Abstract: A heart catheter for endocardial laser irradiation of arrhythmogenic substrates is disclosed. The heart catheter comprises a catheter hose enclosing a flushing channel and an optical fiber, and a distal catheter tip. The catheter tip comprises: a main body surrounding a frontal passageway for laser light emitted from the optical fiber and for a flushing liquid provided via the flushing channel; a fiber mount inwardly extending from the main body, for centrally mounting the optical fiber; and connecting channels segmenting the fiber mount in a circumferential direction and connecting the flushing channel with the frontal passageway. Since the frontal passageway narrows, at least within a longitudinal section thereof, towards the distal end of the catheter tip, the flushing liquid can flow in an even and laminar manner through the passageway, thereby keeping blood out of the irradiation field and away from the optical fiber.

Abstract: A method for puncture of the inter-atrial septum of a heart is performed by means of a laser catheter assembly comprising at least one longitudinal sheath and an optical fiber connectable to a laser energy source. The components of the laser catheter assembly are perveneously introduced and advanced into the right atrium until the sheath is in intimate contact with the septal wall and laser light is applied via said optical fiber and emitted on the tissue located in front of the distal end of the fiber so as to create a small hole in said inter-atrial septum.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treatment of Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy (HOCM) in a human heart, wherein a laser catheter means is introduced into a patient's body and advanced into a heart cavity and directed towards a hypertrophied region of the heart. Ventricular outflow tract obstructions may be substantially reduced or even abolished when laser light is applied to the hypertrophied tissue so as to produce a coagulation necrosis inside the hypertrophied septal wall.