Patent ID: 8834506
Filing Date: 2014-09-16
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A method for puncturing a pericardial membrane of a human patient, the method comprising: inserting a needle comprising a blade operable at a distal end of the needle into the chest of the human patient; detecting a phase of a mechanical activity of the heart of the human patient; advancing the needle toward the heart of the human patient in synchronization with the detected phase of the mechanical activity of the heart of the human patient; puncturing the pericardial membrane of the heart of the human patient with an advancement pulse of the blade of the needle, wherein the advancement pulse is synchronized with a QRS complex of the heart monitored by electrocardiography, wherein the advancement pulse of the needle is activated by a controller programmed with instructions to advance the blade of the needle in synchronization with the QRS complex of the heart of the patient.