US 12,279,826 B2
Exoskeleton for assisting surgical positioning, method for producing the exoskeleton
János Imre Barabás, Érd (HU); István Hartyánszky, Budapest (HU); and Béla Péter Merkely, Budapest (HU)
Assigned to Semmelweis Egyetem, Budapest (HU)
Appl. No. 17/292,103
Filed by SEMMELWEIS EGYETEM, Budapest (HU)
PCT Filed Nov. 8, 2019, PCT No. PCT/HU2019/050049
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 7, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/095078, PCT Pub. Date May 14, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 1800379 (HU), filed on Nov. 9, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0393329 A1, Dec. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 34/10 (2016.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61B 17/3205 (2006.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 80/00 (2015.01)
CPC A61B 34/10 (2016.02) [A61B 17/32053 (2013.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 80/00 (2014.12); A61B 2017/00526 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00871 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320052 (2013.01); A61B 2034/105 (2016.02); A61B 2034/108 (2016.02)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An exoskeleton (10) and an associated apical coring knife, the exoskeleton (10) for assisting surgical positioning of the apical coring knife, wherein
the overall exoskeleton (10) is formed as a single part, made of biocompatible material and formed to be substantially form-preserving,
the exoskeleton (10) comprises a shell (11) having a unique patient-specific surface (15b) configured to fit to and to directly contact with at least a part of a surface of a patient's heart to be operated,
the exoskeleton comprises a cylindrical guiding channel (13) extending through the shell (11) and located at a specific position of the shell, and
said guiding channel (13) has a specific longitudinal direction with respect to said shell (11) and a specific cross-section identical to a cross-section of the apical coring knife associated with the exoskeleton, wherein the guide channel (13) has a substantial length and the guiding channel (13) is configured to guide said associated apical coring knife directly along said specific longitudinal direction in said guiding channel (13).