Patent ID: 6656166
Filing Date: 2003-12-02
Classification: A61M,A61N

Abstract:
A process for introducing a medical device into the coronary sinus of a heart of a patient, comprising the steps of:(a) introducing a stiffening means into a lumen of a coronary sinus guiding introducer, wherein the guiding introducer contains proximal and distal ends, and wherein the lumen extends from the proximal to the distal end of the guiding introducer, (b) introducing the coronary sinus guiding introducer with stiffening means into vasculature of the patient, (c) directing the coronary sinus guiding introducer with stiffening means through the vasculature of the patient into a right atrium of the patient's heart, (d) introducing a distal tip of the coronary sinus guiding introducer into the coronary sinus of the patient's heart, (e) introducing the medical device into the lumen of the coronary sinus guiding introducer, (f) advancing the medical device through the lumen of the coronary sinus guiding introducer until it extends away from the distal tip of the coronary sinus guiding introducer into the patient's coronary sinus, and (g) withdrawing the stiffening means from the coronary sinus guiding introducer after the introduction of the coronary sinus guiding introducer into the coronary sinus.