Atrial appendage remodeling device and method

Abstract

The invention describes a method of treating a patient's left atrial appendage through the pericardial space. The process takes place through the pericardial space from an access point outside the pericardium or pericardial space.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for treating the atria appendage comprising: 
 entering the chest cavity with a surgical instrument creating a surgical opening;    introducing a pericardial access device through said opening;    entering the pericardial space between the pericardium and the heart;    navigating an electrosurgery device to the atrial appendage;    activating the electrosurgical device to remodel the atrial appendage.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said navigating step is carried out under visual guidance through the endoscopic system.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said electrosurgical device is a unipolar electrocautery scissors.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said electrocautery device is a bipolar electrocautery scissors.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said electrocautery device is a snare loop.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said electrocautery device includes at least one saline electrode.  
     
     
         7 . The method of shrinking the atrial appendage comprising the steps: 
 entering the chest cavity with a surgical instrument creating a surgical opening;    introducing a pericardial access device through said opening of the type having an extended catheter body with an aspiration lumen for connecting to the pericardium;    entering the pericardial space between the pericardium and the heart;    navigating an electrosurgery device of the type having at east one saline electrode, to the atrial appendage;    activating the electrosurgical device while irrigating the artrial appendage with saline from the electrosurgery device, to remodel the atrial appendage.    
     
     
         9 . A method for treating the atrial appendage comprising: 
 entering the chest cavity with a surgical instrument creating a surgical opening;    introducing a pericardial access device through said opening;    entering the pericardial space between the pericardium and the heart;    navigating an endoscopic stapling device to the atrial appendage;    activating the stapling device to remodel the atrial appendage by closing off a portion of said atrial appendage.    
     
     
         10 . An electrosurgery device for cutting tissue comprising: 
 an elongate tubular body;    a fixed handle attached to said tubular body;    a sliding handle adapted to slide along said tubular body and located proximate said fixed handle;    a snare having a first end connected to said tubular body and a second end attached to said movable handle, whereby motion of said movable handle manipulates the snare.