Trans-septal catheter with retention mechanism

Abstract

A trans-septal guide catheter for providing access through the septum separating a first heart chamber from a second heart chamber that includes an elongated guide catheter body extending between guide catheter proximal and distal ends. A distal segment of the guide catheter is adapted to be inserted through the septum to locate the distal segment of the guide catheter within one of the first heart chamber and the second heart chamber. The catheter body encloses a guide catheter lumen adapted to provide access into the one of the first heart chamber and the second heart chamber through a guide catheter lumen proximal end opening and a guide catheter lumen distal end opening. A retention mechanism engages the septum and maintains the distal segment of the guide catheter extending into the one of the first heart chamber and the second heart chamber

1 - 28 . (canceled)  
   
   
       29 . An ablation system comprising: 
 a trans-septal guide catheter for providing access through the septum separating a first heart chamber from a second heart chamber comprising an elongated guide catheter body extending between guide catheter proximal and distal ends, a distal segment of the guide catheter adapted to be inserted through the septum to locate the distal segment of the guide catheter within one of the first heart chamber and the second heart chamber, the catheter body enclosing a guide catheter lumen adapted to provide access into the one of the first heart chamber and the second heart chamber through a guide catheter lumen proximal end opening and a guide catheter lumen distal end opening, the catheter body enclosing first and second inflation and deflation lumens fluidly connected to first and second proximal inflation ports and first and second distal inflatable balloons, the first and second balloons adapted to engage the septum.    
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 29  wherein an inflation medium is introduced through the first balloon inflation and deflation lumen to inflate the first balloon.  
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the first balloon is adapted to be inflated in one of the first heart chamber and the second heart chamber.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 29  wherein an inflation medium is introduced through the second balloon inflation and deflation lumen to inflate the second balloon.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the second balloon is adapted to be inflated in one of the first heart chamber and the second heart chamber.  
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the first and second balloons are adapted to be inflated on opposite sides of the septum.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the first balloon is inflated in the right atrial chamber and the second balloon is inflated in the left atrial chamber.  
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the trans-septal guide catheter is adapted to be advanced through an opening in the septum.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the opening is a formed via a puncture.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the opening is a formed via a perforation.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the first heart chamber is an atrial chamber.  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 39  wherein the atrium is a right atrial chamber.  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 39  wherein the atrium is a left atrial chamber.  
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the second heart chamber is an atrial chamber.  
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the atrium is a right atrial chamber.  
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the atrium is a left atrial chamber.  
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 29  further comprising an ablation device for delivering ablating energy to tissue, the ablation device being adapted to be positioned through the guide catheter lumen, the ablation device comprising an ablation energy source and an ablation catheter having an ablation member coupled to the ablation energy source.  
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 45  wherein the ablation member is an ablation electrode.  
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the ablation electrode is a tubular shaped electrode.  
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the ablation electrode is a ring-shaped shaped electrode.  
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the ablation electrode is a coil electrode.  
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 45  wherein the ablating energy is direct current electrical energy.  
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 45  wherein the ablating energy is radio frequency electrical energy.  
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 45  wherein the ablating energy is laser energy.  
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 45  wherein the ablating energy is ultrasound energy.  
   
   
       54 . The system of  claim 45  wherein the ablating energy is microwave energy.  
   
   
       55 . An ablation method comprising: 
 inserting a distal end of a trans-septal catheter device into a patient;    advancing the distal end through the patient into a first heart chamber;    advancing the distal end through the septum separating the first heart chamber from a second heart chamber;    inflating a first distal balloon of the catheter device to engage the septum;    inflating a second distal balloon of the catheter device to engage the septum;    advancing an ablation member through the septum and into the second heart chamber;    positioning the ablation member proximate heart tissue to be ablated; and    delivering ablating energy from an ablation energy source to the ablation member to ablate heart tissue proximate the ablation member.    
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the trans-septal catheter device comprises: 
 an elongated catheter body extending between catheter proximal and distal ends, a distal segment of the catheter adapted to be inserted through the septum to locate the distal end of the catheter within the second heart chamber, the catheter body enclosing a catheter lumen adapted to provide access into the second heart chamber through a catheter lumen proximal end opening and a catheter lumen distal end opening, the catheter body enclosing first and second inflation and deflation lumens fluidly connected to first and second proximal inflation ports and first and second distal balloons, the first and second balloons adapted to engage the septum.    
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 56  wherein the ablation member is advanced through the catheter lumen.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the distal end of the catheter is inserted into the neck or groin area of the patient.  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the distal end of the catheter is inserted into a major artery or vein.  
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the first heart chamber is a right atrial chamber and the second heart chamber is a left atrial chamber.  
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the first heart chamber is a left atrial chamber and the second heart chamber is a right atrial chamber.  
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the ablation member is an ablation electrode.  
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 62  wherein the ablation electrode is a tubular shaped electrode.  
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 62  wherein the ablation electrode is a ring-shaped shaped electrode.  
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 62  wherein the ablation electrode is a coil electrode.  
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the ablating energy is direct current electrical energy.  
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the ablating energy is radio frequency electrical energy.  
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the ablating energy is laser energy.  
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the ablating energy is ultrasound energy.  
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the ablating energy is microwave energy.  
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the heart tissue to be ablated is myocardial tissue.  
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the distal end of the catheter is advanced through an opening in the septum.  
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 72  wherein the opening is formed via a puncture.  
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 72  wherein the opening is formed via a perforation.  
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the ablation lesions are made around an orifice.  
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 55  further comprising inflating the first and second balloons on opposite sides of the septum.  
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 55  further comprising delivering an irrigating fluid around the ablation member while delivering ablating energy to the ablation member.