Methods and systems for occluding vessels during cardiac ablation including optional electroanatomical guidance

A method for ablating a portion of an atrium of a heart using non-cryogenic energy in the portion, said method comprising:

• inserting an occlusion catheter into a vessel on or in the heart;
• occluding a section of the vessel using the occlusion catheter, wherein the occluded vessel section and the portion of the atrium share and are separated by an intervening myocardial wall;
• inserting an ablation catheter into the atrium;
• positioning the ablation catheter against an inner surface of the intervening myocardial wall;
• and
• transmitting non-cryogenic energy in the portion of the atrium to ablate the portion of the atrium while the vessel section is occluded.

A method for ablating a portion of an atrial myocardium using non-cryogenic energy, said method comprising:

• inserting a balloon catheter into a vessel on or of the heart;
• inserting an ablation catheter into a left atrium of a heart;
• and
• transmitting non-cryogenic energy in the portion of the atrial myocardium to ablate the portion of the atrium while a balloon on the balloon catheter is expanded;
• wherein the balloon catheter is expanded in a portion of the vessel that shares an intervening wall with, and is separated by the intervening wall from, the portion of the atrial myocardium.

An occlusion catheter comprising:

• a catheter body having a distal portion and a pre-formed bend located in the distal portion, the pre-formed bend configured to facilitate cannulization of said distal portion in a vessel;
• a balloon located proximal of the pre-formed bend and comprising an outer wall configured to contact an inner surface of the vessel when inflated and positioned therewithin, wherein the balloon defines:
• a longitudinal lumen through which said catheter body extends;
• and
• at least one passageway extending from a first opening in the outer wall of the balloon to a second opening in the outer wall of the balloon, the at least one passageway having a longitudinal axis centered in the at least one passageway different from an axis centered in the longitudinal lumen, the at least one passageway configured to permit blood to flow through the balloon while the balloon is inflated and contacting the inner surface of the coronary sinus and both the first opening and the second opening are within the vessel;
• a plurality of marker bands positioned on the catheter body;
• and
• a plurality of electrodes positioned on the catheter body.