US 2011/0034790 A1 · APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CORONARY SINUS ACCESS

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for locating morphological features within a body cavity using a catheter including proximal and distal ends, a transparent balloon carried on the distal end, and an optical imaging assembly carried on the distal end for imaging through the balloon. The balloon includes a channel extending therethrough to a lumen extending through the catheter. A guidewire or other localization member is received in the lumen that is extendable through the channel. During use, the catheter is inserted into a right atrium of a heart, and the balloon is expanded and placed against the wall of the heart to locate the coronary sinus. Sufficient force is applied to clear blood between the surface and the wall and clear the field of view of the imaging assembly. The catheter is manipulated to locate the coronary sinus, whereupon the localization member is advanced into the coronary sinus.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of assessing a tissue region of interest, comprising:

inserting a distal end of a catheter into a blood-filled body lumen, the catheter having a barrier or membrane that is at least partially transparent and projecting from the catheter;
expanding the barrier or membrane with a transparent fluid from an insertion configuration to a deployed configuration;
contacting the tissue region with a distal surface of the barrier or membrane;
imaging the tissue region through the transparent fluid with an imaging element positioned within the barrier or membrane proximal to the distal surface;
sensing a physiological parameter of the tissue region via one or more electrodes extending along the barrier or membrane such that the electrodes contact the tissue region when the barrier or membrane is expanded;
and
repositioning the barrier or membrane along the tissue region depending upon the physiological parameter sensed by the one or more electrodes while maintaining visualization of the tissue region.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and methods for coronary sinus access

Life of this patent

Apparatus and methods for coronary sinus access

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20