Device and Method for Inserting a Cardiac Catheter

Abstract

A device and method for implanting a catheter between the left atrium and/or left ventricle of the heart from a prepectoral region through a less invasive and lower-risk approach is provided that allows the implantation of the catheter in the left cardiac chambers through a femoral approach atrial transseptal puncture, and the removal of the catheter proximal end by a retrograde venous route. The device includes a transseptal sheath for slidably carrying the catheter, an elongate pulling element attached to a proximal end of the catheter, a runner slidable within the transseptal sheath and operable for biasing against the proximal end of the cardiac catheter, and a loop catheter having a loop formed at one end thereof, wherein the loop is dimensioned for receiving the transseptal sheath and for receiving the elongate pulling element therein when the loop and the elongate pulling element are separated from the transseptal sheath.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for implanting a catheter into the heart, the method comprising:
 providing a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;   extending the catheter into an inferior vena cava;   pushing the proximal end of the catheter for placing the distal end thereof into a right atrium of the heart;   continuing to push the proximal end of the catheter for passing the distal end through a puncture in the interatrial septum of the heart;   positioning the distal end of the catheter in the left atrium; and   pulling the proximal end of the catheter into the superior vena cava.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the pulling step further comprises pulling the proximal end of the catheter into a tributary of the superior vena cava. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the pulling into a tributary comprises pulling into at least one of a subclavian, axilar, cephalic and jugular vein. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the pulling step further comprises pulling the proximal end of the catheter exterior to a body having the superior vena cava therein. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising continuing to push the proximal end of the catheter; and positioning the distal end of the catheter into the left ventricle. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of extending the catheter into an inferior vena cava comprises pushing the catheter through a puncture in the femoral vein. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein pulling the proximal end of the catheter into the superior vena cava comprises the step of accessing the proximal end of the catheter through a puncture in a subclavian vein. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein accessing the proximal end of the catheter comprises extending a loop catheter into the subclavian vein and after passing along the superior vena cava, the loop catheter is inserted in the right atrium of the heart and passed into the inferior vena cava, wherein a loop carried at an end of the loop catheter is moved downward into the inferior vena cava for capturing the proximal end of the catheter. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the proximal end of the catheter comprises a connector, the connector is secured within a fastener, and a pulling element is attached to the fastener, and wherein the capturing comprises capturing the pulling element and pulling the pulling element so as to pull the proximal end of the catheter. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising puncturing the interatrial septum by a femoral atrial transseptal puncturing procedure. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising placing the proximal end of the catheter outside a vein. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising positioning the proximal end of the catheter within a prepectoral region of a body. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of providing an implantable device proximate the proximal end of the catheter. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of extending an elongate mandrel along the catheter for keeping the catheter generally rigid along a longitudinal axis thereof for allowing the catheter longitudinally move while avoiding kinking.