Method and apparatus for detecting and achieving closure of patent foramen ovale

摘要

A method for detecting and closing the patent foramen ovale including the steps of locating a His bundle, plane of the interatrial septum, and coronary sinus ostium in a patient; identifying a fossa ovalis on the basis of one or more predetermined distances between the fossa ovalis and the His bundle, the plane of the interatrial septum, and the coronary sinus ostium; locating a patent foramen ovale by probing the junction between the fossa ovalis and a limbus of the fossa ovalis; and causing injury to the surfaces of at least one of a septum primum and a septum secundum within the patent foramen ovale. Another method includes the steps of locating a tunnel of a patent foramen ovale by probing the junction between a fossa ovalis and a limbus of the fossa ovalis and causing injury to the surfaces of at least one of a septum primum and a septum secundum within the tunnel of the patent foramen ovale by applying energy to at least one of the septum primum and the septum secundum. Apparatuses to perform these methods are also provided.