Trans-septal catheter with retention mechanism

Abstract

A medical system for introduction through a septum separating a first heart chamber from a second heart chamber includes a guide catheter with a distal segment and a guide catheter lumen adapted to receive a mapping/ablation catheter. The guide catheter includes a deployable retention mechanism that engages the septum and inhibits advancement or retraction of the guide catheter through the septum. The system also includes an ablation device for delivering ablation energy to tissue. The ablation device is positioned in a heart chamber via the guide catheter lumen.

1 . A medical device for introduction through a septum separating a first heart chamber from a second heart chamber, the medical device comprising:
 a guide catheter including an elongated guide catheter body extending between guide catheter proximal and distal ends, the guide catheter body having a distal segment, the guide catheter body enclosing a guide catheter lumen;   wherein the retention mechanism includes a first inflatable balloon and a second inflatable balloon formed about the guide catheter body at the distal segment;   wherein the guide catheter body includes a balloon inflation and deflation lumen positioned within the guide catheter body to inflate the first inflatable balloon and the second inflatable balloon after the first inflatable balloon is advanced through the septum into the one of the first heart chamber and the second heart chamber, wherein the inflated first balloon engages the septum and inhibits retraction of the distal segment of the guide catheter through the septum, and the inflated second balloon engages the septum and inhibits advancement of the guide catheter through the septum;   wherein the guide catheter is adapted to perforate the septum and advance the distal segment of the guide catheter into the second heart chamber;   wherein the retention mechanism is deployed into engagement against the septum within one or both of the first heart chamber and the second heart chamber when one of retraction force and advancement force is applied to the guide catheter to inhibit movement of the distal segment of the guide catheter through the septum.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an evacuation means to evacuate the inflation medium to deflate the first balloon and the second balloon and enable advancement or retraction of the distal segment through the septum between the first heart chamber and the second heart chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  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. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the ablation member is an ablation electrode. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the ablation electrode is selected from the group consisting of tubular shaped electrodes, ring-shaped electrodes, and coil electrodes. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the ablating energy is selected from the group consisting of direct current electrical energy, radio frequency electrical energy, laser energy, ultrasound energy, and microwave energy. 
     
     
         7 . A medical system for introduction through a septum separating a first heart chamber from a second heart chamber, the medical device comprising:
 a guide catheter including an elongated guide catheter body extending between guide catheter proximal and distal ends, the guide catheter body having a distal segment, the guide catheter body enclosing a guide catheter lumen;   wherein the retention mechanism includes an elongated retention wire for advancement through a wire deployment lumen of the guide catheter body, said elongated retention wire having a distal wire segment that is disposed within the second heart chamber, wherein the distal wire segment is adapted to be straightened when advanced through the wire deployment lumen and to form a non-straight configuration when extended out of the deployment lumen and into engagement with the septum within the second heart chamber, thereby inhibiting retraction of the distal segment of the guide catheter from the second heart chamber to the first heart chamber through the septum.   wherein the guide catheter is adapted to perforate the septum and advance the distal segment of the guide catheter into the second heart chamber;   wherein the retention mechanism is deployed into engagement against the septum within the second heart chamber when retraction force is applied to the guide catheter to inhibit movement of the distal segment of the guide catheter through the septum.   
     
     
         8 . The medical device of  claim 7 , wherein the elongated retention wire may be retracted within the wire deployment lumen and disengaged from the septum within the second heart chamber, thereby enabling retraction of the distal segment of the guide catheter into the first heart chamber through the septum. 
     
     
         9 . The medical device of  claim 7 , wherein the non-straight configuration of the retention wire further comprises a wire coil formed of a plurality of wire turns. 
     
     
         10 . The medical device of  claim 7 , wherein the non-straight configuration of the retention wire further comprises a wire coil formed of a plurality of wire turns wound in a common plane. 
     
     
         11 . The medical device of  claim 7 , wherein the non-straight configuration of the retention wire further comprises an acute bend in the wire that is straightened during advancement through the wire deployment lumen. 
     
     
         12 . The medical device of  claim 3 , wherein the retention wire is formed of a shape memory alloy and possesses superelasticity enabling straightening of the non-straight configuration within the wire deployment lumen.