BIO-INTERVENTIONAL THERAPEUTIC TREATMENTS FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

摘要

Catheter-based systems are disclosed for geometrically and temporally controlled deliveries of fluid agents to the heart. Each system includes an elongate catheter shaft, a helical, linear or curved tissue penetration element at the distal end of the shaft, and a handle at the proximal end of the shaft for manipulating the penetrating element through the catheter shaft. The penetrating element and a conductive coil near the shaft distal end provide a pair of electrodes for bipolar sensing of tissue electrical activity. One version of the system includes a fluid lumen through the penetrating element and a contrast fluid lumen open at the catheter shaft distal end. In other version of the catheter system, the penetrating element contains two fluid lumens. These systems facilitate a variety of tissue mapping and therapeutic agent delivery protocols in which several agents can be simultaneously delivered at different depths within the heart tissue.