Method to protect the esophagus and other mediastinal structures during cardiac and thoracic interventions
View Patent ↗Devices and methods are disclosed for preventing injury to a target tissue in proximity to the heart. The methods may include the use a device to externally manipulate the heart to move a portion of the heart away from the target tissue. The methods may also include applying therapy to the heart with the device.
1. A method for protecting a patient's mediastinal structure while ablating tissue of the patient's heart, the method comprising:
placing a protection member between the mediastinal structure and the posterior heart by a subxiphoid approach;
expanding the protection member, thereby separating the mediastinal structure from the heart;
ablating cardiac tissue from within the heart; and
applying simultaneous therapy to the heart and the mediastinal structure with the protection member.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the protection member comprises a balloon.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the applying step comprises chilling the heart with the protection member.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the protection member comprises a balloon containing chilled fluid.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the applying step comprises delivering a therapeutic substance from the protection member to the heart.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the therapeutic substance comprises a drug.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein the protection member comprises a plurality of openings communicating with a reservoir containing the therapeutic substance.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the protection member comprises a weeping balloon.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the applying step comprises providing electrical ground on the protection member for use in ablating the heart.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the protection member comprises an expandable basket.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the mediastinal structure is an esophagus.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapy comprises chilling the mediastinal structure with the protection member.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapy comprises delivering a therapeutic substance from the protection member to the mediastinal structure.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising introducing the protection member to the patient transthoracically.