Devices, systems, and methods useful to engage tissue using suction and to perform medical procedures during suctional engagement

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods useful to engage tissue using suction and to perform medical procedures during sectional engagement. The present disclosure includes disclosure of a tension apparatus, comprising an elongated portion; and a head portion at a distal end of the elongated portion, the head portion comprising one or more arms, whereby a suction lumen extending along the elongated portion and the one or more arms terminates at one or more suction openings at each of the one or more arms.

1 . A method for reinforcing a wall of a luminal organ, comprising the steps of:
 inserting at least part of a needle into a blood vessel of a patient;   advancing a distal end of the needle within the blood vessel to a location adjacent to a wall of a luminal organ of interest;   piercing the wall of the luminal organ using the needle so that a tip of the needle is present within the wall of the luminal organ;   injecting a substance through the needle and out of a distal portion of the needle so that at least some of the substance is present outside of the needle and inside of the wall of the luminal organ to reinforce the wall of the luminal organ; and   withdrawing the distal portion of the needle from the wall of the luminal organ.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of inserting is preceded by the steps of:
 inserting a guidewire into the blood vessel;   advancing a distal end of the guide wire within the blood vessel;   advancing at least part of an engagement catheter over the guidewire and into the blood vessel;   wherein the step of inserting is performed by inserting the at least part of the needle into the at least part of the engagement catheter which is then present within the blood vessel of the patient.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of injecting is performed to inject a substance selected from the group consisting of stem cells, a polymer, an elastomer, a drug/medicament, cells other than stem cells, and a solution. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of injecting is performed to inject a substance comprising stem cells. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of injecting is performed to inject a substance comprising a polymer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of injecting is performed to inject a substance comprising alginate. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of injecting is performed to inject a substance comprising a drug/medicament. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of injecting is performed to inject a substance comprising cells other than stem cells. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of advancing the at least part of the engagement catheter over the guidewire and into the blood vessel is performed so that a distal end of the engagement catheter contacts the wall of the luminal organ and further comprises the step of providing suction through a lumen of the engagement catheter so that the distal end of the engagement catheter suctionally engages the wall of the luminal organ. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of injecting is performed while the suction is being provided through the lumen of the engagement catheter. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of advancing the at least part of the engagement catheter over the guidewire and into the blood vessel is performed while a sheath is at least partially present around the engagement catheter. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the engagement catheter comprises a suction cup at a distal end of the engagement catheter, and wherein movement of the sheath relative to the engagement catheter allows the suction cup to be exposed outside of the sheath so that the suction cup can expand. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of advancing the at least part of the engagement catheter over the guidewire and into the blood vessel is performed so that the suction cup of the engagement catheter contacts the wall of the luminal organ and further comprises the step of providing suction through a lumen of the engagement catheter so that the suction cup of the engagement catheter suctionally engages the wall of the luminal organ. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of piercing the wall of the luminal organ is performed to pierce a wall of a myocardium, and wherein the step of injecting the substance through the needle and out of the distal portion of the needle is performed to inject the at least some of the substance into the wall of the myocardium. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the needle has at least a first distal aperture and at least a second distal aperture defined within the needle at the distal portion along a relative sidewall of the needle, and wherein the step of injecting is performed to inject the at least some the substance through the needle and out of the first distal aperture and the second distal aperture. 
     
     
         16 . A method for reinforcing a wall of a luminal organ, comprising the steps of:
 inserting at least part of a system into a blood vessel of a patient, the system comprising a needle positioned within a lumen of an engagement catheter having a suction cup at its distal end;   advancing the at least part of the engagement catheter within the blood vessel so that the suction cup of the engagement catheter contacts a wall of a myocardium;   providing suction through a lumen of the engagement catheter so that the suction cup of the engagement catheter suctionally engages the wall of the myocardium;   piercing the wall of the myocardium, while under suction through the lumen of the engagement catheter, using the needle so that a tip of the needle is present within the wall of the myocardium;   injecting a first substance through the needle and out of a distal portion of the needle so that at least some of the first substance is present outside of the needle and inside of the wall of the myocardium to reinforce the wall of the myocardium to treat the patient.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of injecting is performed to inject a first substance selected from the group consisting of stem cells, a polymer, an elastomer, a drug/medicament, cells other than stem cells, and a solution. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of injecting is performed to inject alginate into the wall of the myocardium. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises the step of:
 injecting a second substance through the needle and out of a distal portion of the needle so that at least some of the first substance is present outside of the needle and inside of the wall of the myocardium.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the step of injecting the second substance is performed to inject saline into the wall of the myocardium.