Retrograde cardioplegia delivery catheter and method for inducing cardioplegic arrest

A retrograde delivery catheter for retrograde delivery of a fluid into a coronary sinus, the retrograde delivery catheter comprising:

• an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongated shaft having sufficient length and flexibility so that the elongated shaft may extend intraluminally through a patient via a peripheral blood vessel such that when the proximal end is external to the patient, the distal end is positioned in the coronary sinus of the patient, wherein a distal portion of the elongated shaft is configured to be selectively articulated between at least two pre-determined curve profiles, the elongated shaft defining at least a fluid delivery lumen and an inflation lumen and a pressure sensing lumen, wherein the fluid delivery lumen is configured to accommodate fluid flow rates of at least 100 ml/minute;
• an atraumatic distal tip at the distal end of the elongated shaft, wherein the atraumatic distal tip comprises a durometer of approximately 25 Shore D;
• an expandable member positioned at the distal portion of the elongated shaft proximate the atraumatic distal tip, the expandable member being inflatable to at least partially occlude the coronary sinus, wherein the inflation lumen passes along the elongated shaft from the proximal end to the expandable member and is in fluid connection with the expandable member;
• a pressure port positioned on the distal portion of the elongated shaft at a location distal of the expandable member, the pressure port in fluid communication with the pressure lumen;
• and
• at least one fluid outlet port, the at least one fluid outlet port being in communication with the fluid delivery lumen, the outlet port positioned on the distal portion of the elongated shaft at a location distal to the expandable member, wherein the elongated shaft includes at least three sections having differing durometer, wherein the at least three sections are positioned in end-to-end relationship to each other along the length of the catheter, wherein a first section of the three sections comprises a first section curve radius and a first section deflection, wherein a second section of the three sections comprises a second section curve radius of between 18 cm and 40 cm and a second section deflection of 10 to 20 degrees, wherein a third section of the three sections comprises a third section curve radius of between 5 and 8 cm and a third section deflection of 85 to 95 degrees, wherein the first section curve radius is larger than the second section curve radius, wherein the first section deflection is less than the second section deflection, wherein the first section is proximal to the second section along the length of the catheter, and wherein the second section is proximal of the third section along the length of the catheter.

A retrograde fluid delivery catheter adapted to be advanced into a coronary sinus of a patient's heart for retrograde delivery of a fluid, the retrograde delivery catheter comprising:

• an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongated shaft having sufficient length and flexibility so that the proximal end may extend intraluminally through a patient's peripheral vein when the distal end is positioned in the coronary sinus, wherein the elongated shaft includes at least three sections having differing durometer, wherein the at least three sections are positioned in end-to-end relationship to each other along the length of the catheter, wherein a first section of the three sections comprises a first section curve radius and a first section deflection, wherein a second section of the three sections comprises a second section curve radius of between 18 cm and 40 cm and a second section deflection of 10 to 20 degrees, wherein a third section of the three sections comprises a third section curve radius of between 5 and 8 cm and a third section deflection of 85 to 95 degrees, wherein the first section curve radius is larger than the second section curve radius, wherein the first section deflection is less than the second section deflection, wherein the first section is proximal to the second section along the length of the catheter, and wherein the second section is proximal of the third section along the length of the catheter, and the elongated shaft further includes:
• at least two layers, the at least two layers including an outer shell and an interior reinforcement member;
• a fluid delivery lumen surrounded by the outer shell and surrounded by the interior reinforcement member;
• and
• an inflation lumen within the outer shell of the elongated shaft, wherein the inflation lumen is positioned radially outside of the interior reinforcement member;
• an expandable member at least proximate the distal end, the expandable member being configured to at least partially occlude the patient's coronary sinus, the expandable member being in fluid communication with the inflation lumen within the elongated shaft;
• and
• a fluid delivery port, the fluid delivery port being in fluid communication with the fluid delivery lumen, the fluid delivery lumen being adapted to deliver a fluid to the fluid delivery port, wherein the fluid delivery port is positioned on the elongated shaft at a location distal to the expandable member.