Patent ID: 8852207

Claim:
A method of using a guiding catheter system for cannulating a coronary sinus of a patient's heart, the method comprising: introducing a guide apparatus into the coronary sinus, the guide apparatus comprising a distal end having a pre-shaped curve shaped for cannulating the coronary sinus from the right atrium; sliding a flexible shaft over the guide apparatus to introduce the flexible shaft into the coronary sinus, the flexible shaft having an open lumen dimensioned to receive and allow an implantable pacing lead to be passed through the flexible shaft, the flexible shaft formed without any pre-shaped curve and without variable flexibility along its length and anchoring a distal portion of the flexible shaft within the coronary sinus by inflating a unitary balloon within the coronary sinus, the balloon mounted on the distal portion of the flexible shaft, the balloon comprising a contiguous, expandable surface and circumferentially surrounding the distal portion of the flexible shaft, the balloon fluidly coupled to an inflation lumen arrangement and comprising: a plurality of expansion lumens extending generally axially along a longitudinal length of the distal portion of the flexible shaft and spaced circumferentially apart from one another; a plurality of external channels defined between adjacent expansion lumens of the plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart expansion lumens and extending continuously and generally axially along the longitudinal length of the distal portion of the flexible shaft; a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart contact regions defined generally axially along an apical portion of the expansion lumens that contact portions of an inner wall of the coronary sinus to anchor the distal portion of the flexible shaft within the coronary sinus; wherein the plurality of expansion lumens urge the distal portion of the flexible shaft radially inward within a lumen of the coronary sinus and away from the inner wall of the coronary sinus, and have a diameter greater than respective diameters of the distal portion of the flexible shaft and the plurality of external channels; and wherein the plurality of external channels transport blood along the external channels and past the inflated balloon.