US 12,453,580 B2
Access catheter
Nasser Rafiee, Andover, MA (US); Stuart Macdonald, Andover, MA (US); and Koosha Rafiee, Andover, MA (US)
Assigned to Transmural Systems LLC, Andover, MA (US)
Filed by Transmural Systems LLC, Andover, MA (US)
Filed on Mar. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/709,869.
Application 17/709,869 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/US2022/018585, filed on Mar. 2, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/155,707, filed on Mar. 2, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0330975 A1, Oct. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/34 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61M 25/09 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/3423 (2013.01) [A61B 2017/00292 (2013.01); A61B 2017/3486 (2013.01); A61M 25/09 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A catheter to provide lateral access to a target location inside a tissue structure, comprising:
an outer elongate body having a respective proximal end, a respective distal end and defining a longitudinal axis of the catheter, the outer elongate body defining an interior channel along its length, the interior channel having a transverse width, the outer elongate body defining a first lateral opening therethrough proximate the distal end thereof, wherein the interior channel extends distally at least as far as a portion of the first lateral opening;
an intermediate elongate body having a respective proximal end, a respective distal end and an interior channel along its length, the intermediate elongate body defining a second lateral opening therethrough proximate the distal end thereof, wherein the interior channel of the outer elongate body is configured to accommodate a distal region of the intermediate elongate body therein to permit the second lateral opening to be aligned with the first lateral opening, the second lateral opening being coincident with a distal end of the interior channel of the intermediate elongate body, the intermediate elongate body defining an exterior diameter along its length that is more than half of the diameter of the interior channel of the outer elongate body to permit rotation of the intermediate elongate body within the outer elongate body about the longitudinal axis;
a transverse accessor body having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a passageway along at least a portion of a length of the transverse accessor body, the passageway having a proximal opening and a distal opening, wherein the transverse accessor body is slidably disposed within the channel of the intermediate elongate body; and further wherein a distal end region of the transverse accessor body including the distal opening is imparted with shape memory that causes the distal end region of the transverse accessor body to bend away from the outer elongate body and intermediate elongate body after the distal end of the transverse accessor body is advanced through the first lateral opening and the second lateral opening; and
an electrosurgical guidewire slidably disposed within the passageway of the transverse accessor body, wherein a distal end of the guidewire is configured to be advanced out of the distal opening of the passageway of the transverse accessor body along a trajectory that is perpendicular or oblique with respect to the longitudinal axis of the catheter to permit the electrosurgical guidewire to be introduced into myocardial tissue adjacent the catheter.