METHODS AND DEVICES FOR IMPROVING BLOOD FLOW TO A HEART OF A PATIENT

摘要

One device in accordance with the present invention includes a surgical device for creating channels in tissue of a patient. The device includes a catheter (70) defining a lumen and a transducer assembly (82) carrierd by the catheter (70) along a lengthwise dimension of the catheter (70). An end effector (88) is operatively coupled to the transducer assembly (82) and extends distally relative to the transducer assembly (82). The end effector (88) has a vibrating channel-forming tip wherein the channel-forming tip is adapted to create channels in the heart of a patient. A method in accordance with the present invention includes the steps of inserting an end effector (88) having a tip into a patient, placing the tip of the end effector (88) in direct contact with a surface of the heart, energizing the end effector (88) to cause the tip to vibrate, piercing through the surface of the heart with the tip to create a channel, and removing the end effector (88).