Abstract: A guiding catheter for delivery of intravascular devices to a patient's coronary sinus. The guiding catheter has a relatively stiff proximal section and a relatively flexible distal section, the latter being about 1 to about 6 inches in length and being configured to subselect a branch cardiac vein leading to the coronary sinus. The distal shaft section preferably has a proximal portion which has a flexibility greater than that of the proximal shaft section, and a distal portion which has a flexibility greater than that of the proximal portion of the distal shaft section, and at least one of the distal portion and the proximal portion being shaped with a bend to facilitate entry within the patient's coronary sinus. An inflatable balloon may be disposed on the distal shaft section. The guiding catheter is particularly suitable for delivering an intravascular device for sensing electrical activity into a cardiac vein to detect such activity from within the blood vessel.

Abstract: A guiding catheter for delivery of intravascular devices to a patient's coronary sinus. The guiding catheter has a relatively stiff proximal section and a relatively flexible distal section, the latter being about 1 to about 6 inches in length and being configured to subselect a branch cardiac vein leading to the coronary sinus. The guiding catheter is particularly suitable for delivering an intravascular device for sensing electrical activity into a cardiac vein to detect such activity from within the blood vessel.