Mechanical Stabilization Systems

Abstract

In January 1997, the Guidant Corporation Cardiac Surgery Group introduced the first widely used beating-heart stabilizer system for MIDCAB procedures. From the experience gained since these initial MIDCAB procedures (1,2), the Access MV OPCAB System^TM was introduced in 1998 for multivessel, sternotomy off-pump CABG, leading to greater surgeon acceptance of the OPCAB procedure and to the development of further enabling technologies and devices. Introduced in 2000, the latest Guidant OPCAB System (Axius^TM Stabilizer and Xpose ^TM Apical Positioning Device) has greatly assisted the surgeon in providing improved hemodynamic stability and access to lateral wall circumflex vessels—increasing the overall comfort level of the surgeon.