A robotic catheter system includes a controller with a master input device. An instrument driver is in communication with the controller and has a guide instrument interface including a plurality of guide instrument drive elements responsive to control signals generated, at least in part, by the master input device. An elongate guide instrument has a base, distal end, and a working lumen, wherein the guide instrument base is operatively coupled to the guide instrument interface. The guide instrument includes a plurality of guide instrument control elements operatively coupled to respective guide drive elements and secured to the distal end of the guide instrument. The guide instrument control elements are axially moveable relative to the guide instrument such that movement of the guide instrument distal end may be controlled by the master input device.

The inventions described in this patent application include i) a torqueable introducer sheath which is useable in conjunction with a transvascular passageway forming catheter to effect precise rotational control of the catheter; ii) an anchorable guide catheter which is useable in conjunction with an intravascular imaging catheter and a transvascular passageway-forming catheter to effect precise positioning and aiming of the passageway-forming catheter; iii) a passageway forming catheter having a torqueable proximal portion to facilitate precise rotational positioning of the distal portion of the catheter; iv) a deflectable-tipped passageway forming catheter, v) various markers and other apparatus useable in conjunction with any of the passageway-forming catheters to facilitate precise positioning and aiming of the catheter, and vi) an apparatus which may be formed within a catheter to prevent a member, apparatus of flow of material from being inadvertently advanced through a lumen of the catheter.

Shapeable guide catheters and methods for manufacturing and using such shapeable guide catheters. In one embodiment, the shapeable guide catheter comprises a tubular member having a shapeable region, a malleable shaping member attached to the shapeable region such that, when the shape of the shapeable region is changed from a first shape to a second shape, the shaping member will plastically deform to thereafter substantially hold the shapeable region in the second shape, a tubular outer jacket disposed about the outer surface of the tubular member and a tubular inner jacket disposed within the lumen of the tubular member. The shapeable region of the guide catheter may be manually formed into a desired shape before insertion of the guide catheter into the body. In some embodiments, the guide catheter is sized to be inserted through a nostril of a human patient and used to guide the transnasal insertion of another device (e.g., a guidewire, catheter, etc.) to a desired location within the nose, throat, ear or cranium of the subject.

An ablation apparatus including a maneuvering mechanism, a conductive element attached to the apparatus, a sensor attached to the apparatus and an output device in communication with the sensor is provided. The sensor senses vibration during the ablation procedure and sends a signal to the output device to reduce power to the conductive element.

A method for reducing left ventricular volume, which comprises identifying infracted tissue during open chest surgery; reducing left ventricle volume while preserving the ventricular apex; and realigning the ventricular apex, such that the realigning step comprises closing the lower or apical portion of said ventricle to achieve appropriate functional contractile geometry of said ventricle in a dyskinetic ventricle of a heart.

A system and method for regenerating damaged or necrosed tissue. Negative or vacuum pressure is applied to a surface of the damaged tissue to stimulate the revascularization of the area and/or increased blood flow to the area, which encourages the regeneration of the damaged tissue. A negative pressure device is provided that is capable of providing a sequenced vacuum treatment regimen to damaged tissue.

A method of placing an electrical lead of an implantable cardiac device inside a heart of a patient. The method includes securing a tool to an atrial appendage of the heart to hold onto the atrial appendage, piercing the atrial appendage, and creating an aperture in the atrial appendage while holding the atrial appendage with the tool. The method also includes moving a distal end of the electrical lead into the heart through the aperture in the atrial appendage and into a ventricle of the heart. Furthermore, the method includes coupling the distal end of the electrical lead to cardiac tissue in the ventricle and delivering an electrical signal to the cardiac tissue in the ventricle of the heart to maintain a predetermined heartbeat of the heart.

A robotic catheter system includes a controller with a master input device. An instrument driver is in communication with the controller and has a guide instrument interface including a plurality of guide instrument drive elements responsive to control signals generated, at least in part, by the master input device. An elongate guide instrument has a base, distal end, and a working lumen, wherein the guide instrument base is operatively coupled to the guide instrument interface. The guide instrument includes a plurality of guide instrument control elements operatively coupled to respective guide drive elements and secured to the distal end of the guide instrument. The guide instrument control elements are axially moveable relative to the guide instrument such that movement of the guide instrument distal end may be controlled by the master input device.

A transseptal guidewire and methods for perforating the intra-atrial septum of the heart are disclosed. The transseptal guidewire has an elongated body, an end section biased in a curved configuration to define a proximal curve, and a distal section biased in a curved configuration to define a distal curve, the distal curve being oriented in a direction generally opposite that of the proximal curve.

Several exemplary transection devices are disclosed, comprising an elongated member having a distal end and a proximal end along a longitudinal axis, the proximal end coupled to an end of a catheter, a plurality of extensions operably coupled to the distal end of the elongated member, a sheath having a distal end encircling the elongated member in a longitudinally slidable relation, where in a first sliding position, the elongated member and the plurality of extensions are encircled by the sheath; and a second sliding position, the plurality of extensions projects from the distal end of the sheath. Such devices are useful for deployment in the pericardial cavity and making incisions through the pericardial membrane or parietal layer of the pericardium. These examples share the characteristic that they are deployed intravascularly through the RA, RAA, IVC, SVC, CS, or via a subxiphoid approach.