Interventional diagnostic catheter and a method for using a catheter to access artificial cardiac shunts

摘要

One aspect of the present invention relates to a method for passing a fluid through a shunt located in the wall of a heart, the shunt providing fluid communication between a heart chamber and a coronary artery, with a hollow catheter. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of inserting a wire through a shunt located in the wall of a heart with a hollow catheter. A further aspect of the present invention relates to passing fluid through a shunt located in the wall of a heart, the shunt providing fluid communication between a heart chamber and a coronary artery, by injecting fluid into the heart chamber. A further aspect of the present invention relates to a catheter with a flexible, hollow, inner member to which a self expanding basket is attached. A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method of passing a radio-opaque contrast fluid through a shunt located in a heart wall, the shunt providing fluid communication between a heart chamber and a coronary artery. A further aspect of the present invention relates to inserting a wire into a coronary artery through a shunt located in a heart wall, the shunt providing fluid communication between a heart chamber and the coronary artery. A still further aspect of the present invention relates to a catheter including an inner tube with a self-expanding basket and an outer sheath about the inner tube. A further aspect of the present invention relates to a catheter with a flexible inner member with a shunt locating element at a distal end and an outer sheath about the inner member.