Abstract: An optical fiber device for forming channels within a wall of a patient's heart, and particularly the epicardium, which has an elongated optical fiber, a probe tip secured to the distal end of the optical fiber and an outer support tube secured to the proximal portion of the probe tip and a distal portion of the optical fiber proximal to the probe tip. A handle is described for a flexible optical fiber device which greatly facilitates delivery of the distal end of the optical fiber device to a desired location on the exterior of a patient's heart.

Abstract: A method for improving blood flow in the heart provides a catheter system with an outer catheter defining at least one lumen and an inner catheter defining at least one lumen with proximal and distal portions. An introducer is coupled to the distal portion of the inner catheter. The introducer has a tissue piercing distal end. A resistive heater element is positioned in the introducer. The catheter system is introduced into a patient's vasculature. The inner catheter is then introduced through the a lumen of the outer catheter to a selected heart site. The tissue piercing distal end of the introducer is then advanced into an interior of the heart at the selected heart site. Energy is delivered to the selected heart site from the resistive heater element to create a blood conducting pathway and/or stimulate angiogenesis.