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AssigneeGeorgetown University
InventorRichard L. Verrier
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A method for placing various types of catheters into the pericardial space takes advantage of the fact that the right auricle is a thin-walled, low-pressure structure which can be readily penetrated without damaging the pericardium or the epicardium. The method avoids surgical trauma and the risks of general anesthesia and infection. A catheter is guided downstream through one of the venae cavae to the right atrium. Once inside the right atrium, the catheter is passed into the right auricle. The wall at the apex of the right auricle is then pierced to gain access to the pericardial space. The method can be used, for example, to provide electrical stimuli to the heart (e.g., for pacing, cardioversion, and defibrillation), to pick-up an ECG signal, to deliver pharmacologic agents to the heart, to improve vascularization, to remove pericardial fluid for analysis or pericardiocentesis, or to inject a radio-labelled or echo-sensitive dye into the pericardial space for precision fluid imaging.
A method for transvenously accessing the pericardial space between a heart and its pericardium in preparation for a medical procedure, said method comprising the following steps:
A method for transvenously delivering a pharmacologic agent to the heart, said method comprising the following steps:
A method for monitoring electrical activity of the heart, said method comprising the following steps:
A method for delivering electrical stimuli to the heart, said method comprising the following steps:
A method for performing pericardiocentesis, said method comprising the following steps:
A diagnostic method for use with the heart, said method comprising the following steps:
A method for diagnostic imaging of the heart, said method comprising the following steps:
A method for transvenously performing a medical procedure on a heart, the method comprising the following steps:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.