Transseptal left atrial access and septal closure
Methods, systems, and devices for transseptal access into the left atrium of a heart. In one embodiment an apparatus for transseptal left atrial access comprised of a catheter adapted for insertion into a vessel and one or more RF devices adapted to be extendable from the distal end of said catheter and configured for the penetration or sealing of septal tissue.
1. A method for treating an interatrial septum, the method comprising:
moving an RF treatment device toward the septum from a right atrium of the heart;
positioning a distal end of the RF treatment device having an RF electrode adjacent a treatment location, the treatment location being at the septum and external to any PFO;
energizing the electrode;
delivering sufficient energy to the treatment location to tighten the septum; and sealing an opening in the septum.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein sealing an opening includes sealing a naturally occurring PFO.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising joining septal tissue flaps of the septum.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising cooling the electrode.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least reducing adhesion between the electrode and the septum with a fluid.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sensing a characteristic of the tissue.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrode is one of multiple electrodes and wherein energizing the electrode includes energizing multiple electrodes.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein energizing the electrode includes energizing a wire-shaped electrode.
9. A method for treating an interatrial septum, the method comprising:
moving an RF treatment device toward the septum from a right atrium of the heart;
positioning a distal end of the RF treatment device having an RF electrode adjacent a treatment location, the treatment location being at the septum and external to a PFO;
energizing the electrode; and
delivering sufficient energy to the treatment location to tighten the septum.
10. A method of treating a patent foramen ovale in a heart, the method comprising:
advancing a catheter device for treating the patent foramen ovale to a position in the heart which does not extend through the patent foramen ovale; and
applying energy to tissues adjacent the patent foramen ovale with the catheter device to substantially close the patent foramen ovale.