Unique
Shape-changing cardiac catheter
This catheter is intended for use in special cardiac rhythm correction
procedures called "electrophysiology mapping". the intent of such
procedures is to acquire electrical signals from the inside of cardiac
chambers in order to determine the site of origin of rhythm problems. Once
the site is located, a procedure called "ablation" is applied to
cure the heart rate problem.
This catheter, unlike most others, allows the physician to gather data
from multiple locations in the heart chamber without re-positioning the
catheter, thereby saving time during the procedure.
The catheter contains a unique metal alloy called Nitinol, that changes
shape when heated. In use, the physician inserts the catheter into the
patient artery or vein as a linear device. Once it is in place in the
cardiac chamber, the catheter is activated, causing it to move into a
predetermined shape. A variety of shapes may be achieved by building the
catheter in a particular fashion.
The X-ray pictures below show the catheter in the left ventricle chamber
of an experimental animal.
  
This
concept was pioneered by company called Zynergy Cardiovascular in
cooperation with world-renowned electrophysiologists at the University of Alabama medical college
in
Birmingham, Alabama.
Zynergy
Cardiovascular,
formerly located in Edison, NJ is now wholly owned by Pickard Systems.
The
patent for this catheter is available for sale.
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