Elongated medical assembly
An elongated medical assembly is configured to be maneuverable proximate to a first biological feature of a patient. The elongated medical assembly is also configured to facilitate movement along an elongated length of the elongated medical assembly of a first medical device and a second medical device.
1. A method of operating an elongated medical assembly, the method comprising:
maneuvering, at least in part, the elongated medical assembly to a position located proximate to a valve leaflet of a heart of a patient;
maneuvering, at least in part, a puncture device along the elongated medical assembly;
maneuvering, at least in part, an anchor device along the elongated medical assembly into an opening of the right coronary artery and securely positioning the anchor device to the opening in such a way that the anchor device facilitates spatially oriented maneuvered movement of the puncture device from the elongated medical assembly toward the valve leaflet; and
maneuvering, at least in part, the puncture device toward the valve leaflet once the anchor device is anchored to the opening.
2. A system for performing a procedure on a valve leaflet of a patient's heart, the system comprising:
a delivery sheath having a longitudinal lumen and a distal end port and a distal side port disposed proximal to the distal end port, the elongated medical device configured to be maneuverable to the patient's heart such that the distal end port is proximate a the valve leaflet and the distal side port is proximate an opening to the right coronary artery;
an anchor device configured to be advanced through the lumen of the delivery sheath and to exit the delivery sheath through the distal side port; and
a puncture device configured to form a puncture hole through the valve leaflet, the puncture device configured to be advanced through the lumen of the delivery sheath and to exit the distal end port;
wherein, the anchor device is configured to enter the opening of the right coronary artery and anchors therein, upon exiting the distal side port, so as to provide a reference position for the delivery sheath; and
further wherein, upon anchoring of the anchor device to the opening of the right coronary artery, the puncture device is configured to advance to a location proximate the heart valve leaflet.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the lumen includes a first lumen extending through the delivery sheath to the distal side port and a second lumen extending through the delivery sheath to the distal end port.