Diagnostic catheters, guide catheters, visualization devices and chord manipulation devices, and related kits and methods
First Claim
1. A method for visualizing at least a portion of the subannular groove of a heart valve comprising:
- advancing a catheter comprising an elongated member having at least one port to a position proximate to the subannular groove of the heart valve; and
delivering at least one radiopaque agent through the at least one port into the subannular groove.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Described herein are devices, methods and kits for assessing and/or enhancing the accessibility of a subvalvular space of a heart, accessing the subvalvular space of the heart (e.g., to provide access for one or more other devices), and/or positioning one or more devices in the subvalvular space of the heart. The devices described herein may, for example, comprise catheters that may be used to manipulate one or more chordae tendineae, diagnostic catheters having different sizes and/or shapes (e.g., different curvatures), guide catheters having different sizes and/or shapes (e.g., different curvatures), and visualization catheters. In some variations, the devices, methods, and/or kits may be used to visualize a target site, such as a subannular groove of a heart valve. In certain variations, the devices, methods, and/or kits may be used to manipulate chordae tendineae to provide additional space in a ventricle of a heart (e.g., enhancing the accessibility of the ventricle).
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A method for visualizing at least a portion of the subannular groove of a heart valve comprising:
-
advancing a catheter comprising an elongated member having at least one port to a position proximate to the subannular groove of the heart valve; and delivering at least one radiopaque agent through the at least one port into the subannular groove. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method for visualizing the subannular groove of a heart valve comprising:
-
advancing a distal section of a catheter to a position proximate to or at least partially within the subannular groove of the heart valve, the catheter comprising an ultrasonic transducer disposed within a lumen in a distal section of the catheter; and transmitting and receiving ultrasonic energy with the transducer to visualize at least one of the anatomy proximate the transducer, the catheter, and the relative positions of the anatomy and the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A method comprising:
-
providing a first catheter having a distal portion and an ultrasonic transducer disposed within a lumen in the distal section; and advancing the first catheter through a guide catheter positioned in the vicinity of the subannular groove of a heart valve such that the ultrasonic transducer extends beyond a distal end of the guide catheter to visualize a region around the distal end of the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
-
-
25. A catheter comprising:
-
a distal portion; a proximal portion coupled to the distal portion; an ultrasonic transducer disposed in a window region of the distal portion that is at least partially transparent to ultrasonic energy; and a tensioning element passing through a first lumen of the catheter and secured to the distal portion, wherein the distal section is manipulatable by applying tension to the tensioning element. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification