Patent ID: 6925327
Filing Date: 2005-08-02
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61L,A61M

Abstract:
1. A catheter system for diagnosing whether ablation of a portion of a target pulmonary vein will prevent the pulmonary vein from initiating atrial fibrillation; said device comprising: a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; a balloon operably disposed upon the distal end of the catheter, the balloon having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the balloon being adapted to contact the target pulmonary vein, the distal portion being sized to fit within the pulmonary vein, said distal portion having pores, said pores permitting passage of a fluid into the pulmonary vein; a reservoir of antiarrhythmic agent, said agent having an intra-operatively dissipating effect of disrupting electrical action of the target pulmonary vein; and means for administering the antiarrhythmic agent to the target pulmonary vein through the pores of the balloon; wherein the antiarrhythmic agent is chosen from the group of: digitalis, calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, class IA antiarrhythmic agents, quinidine, procainimide, disopyrimide, class IC drugs, flecainide and propefenone, class III antiarrhythmic agents, sotolol and amiodorone.