Percutaneous endomyocardial revascularization

A method of treating a patient comprising the steps of;

• percutaneously inserting a catheter in a patient, the catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;
• sensing the position of the distal end using magnetic fields and a navigation device in the distal end;
• using the navigation device to reference the distal end relative to a frame of reference external to the patient positioning the catheter such that its distal end is adjacent patient tissue which is to be revascularized;
• applying revascularizing energy from an applicator disposed at the distal end to the patient tissue, the revascularizing energy being non-mechanical energy which creates holes partly through a wall of the heart;
• and
• sensing pressure at the distal end using a pressure sensor in the distal end.

A method of treating a patient comprising the steps of:

• percutaneously inserting a catheter in a patient, the catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;
• sensing the position of the distal end using magnetic fields and a navigation device in the distal end, the navigation device referencing the distal end relative to a frame of reference external to the patient;
• positioning the catheter such that its distal end is adjacent heart tissue which is to be revascularized;
• and
• applying revascularizing energy from an applicator disposed at the distal end to the heart tissue, the revascularizing energy being non-mechanical energy which creates holes partly through a wall of the heart.