

09/634132

Albert K. Chin - Palo Alto CA
John P. Lunsford - San Carlos CA
Tenny Chang - Mountain View CA
Jeffrey W. Baxter - San Jose CA

Origin Medasystems - Menlo Park CA

A61B 1702

600205, 600157

A retractor and a surgical tool are positioned within a cannula, and a dissection cradle of the retractor is positioned at the distal end of the cannula. The retractor includes a first portion with an axis approximately parallel to the axis of the cannula and a second portion with an axis skewed relative to the axis of the cannula. The dissection cradle may include two substantially parallel, spaced legs with the retractor shaped in a loop between and in a plane skewed relative to the axes of the legs, and with the loop directed away from the surgical tool. Thus, in operation, when a surgeon locates a vessel and side branch of interest, the surgeon extends the retractor to cradle the vessel in the dissection cradle. Once cradled, the retractor may be fully extended to urge the vessel away from the axis of the cannula to isolate the side branch for exposure to a surgical tool. One of the legs supporting the retractor is hollow and includes a spray nozzle disposed in the distal end of the retractor to form an irrigation system The proximal end of the hollow leg communicates with a fluid inlet which receives irrigation fluid under pressure for washing the endoscope lens.

6428556, Aug 6, 2002

Jul 25, 2001

09/915695

Albert K. Chin - Palo Alto CA

Origin Medsystems, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

A61M 2900

606198

Apparatus and method for dilation of tissue utilize a tissue expansion device positioned on an inner cannula with an outer overlying expansive sheath that expands upon translation of the tissue expansion device therethrough. The tissue expansion device may be an olive or wedge formed near the tip of the cannula, and the expansible sheath includes two elongated shells that are fixably attached near proximal ends, and that are resiliently connected near distal ends. Translating the tissue expansion device through the expansible sheath expands the dimension of the shells to provide even dilation of surrounding tissue. Additionally, tissue dilation is performed in one continuous motion of retracting the inner cannula through the expansible sheath or pushing the tissue expansion device through the expansible sheath. The outer expansible sheath may be removed from the inner cannula to provide a dissection instrument having minimal outer diameter. The tissue expansion device may provide two stage expansion from a minimal outer dimension in one configuration to a second larger outer dimension in response to an applied axial force to provide enhanced tissue dilation.

6432044, Aug 13, 2002

Jan 25, 2000

09/490552

John P. Lunsford - San Carlos CA
Charles J. Adam - San Jose CA
John W. Davis - Mountain View CA
Albert K. Chin - Palo Alto CA

Origin Medsystems, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

A61B 1732

600129, 600127

A retractor and a surgical tool are positioned within a cannula, and a dissection cradle of the retractor is positioned at the distal end of the cannula. The retractor includes a first portion with an axis approximately parallel to the axis of the cannula and a second portion with an axis skewed relative to the axis of the cannula. The dissection cradle is located at the distal end of the second portion of the retractor, and may include two substantially parallel, spaced legs with the retractor shaped in a loop between and in a plane skewed relative to the axes of the legs, and with the loop directed away from the surgical tool. Thus, in operation, when the surgeon locates a vessel and side branch of interest, the surgeon extends the retractor to cradle the vessel in the dissection cradle. Once cradled, the retractor may be fully extended to urge the vessel away from the axis of the cannula to isolate the side branch for exposure to the surgical tool. Removable, transparent tips are selectively positioned at the distal end of the cannula for performing dissection and transection via a single cannula.

6506149, Jan 14, 2003

Sep 7, 1999

09/390792

Steven Peng - Menlo Park CA
Larry Voss - San Jose CA
David E. Hancock - San Francisco CA
Grace A. Carlson - San Francisco CA
John W. Davis - Mountain View CA
Albert K. Chin - Palo Alto CA
Jaime S. Vargas - Palo Alto CA

Origin Medsystems, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

A61F 1300

600 37, 600201, 600228, 600231

An organ manipulator including at least one suction member or adhesive disc mounted to a compliant joint, a flexible locking arm for mounting such suction member or compliant joint, and a method for retracting and suspending an organ in a retracted position using suction (or adhesive force) so that the organ is free to move normally (e. g. , to beat or undergo other limited-amplitude motion) in at least the vertical direction during both steps. In preferred embodiments, a suction member exerts suction to retract a beating heart and suspend it in a retracted position during surgery. As the retracted heart beats, the compliant joint allows it to expand and contract freely (and otherwise move naturally) at least in the vertical direction so that hemodynamic function is not compromised. The suction member conforms or can be conformed to the organ anatomy, and its inner surface is preferably smooth and lined with absorbent material to improve traction without causing trauma to the organ. The compliant joint can connect the member to an arm which is adjustably mounted to a sternal retractor or operating table.

6506200, Jan 14, 2003

Mar 14, 2000

09/525197

Albert K. Chin - Palo Alto CA

Origin Medsystems, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

A61B 1700

606190, 606192, 128898

A cannula includes a tubular body having proximal closed end and distal blunt end, at least one lumen extending the length of the body, an endoscope having a lighted, viewing end disposed in the lumen near the distal end of the body, and a transparent, tissue separating member substantially covering the distal end of the body. The tissue separating member has a blunt tip disposed from and of the end distal to the body. A method of using such a cannula separates tissue to form an elongated cavity along the course of a small blood vessel and subsequently harvesting the blood vessel.

6569082, May 27, 2003

Feb 8, 2001

09/779715

Albert K. Chin - Palo Alto CA

Origin Medsystems, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

A61F 200

600 37

Apparatus and methods for using the apparatus are disclosed for cardiac restraint. More specifically, the apparatus and methods are directed to accessing the pericardium, accessing the heart within the pericardium, and restraining the heart by at least partially enclosing the heart with the apparatus. An embodiment of a cardiac restraint apparatus according to the present invention comprises a jacket, the jacket having a rim which defines an opening for receiving a heart. The apparatus also comprises a knot pusher that has a hollow elongate body, as well as a strand that extends around the rim of the jacket and is tied into a slipknot. The strand is positioned such that at least one end portion of the strand extends through the knot pusher such that a distal end of the knot pusher can be moved into engagement with the slipknot, whereby pulling the end portion of the strand away from the heart while pushing the knot pusher against the slipknot and reducing the diameter of the opening defined by the rim. In addition, the apparatus comprises one or more guide elements that are attached to the jacket.