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Abstract

A method for direct myocardial revascularization by providing a catheter with a catheter body having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen extending therethrough, a control handle at the proximal end of the catheter body, and a tip section having proximal and distal ends. The tip section is fixedly attached to the distal end of the catheter body. The catheter also comprises an electromagnetic sensor in the distal portion tip section for producing electrical signals indicative of the location of the electromagnetic sensor. The catheter further comprises at least one electrode carried by the tip section for mapping electrical activity of the heart tissue and at least one electrode lead wire electrically connected to the electrode. An optic fiber is provided within the catheter with its distal end being substantially flush with the distal end of the tip section. Manipulation of the control handle results in deflection of the tip section. The method further comprises inserting the catheter through a blood vessel into a heart chamber, monitoring the location of the distal end of the catheter tip section within the heart on a visual display, contacting the heart wall with at least one electrode to measure the electrical activity of the heart at the points of contact to locate ischemic areas of the heart tissue, deflecting the tip section so that the distal ends of the tip section and optic fiber are generally normal to an ischemic area of heart tissue, and transmitting sufficient laser energy through the optic fiber to create a channel in the heart tissue.

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First Claim