Fossa ovalis penetration using probing elements
First Claim
1. A method for puncturing a fossa ovalis of a heart, the method comprising:
- inserting a catheter into a right atrium of the heart;
advancing a distal portion of the catheter toward an interatrial septum of the heart;
deploying a first set of one or more flexible longitudinal members from the distal portion of the catheter;
probing tissue near the fossa ovalis, by moving at least one of the flexible longitudinal members of the first set along a surface of the interatrial septum;
identifying a puncture site for puncturing the fossa ovalis, in response to the at least one of the one or more flexible longitudinal members of the first set probing and contacting the tissue of the fossa ovalis;
thereafter, deploying a second set of one or more flexible longitudinal members from the distal portion of the catheter, such that at least one of the one or more flexible longitudinal members of the second set contacts the fossa ovalis, the second set not comprising any of the one or more flexible longitudinal members of the first set; and
thereafter, using a puncturing element, puncturing the fossa ovalis at the puncture site.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are described, including apparatus for puncturing a fossa ovalis of a heart. The apparatus includes a catheter shaped to define a catheter lumen. A puncturing element is slidably disposed within the catheter lumen, and is deployed from a distal portion of the catheter and to puncture the fossa ovalis. A probing element is deployed from the distal portion of the catheter. Upon being deployed, the probing element probes tissue near the fossa ovalis, the probing element having a first configuration thereof upon probing the tissue near the fossa ovalis. Upon probing tissue of the fossa ovalis, the probing element facilitates positioning of the puncturing element, by automatically adopting a second configuration thereof that is different from the first configuration. Other applications are also described.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for puncturing a fossa ovalis of a heart, the method comprising:
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inserting a catheter into a right atrium of the heart; advancing a distal portion of the catheter toward an interatrial septum of the heart; deploying a first set of one or more flexible longitudinal members from the distal portion of the catheter; probing tissue near the fossa ovalis, by moving at least one of the flexible longitudinal members of the first set along a surface of the interatrial septum; identifying a puncture site for puncturing the fossa ovalis, in response to the at least one of the one or more flexible longitudinal members of the first set probing and contacting the tissue of the fossa ovalis; thereafter, deploying a second set of one or more flexible longitudinal members from the distal portion of the catheter, such that at least one of the one or more flexible longitudinal members of the second set contacts the fossa ovalis, the second set not comprising any of the one or more flexible longitudinal members of the first set; and thereafter, using a puncturing element, puncturing the fossa ovalis at the puncture site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification