 Well pump actuated by natural gas |
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| Methods for improving damaged retinal cell function |
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| Implantable device with output circuitry for simultaneous stimulation at multiple sites |
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| Method and apparatus for measuring blood pressure |
| OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a functional block ... |
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| Disposable cell culture chamber with remote access |
| OF THE INVENTION The invention is illustrated in connection with the same type of percutaneous ... |
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| Surgical tool |
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| Leak detector for an intra-aortic balloon pump |
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| Intraosseous infusion device |
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| Method and apparatus for infiltration detection during administration of intravenous fluids |
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| System for preventing needle displacement in subcutaneous venous access ports |
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Spiral catheter with multiple guide holes
| Details |
Inventors: Horzewski, Michael; Giba, Jeffrey;
Assignee: Eclipse Surgical Technologies, Inc. (Sunnyvale, CA)
Primary Examiner: McDermott; Corrine M.
Assistant Examiner: Rodriguez; Cris L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Shahani, Esq.; Ray K., Janofsky, Esq.; Ilene Lapidus
A spiral catheter apparatus for access to, and laser or other treatment within, cavities and organs in the human body, the apparatus comprising a flexible, main catheter shaft defining a central axis of the apparatus, the catheter shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a first hollow lumen region extending therethrough, the catheter shaft further having a spiral portion adjacent the distal end with a selected curvilinear shape, the curvilinear shape defining an inner arcuate sidewall and an outer arcuate sidewall, the catheter shaft flexible enough to assume a temporarily elongated shape such that the apparatus can be extended through at least a portion of the body in the temporarily elongated shape and will assume the selected curvilinear shape when extended into a body cavity or organ, the selected curvilinear shape serving to securely position the apparatus adjacent a selected surface within the body cavity or organ, at least the spiral portion of the catheter shaft having a plurality of guide holes thereon, the plurality of guide holes disposed at least on the outer arcuate sidewall in communication with the first lumen such that a distal end of a laser delivery means or other functional device can be controllably advanced through the plurality of guide holes for laser or other treatment on the selected surface. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION Thus, it is an advantage of the present invention to provide a catheter apparatus and method of use for percutaneous and other intra-vascular procedures, including TMR, or any stimulation procedure, which overcomes the limitations of the prior art.
It is a further advantage of the present invention to provide a catheter apparatus capable of being guided into a heart chamber and used therein for creating a plurality of TMR channels controllably and efficiently.
It is a further advantage of the present invention to provide a catheter apparatus made, at least in part, of a superelastic material or a shape memory material having a preformed operative shape, which, to facilitate insertion into the patient and through or into at least a portion of the vasculature or other body lumen or opening, can be temporarily deformed, such that upon positioning adjacent a selected surface, the catheter will or can be returned to the preformed operative shape.
It is a further advantage of the present invention to provide a spiral catheter apparatus for placement within a heart chamber, organ aperture or other body opening, the apparatus having at least one hollow lumen region extending through or partially through a main catheter shaft and a plurality of guide holes thereon, the lumen for guiding a laser delivery means or other functional device extended through the guide holes to selected surfaces of the heart chamber, organ aperture or other body opening for laser or other treatment thereon, particularly adapted for laser-assisted transmyocardial revascularization (TMR).
It is yet a further advantage of the present invention to provide a percutaneous catheter which can be positioned securely into a selected position within the left ventricle.
A further advantage of the present invention is to provide an apparatus to enable creation of a plurality of appropriately grouped and spaced TMR channels on a selected surface within a body cavity or organ quickly and safely, without the need for repositioning the catheter before creation of each successive hole
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Heart Surgery 
