Pericardial inflation catheter and systems and methods employing same

A system for accessing a pericardial space of a heart, the system comprising:

• a delivery catheter comprising:
• an elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end;
• an anchoring member positioned within the lumen of the elongate body and extendible therefrom;
• a perforating device positioned within the lumen of the elongate body and extendible therefrom;
• a handle mechanism positioned on the proximal end of the elongate body;
• and
• an access port that is coupled with the distal end of the elongate body so that a device, gas, or fluid are deliverable through the access port and to the distal end of the elongate body;
• wherein:
• the elongate body is deliverable through a vasculature of a body and into a right atrium of the heart so that the distal end of the elongate body is positionable adjacent an access site of the right atrium;
• the anchoring member is extendible from the lumen of the elongate body and into a heart wall at the access site to secure the distal end of the elongate body to the heart wall;
• the anchoring member is retractable within the lumen of the elongate body to invert the heart wall at the access site;
• and
• the perforating device is extendible from the lumen of the elongate body and through the inverted heart wall to provide access to the pericardial space of the heart so as to enable the device, or gas or fluid, to be delivered into the pericardial space.

A catheter for accessing a pericardial space of a heart, the catheter comprising:

• an elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the elongate body being configured for insertion within a vasculature of a patient so that the distal end of the elongate body is positionable adjacent an access site in a right atrium of the heart;
• an anchoring member positioned within the lumen of the elongate body so as to be extendible distally of the elongate body, the anchoring member being configured to anchor within a heart wall of the right atrium at the access site to secure the distal end of the elongate body to the heat wall;
• a tissue penetrating member positioned within the lumen of the elongate body, the tissue penetrating member being configured to penetrate the heart wall at the access site to provide access to the pericardial space of the heart;
• and
• a handle mechanism positioned on the proximal end of the elongate body, the handle mechanism including:
• a first member that is operably coupled with the anchoring member so that a user actuation of the first member causes the anchoring member to extend distally of the elongate body;
• and
• a second member that is operably coupled with the tissue penetrating member so that a user actuation of the second member causes the tissue penetrating member to penetrate the heart wall at the access site.