Patent ID: 7655022
Filing Date: 2010-02-02
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A method of cannulating a coronary blood vessel branching from a coronary sinus of a patient's heart, comprising: locating a coronary sinus using a guide apparatus having a distal end with a pre-formed curve; introducing the guide apparatus into the coronary sinus; sliding an open lumen of a guiding catheter over the distal end of the guide apparatus so that a distal portion of the guiding catheter is advanced through the coronary sinus and into the coronary blood vessel, the guiding catheter comprising a flexible shaft that substantially assumes the shape of the guide apparatus without disturbing the shape of the distal end of the guide apparatus when the open lumen of the guiding catheter is slid over the guide apparatus, the open lumen of the guiding catheter dimensioned to receive an implantable pacing lead, a distal portion of the flexible shaft devoid of a pre-shaped curve and comprising a balloon; inflating the balloon so that the distal portion of the guiding catheter is anchored within the coronary sinus by engagement of the balloon with the vessel walls of the coronary sinus to lodge the balloon within the coronary sinus at an anchor point, the inflated balloon comprising one or more external channels continuous from a distal end of the balloon to a proximal end of the balloon that facilitate flow of blood past the inflated balloon and through the coronary sinus while the balloon is inflated in the coronary sinus; removing the guide apparatus from the guide lumen of the guiding catheter while the guiding catheter is held in place by the inflated balloon at the anchor point; advancing an implantable pacing lead through the open lumen of the guiding catheter for placement within the coronary blood vessel while the guiding catheter is held in place by the inflated balloon at the anchor point; deflating the balloon after the implantable pacing lead has been placed in the coronary blood vessel; and removing the guiding catheter and leaving the implantable pacing lead in the coronary blood vessel.