EXPANDABLE TRANS-SEPTAL SHEATH
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is an expandable transluminal sheath, for introduction into the body while in a first, low cross-sectional area configuration, and subsequent expansion of at least a part of the distal end of the sheath to a second, enlarged cross-sectional configuration. The sheath is configured for use in the vascular system. The access route is through the inferior vena cava to the right atrium, where a trans-septal puncture, followed by advancement of the catheter is completed. The distal end of the sheath is maintained in the first, low cross-sectional configuration during advancement through the atrial septum into the left atrium. The distal end of the sheath is expanded using a radial dilator. In one application, the sheath is utilized to provide access for a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure such as electrophysiological mapping of the heart, radio-frequency ablation of left atrial tissue, placement of atrial implants, valve repair, or the like.
20 Citations
18 Claims
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1-8. -8. (canceled)
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9. A method of instrumenting a left atrium of a patient comprising the steps of:
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routing a guidewire into the right atrium from a peripheral vein; inserting a sheath with a collapsed distal region and a pre-inserted dilator into the patient over the guidewire; advancing the sheath to a treatment or diagnostic site within the right atrium of the heart; performing a trans-septal puncture between the right and left atrium and advancing the collapsed distal region through the puncture into the left atrium; dilating the distal region of the sheath so that the distal region of the sheath is expanded to dilate the puncture; collapsing the dilator; removing the dilator from the sheath; inserting instrumentation through the lumen of the sheath into the left atrium; performing therapy or diagnosis with the instrumentation; and removing the sheath from the patient. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18-20. -20. (canceled)
Specification