Devices and methods for transluminal or transthoracic interstitial electrode placement
First Claim
1. A method for electrical stimulation of the heart of a human or animal subject, said method comprising the steps of:
- A) providing a penetration catheter that comprises an elongate flexible catheter body and a penetrator that has a hollow lumen, said penetrator being advanceable from a retracted position to an extended position;
B) inserting the flexible penetration catheter body into the subject'"'"'s vasculature, transluminally advancing the flexible catheter body through the subject'"'"'s vasculature to a position within a coronary blood vessel;
C) advancing the penetrator from the penetration catheter body positioned within a coronary blood vessel through a wall of the coronary blood vessel to a location within the pericardial space;
D) advancing a first guidewire through the penetrator and into the pericardial space;
E) retracting the penetrator and withdrawing the penetration catheter, leaving the first guidewire in the pericardial space;
F) inserting the penetration catheter over the guidewire into the pericardial space;
G) advancing the penetrator from the penetration catheter positioned in the pericardial space to create a penetration tract that extends from the pericardial space into the heart;
H) advancing at least one electrode into the penetration tract; and
I) actuating said at least one electrode to deliver electrical stimulation to the heart.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and devices for implanting pacing electrodes or other apparatus, or for delivering substances, to the heart of other tissues within the body. A guided tissue penetrating catheter is inserted into a body lumen (e.g., blood vessel) or into a body cavity or space (e.g., the pericardial space) and a penetrator is advanced from the catheter to a target location. In some embodiments, a substance or an apparatus (such as an electrode) may be delivered through a lumen in the penetrator. In other embodiments, a guidewire may be advanced through the penetrator, the penetrating catheter may then be removed and an apparatus (e.g., electrode) may then be advanced over that guidewire. Also disclosed are various implantable electrodes and electrode anchoring apparatus.
92 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for electrical stimulation of the heart of a human or animal subject, said method comprising the steps of:
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A) providing a penetration catheter that comprises an elongate flexible catheter body and a penetrator that has a hollow lumen, said penetrator being advanceable from a retracted position to an extended position; B) inserting the flexible penetration catheter body into the subject'"'"'s vasculature, transluminally advancing the flexible catheter body through the subject'"'"'s vasculature to a position within a coronary blood vessel; C) advancing the penetrator from the penetration catheter body positioned within a coronary blood vessel through a wall of the coronary blood vessel to a location within the pericardial space; D) advancing a first guidewire through the penetrator and into the pericardial space; E) retracting the penetrator and withdrawing the penetration catheter, leaving the first guidewire in the pericardial space; F) inserting the penetration catheter over the guidewire into the pericardial space; G) advancing the penetrator from the penetration catheter positioned in the pericardial space to create a penetration tract that extends from the pericardial space into the heart; H) advancing at least one electrode into the penetration tract; and I) actuating said at least one electrode to deliver electrical stimulation to the heart. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification