Cleveland Clinic’s High-Tech Procedures

Heartport’s Port-Access

How it works

The heart is stopped, and the patient is attached to the heart-lung machine via equipment passed through a cannula inserted in the femoral artery. The surgery is performed through a three-inch incision in the chest.

Best uses

Multi-vessel coronary artery bypasses.

Medtronic’s Octopus

How it works

Suction cups lift and stabilize a small portion of the heart around the artery to be grafted. The heart continues to beat throughout the operation, eliminating the need for the heart-lung machine.

Best uses

Single- or double-vessel coronary artery bypasses on the anterior side of the heart.

CardioThoracic’s MIDCAB

How it works

MIDCAB device applies pressure on either side of the artery to be bypassed, immobilizing the area. The heart continues to beat throughout the operation, eliminating the need for the heart-lung machine.

Best uses

Single- or double-vessel coronary artery bypasses on the anterior side of the heart.

The Cosgrove procedure

How it works

One three-inch incision is made horizontal for aortic valve surgery and vertical for the mitral valve. Through it, the surgeon connects the patient to the heart-lung machine and performs the surgery. The procedure eliminates the need to position a cannula for the heart-lung machine through the femoral artery.

Best uses

Mitral and aortic valve repair and replacement.