Method for transvenously accessing the pericardial space via the right atrium
First Claim
1. A method for transvenously accessing the pericardial space between a heart and its pericardium to perform a medical procedure on the heart, the method comprising the following steps:
- (a) passing a guide catheter through a selected peripheral vein to establish a transvenous route to the right auricle of the heart;
(b) passing a needle catheter through said guide catheter and into the right auricle so that a distal end of said needle catheter is positioned against a wall of the right auricle;
(c) piercing said wall of the right auricle with said needle catheter;
(d) advancing a guide wire through said needle catheter and into the pericardial space; and
(e) using said guide wire to perform a specific medical procedure on the heart.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
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. A guide catheter is passed through a selected peripheral vein to establish a transvenous route to the right auricle of the heart. A needle catheter is then passed through the guide catheter and into the right auricle so that a distal end of the needle catheter is positioned against a wall of the right auricle. The wall of the right auricle is then pierced with the needle catheter. A guide wire is advanced through the needle catheter and into the pericardial space. Once in position, the guide wire can be used as a conduit over which a desired catheter may be introduced for performing a specific medical procedure.
147 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A method for transvenously accessing the pericardial space between a heart and its pericardium to perform a medical procedure on the heart, the method comprising the following steps:
-
(a) passing a guide catheter through a selected peripheral vein to establish a transvenous route to the right auricle of the heart; (b) passing a needle catheter through said guide catheter and into the right auricle so that a distal end of said needle catheter is positioned against a wall of the right auricle; (c) piercing said wall of the right auricle with said needle catheter; (d) advancing a guide wire through said needle catheter and into the pericardial space; and (e) using said guide wire to perform a specific medical procedure on the heart. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for transvenously removing fluid from the pericardial space between a heart and its pericardium to treat cardiac tamponade, the method comprising the following steps:
-
(a) passing a guide catheter through a peripheral vein to establish a transvenous route to the right auricle of the heart; (b) passing a needle catheter through said guide catheter and into the right auricle so that a distal end of said needle catheter is positioned against a wall of the right auricle; (c) piercing said wall of the right auricle with said needle catheter; (d) advancing a guide wire through said needle catheter and into the pericardial space; and (e) removing the fluid from the pericardial space. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
-
-
15. A kit for transvenously accessing the pericardial space between a heart and its pericardium to perform a medical procedure on the heart, the kit comprising:
-
a guide catheter having sufficient length and flexibility to be inserted into the right atrium of a subject'"'"'s heart via a transvenous route; a needle catheter having an outer diameter sufficiently small to be passed through a lumen of said guide catheter and having a distal tip capable of penetrating a wall of the said right atrium of the subject'"'"'s heart, said needle catheter having sufficient length to be passed through said guide catheter and having sufficient flexibility to permit said needle catheter to be passed through said guide catheter into the right atrium of the subject'"'"'s heart via a transvenous route; and a guide wire having an outer diameter sufficiently small to be passed through a lumen of said needle catheter, said guide wire having sufficient length and flexibility to be passed through said needle catheter and into the pericardial space via a transvenous route and further to permit said guide wire to conform at least partially to the contour of the heart when said guide wire is extended outward from a distal tip of said needle catheter and into the pericardial space. - View Dependent Claims (16)
-
-
17. A method for placing a catheter in the pericardial space between a heart and its pericardium, the method comprising the following steps:
-
(a) passing a catheter from a selected peripheral vein and through a transvenous route to the right auricle of the heart; (b) passing said catheter through a wall of the right auricle and into the pericardial space; (c) monitoring a shape of said catheter as it is advanced into the pericardial space; and (d) confirming proper placement of said catheter in the pericardial space when said shape of said catheter begins to conform to the contour of the heart. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method for placing a catheter in the pericardial space between a heart and its pericardium, the method comprising the following steps:
-
(a) passing a catheter from a selected peripheral vein and through a transvenous route to the right auricle of the heart; (b) advancing said catheter so that a distal end of said catheter is placed against the wall of the right auricle; and (c) waiting, once said distal end of said catheter is positioned against the wall of the right auricle, for movement of the heart from its rhythmic beating to cause said distal end of said catheter to pierce the wall of the right auricle. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
-
Specification