Devices and methods for coronary sinus mapping
AssigneeIrvine Biomedical, Inc.
InventorsHosheng Tu, Alan de la Rama
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A catheter-based method for coronary sinus mapping, pacing, and ablation, wherein a distal tip portion having longitudinally stretchable/compressible capability is pre-shaped to snugly fit into the coronary sinus with resilience and trauma-free manner, so that the distal tip portion is positioned in the sinus; the distal tip portion is deflected to expose a plurality of electrodes; and RF energy is then applied to the coronary sinus tissue through the electrodes to cause pacing, mapping, and/or ablation.
Claims14
A catheter for mapping an electrical conduction pattern of a coronary sinus in a right atrium of a heart comprising:
- an elongate tubular element having a pre-shaped tip section, a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end, wherein a plurality of electrodes is disposed on the tip section, and wherein the pre-shaped tip section has an appropriate transition angle and length;
- a handle attached to the proximal end of the elongate tubular element;
- a steering mechanism located at the handle;
- wherein the steering mechanism is to cause at least one deflection for the tip section;
- and
- said tip section comprising a longitudinally stretchable/compressible soft portion at about the distal end of the elongate tubular element, wherein the stretchable/compressible soft portion has capability of moving and rebounding longitudinally, wherein the stretchable/compressible soft portion has a braided coil, and wherein the braided coil is at a stretched state so that the stretchable/compressible soft portion has capability of moving and rebounding longitudinally.
A method for mapping an electrical conduction pattern of a coronary sinus in a right atrium of a heart comprising the steps of:
- a) inserting a catheter into the right atrium of the heart, the catheter having a plurality of electrodes and a pre-shaped tip section, the pre-shaped tip section having an appropriate transition angle, said tip section comprising a longitudinally stretchable/compressible soft portion at about a distal end of the catheter, wherein the stretchable/compressible soft portion has capability of moving and rebounding longitudinally;
- b) deflecting the pre-shaped tip section inside the right atrium, wherein an inferior vena cava wall and a high right atrium wall are used as anchoring points of stabilizing said tip section to position the distal end in the coronary sinus;
- c) exposing the plurality of electrodes to an endocardial tissue around the coronary sinus;
- and
- d) mapping a surface of the endocardial tissue, including the coronary sinus, wherein the electrical conduction pattern is used to assist in locating areas of aberrant electrical conduction.
A method for catheter-based ablation of a coronary sinus in a right atrium of a heart comprising the steps of:
- a) inserting a catheter into the right atrium of the heart, the catheter having a plurality of electrodes and a pre-shaped tip section, the pre-shaped tip section having an appropriate transition angle and length, said tip section comprising a longitudinally stretchable/compressible soft portion at about a distal end of the catheter, wherein the stretchable/compressible soft portion has capability of moving and rebounding longitudinally;
- b) deflecting said pre-shaped tip section inside the right atrium, wherein an inferior vena cava wall and a high right atrium wall are used as anchoring points to stabilize the catheter tip section to position the distal end in the coronary sinus;
- c) exposing the plurality of electrodes to an endocardial tissue around the coronary sinus;
- and
- d) applying RF energy to the endocardial tissue surrounding the plurality of electrodes by delivering the RF energy through electrical conducting means to said electrodes to effect ablation of the coronary sinus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.