Abstract: A system and method of marking percutaneous myocardial revascularization channels in a human heart and introducing into the channels a therapeutic or diagnostic agent by inserting a catheter system into the left ventricle of a heart, applying tissue ablative energy through the catheter to create a channel into the heart wall, introducing an imaging medium to the heart wall proximate the channel for marking the position of that channel for imaging, and introducing in or proximate the channel a therapeutic or diagnostic agent.

Abstract: An energy delivery system for performing myocardial revascularization on a heart of a patient including an energy pulse source that produces energy pulses sufficient to create channels in a wall of a heart, and an energy pulse delivery system connected to receive the energy pulses and deliver the energy pulses to desired locations for channels in the wall of the heart. Also disclosed are a sensor that senses a cyclical event related to the contraction and expansion of the beating heart; a controller responsive to the sensor for automatically firing the energy pulse system to provide energy to strike the beating heart only within a safe time period during a heart beat cycle; RF electrical or laser energy pulses; a temperature sensor to avoid damage caused by overheating adjacent heart tissue; a thermal conductivity cooling system; and programmably adjusting duty cycle, duration and amplitude of energy pulses.

Abstract: An energy delivery system for performing myocardial revascularization on a heart of a patient including an energy pulse source that produces energy pulses sufficient to create channels in a wall of a heart, and an energy pulse delivery system connected to receive the energy pulses and deliver the energy pulses to desired locations for channels in the wall of the heart. Also disclosed are a sensor that senses a cyclical event related to the contraction and expansion of the beating heart; a controller responsive to the sensor for automatically firing the energy pulse system to provide energy to strike the beating heart only within a safe time period during a heart beat cycle; RF electrical or laser energy pulses; a temperature sensor to avoid damage caused by overheating adjacent heart tissue; a thermal conductivity cooling system; and programmably adjusting duty cycle, duration and amplitude of energy pulses.

Abstract: A percutaneous mapping system includes a mapping wire, for percutaneous insertion into an internal body cavity, having a plurality of spaced imaging markers; and an insertion device for deploying the mapping wire in a spiral configuration inside the cavity with the markers distributed about the inner wall of the cavity.

Abstract: A system and method of marking percutaneous transmyocardial revascularization channels in a human heart includes inserting a catheter system into the left ventricle of a heart, applying tissue ablative energy through the catheter to create a channel into the heart wall, and introducing an imaging medium to the heart wall proximate the channel for marking the position of that channel for imaging.

Abstract: A sensor system for detecting concealed blood vessels including a handpiece having a passage for transmitting a laser beam and a detector housing at the distal end of the handpiece, the housing including a common electrode, a plurality of segmented electrodes spaced from the common electrode and between the common electrode and the segmented electrodes a plurality of four sensitive elements having an electrical characteristic which varies with the force applied; and an indicator device responsive to variations in the electrical characteristic for representing the presence of a concealed vessel.

Abstract: A gauging system for monitoring channel depth in percutaneous endocardial revascularization surgery includes a catheter for percutaneous insertion into a heart chamber, including a source of tissue ablative energy for ablating a part of the wall of the heart chamber where a channel is to be created; a sensor device proximate the distal end of the catheter for sensing a boundary of the heart wall proximate the channel; and a detection circuit, responsive to the sensor device, for determining the position of the terminus of the channel in the heart chamber; alternatively, a mechanical stop extending radially beyond the distal tip may be used for physically limiting penetration of the catheter tip into the drilled channels.

Abstract: A catheter navigation apparatus includes a catheter system for percutaneous insertion into an internal organ cavity. The catheter system includes a treatment catheter and a navigation catheter; the navigation catheter includes a deployable framework at its distal end; the treatment catheter includes at least one conduit extending from its proximal to its distal end; the conduit having its distal end engaged with the framework; the navigation catheter includes a flexible link interconnecting the framework with a control mechanism at the proximal end of the navigation catheter for driving the link to deploy and retract the framework to guide the distal tip of the treatment catheter to target one or more selected positions on the inner wall of the organ cavity.

Abstract: An ultrasonic detection system for transmyocardial revascularization (TMR) is disclosed using a detector in the TMR handpiece for detecting concealed coronary blood vessels as well as verifying completion of transmural TMR channels by displaying the detector's output on a video monitor or analyzing the detector output electronically to identify those conditions.