Epicardial access system and methods
AssigneeBoston Scientific Medical Device Limited
InventorsJohn Paul Urbanski, Brock Miller, Rund Abou-Marie
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for a needle for gaining access to the pericardial cavity of a heart. The needle includes an elongate member (e.g. a main shaft) defining a lumen and a side-port in fluid communication with the lumen; a blunt atraumatic tip for delivering energy for puncturing tissue; and a guiding surface (e.g. a ramp) for directing a device (e.g. a guidewire) through the side-port. The method includes using the needle for tenting a pericardium and delivering energy for puncturing the pericardium, and advancing a guidewire or other device through the needle and into the pericardial cavity.
Claims17
A needle for use with a device and for gaining epicardial access, the needle comprising:
- an elongate member which is comprised of a metal and defines a lumen and a side-port with a proximal edge, the side-port being in fluid communication with the lumen;
- an insulation covering an outside of the elongate member wherein a blunt tip of the needle is electrically exposed to define an electrode for delivering energy for puncturing tissue;
- and
- a guiding surface extending from a side wall of the elongate member which is opposite to the side-port to define an end of the lumen, the guiding surface configured for directing the device through the side-port;
- wherein the insulation includes an insulation portion covering a proximal part of the side-port defined by the elongate member to define an aperture which is smaller than the side-port, wherein the insulation portion is comprised of a polymer that is softer and less abrasive than the metal of the proximal edge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.