Patent ID: 8052668

Claim:
A method for treating a patient suffering from arrhythmias, comprising: inserting a catheter of an apparatus into a blood vessel of the patient, wherein the apparatus comprises a catheter body including at least one lumen and at least one port in communication with the lumen; first and second inflatable balloons coupled to the catheter body, the at least one port located between the first and second balloons, wherein the second balloon is expandable and configured to block an opening between the atrium and the pulmonary vein when expanded; a conductor extending through the catheter body; and an expandable electrode coupled to the conductor and positioned between the first and second inflatable balloons, wherein the first and second inflatable balloons and the expandable electrode are arranged to allow for identifying a region in the pulmonary vein using stimulation delivered through the expandable electrode and isolating the identified region by inflating the first and second inflatable balloons for treating the atrial fibrillation in the isolated region, the region associated with the one or more ectopic foci, wherein the expandable electrode is adapted to deliver stimulation to the pulmonary vein effective to promote electrical discharge from ectopic foci, thereby altering heart rate and/or blood pressure; directing the catheter through the blood vessel to the pulmonary vein; expanding the electrode on the catheter in the pulmonary vein and applying high frequency stimulation from the electrode to a region of the pulmonary vein; sensing whether the high frequency stimulation alters heart rate and/or blood pressure of the patient; inflating the first and second balloons to isolate a region in which high frequency stimulation alters heart rate and/or blood pressure; and delivering at least one neurolytic or neurotoxic agent from the catheter to the isolated region in an amount effective to normalize heart rate and/or blood pressure in the patient.