Patent ID: 8382699

Claim:
An apparatus configured for insertion within a heart, the apparatus comprising: a catheter comprising: a proximal end, a distal end, an outer wall positioned circumferentially along a length of the catheter, and at least one lumen defined therethrough, wherein the outer wall defines a plurality of concave grooves adjoining one another and distributed radially around an entire circumference of the catheter and extending in a straight axial direction along at least part of the length of the catheter, and one or more apertures defined within the plurality of concave grooves, wherein the one or more apertures traverse the outer wall, the one or more apertures present at or near the distal end of the catheter, wherein at least one of the one or more apertures is/are in communication with at least one suction channel; a first balloon coupled to the catheter and positioned externally to the catheter, the first balloon configured for insertion into an aperture in an atrial wall; and a conduit having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the conduit coupled to the first balloon; wherein when the catheter is positioned within the aperture in the atrial wall and the first balloon is positioned at or near the aperture in the atrial wall, inflation of the first balloon causes the catheter to be held in place at the atrial wall.