Granted Patent B2

US 12,551,237 · App. 17/526,616 · Granted Feb 17, 2026

Inventors: James S. Gammie (Stevenson, MD); Philip J. Haarstad (Chanhassen, MN); David Blaeser (Brooklyn Park, MN); Ryan Bauer (Plymouth, MN); Stephen Roller (Rockville, MD); Rachael Quinn (Abingdon, MD); Chetan Pasrija (Baltimore, MD); Edwin Hlavka (Minneapolis, MN)

Assignees: University of Maryland, Baltimore; University of Maryland Medical System Corporation; Protaryx Medical Inc.

A61B17/3478A61B2017/00247A61B2017/3486A61B2017/3488

Abstract

Claims (12)

1 . A method, comprising:

with a first catheter disposed within a right atrium of a heart of a patient, extending a second catheter (1) having an end effector at its distal end, and (2) that is disposed at least partially within the first catheter, through a lumen defined by the first catheter and distally from a distal end portion of the first catheter such that the end effector (1) expands in cross-sectional area as it exits the lumen, and (2) contacts an atrial septum of the heart, and wherein the first catheter is deflectable; and

with the end effector in contact with the atrial septum, extending a septum penetrator that is electrified with radiofrequency (RF) energy and slidably disposed within a lumen of the second catheter distally from the end effector to puncture a fossa ovalis of the atrial septum with the RF energy.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the extending the septum penetrator such that the septum penetrator punctures the atrial septum includes extending the septum penetrator into a left atrium of the heart, the method further comprising:

with the septum penetrator disposed in the left atrium, withdrawing proximally the side catheter into the first catheter such that the end effector reduces in cross-sectional area as it enters the first catheter.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the extending the second catheter distally from the first catheter and into contact with the atrial septum includes tenting the atrial septum with the end effector such that a fossa ovalis of the tented atrial septum is urged into a left atrium of the heart.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the extending the septum penetrator such that the septum penetrator punctures the atrial septum includes puncturing the septum with the atrial septum tented by the end effector.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first catheter is a steerable catheter.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

steering the steerable catheter into the right atrium of the heart.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the septum penetrator is solid-tipped.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first catheter is a side catheter guide and the second catheter is a side catheter.

Assignments (9)

Continuity (9)

References Cited (220)