Summary:

There are a variety of surgical procedures that require access to the left ventricle of the heart. Currently these surgical procedures involve placing the patient on a heart-lung bypass machine to allow complete access to the left ventricle with additional risk to the patient. The novel surgical methods and companion devices developed at Ohio State allow access to the left ventricle of a patient during surgery without the need for heart-lung bypass. Interventions including coring and inspection of the interior of the ventricle cavity can be accomplished. By eliminating the need for bypass during surgery patient outcomes may be significantly improved.

Potential Applications:

This new technology can be used for any surgical procedure requiring access to the left ventricle of the heart without the added complications of placing the patient on the heart-lung machine.

Advantages:

By utilizing this novel technology, the patient is able to avoid the use of a heart-lung bypass machine thereby reducing complications from:

• use of blood thinning agents
• mechanical degradation of blood components requiring post-operative transfusions
• mechanical induced inflammation response
• increased risk of stroke

By avoiding these complications, there will be a lower rate of mortality.