Patent ID: 7029466

Claim:
A method of treating the heart comprising: providing a catheter adapted for insertion into the endocardial space of the right atrium and subsequent insertion into the atrial wall and penetration of the atrial wall, said catheter comprising: a catheter tube with a distal section adapted for placement in the pericardial space outside the right atrium, said distal section comprising a plurality of electrodes disposed along the distal section; a proximal section adapted for fluid communication with a fluid reservoir located in a chest of the patient, and an intermediate section extending from the proximal section to the distal section; a flange disposed on the catheter at the point where the catheter penetrates the atrial wall, said flange capable of being secured to the atrial wall and forming a fluidic seal with the atrial wall; providing a fluid reservoir within the chest of the patient; inserting the distal section through the endocardial space of the right atrium, through the atrial wall so that said distal section is disposed in the epicardial space surrounding the heart; placing at least a portion of the intermediate section in the endocardial space of the atrium; securing the flange to the atrial wall; extending the distal section around the heart to form a helical coil surrounding the heart placing electrodes along the helical coil at multiple sites surrounding the heart; connecting the proximal section in fluid communication with the fluid; and pacing the heart at multiple sites using the plurality of electrodes.