Catheter technique for creation of an aortico-pulmonary shunt

Claim 1

A method for creating an aortico-pulmonary shunt in the human body at the location of the chambers of the heart where the pulmonary artery and aorta form a common trunk, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing a catheter into the body, said catheter being coupled to equipment for monitoring blood and oxygen characteristics; (b) positioning the catheter within a blood vessel to said location outside the chambers of the heart where the pulmonary artery and aorta form a common trunk; (c) utilizing a laser to form a hole through said common trunk between the aorta and pulmonary artery at said location along a common trunk through the process of ablation; (d) utilizing the catheter to monitor a characteristic of the body; and (e) optionally utilizing the laser to increase the size of the hole until the monitored characteristic achieves a predetermined level.

Claim 2

A method for creating an aortico-pulmonary shunt in the human body at the location of the chambers of the heart where the pulmonary artery and aorta form a common trunk, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing a catheter into the body, said catheter being coupled to equipment for monitoring blood and oxygen characteristics; (b) positioning the catheter within a blood vessel to said location outside the chambers of the heart where the pulmonary artery and aorta form a common trunk; (c) utilizing a laser to form a hole through said common trunk between the aorta and pulmonary artery at said location along a common trunk through the process of ablation; (d) utilizing the catheter to monitor a characteristic of the body; and (e) optionally utilizing the laser to increase the size of the hole until the monitored characteristic achieves a predetermined level.

Claim 11

A method for creating an aortico-pulmonary shunt in the human body at a location outside of the chambers of the heart where the pulmonary artery and aorta form a common trunk without performing a surgical procedure at the situs of said shunt, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing a catheter into the body, said catheter being coupled to equipment for monitoring blood and oxygen characteristics; (b) utilizing ultrasonic imaging to position said catheter outside of the chambers of the heart at said location where the pulmonary artery and aorta form a common trunk; (c) utilizing a laser in conjunction with said catheter to remove tissue through the process of ablation to form a hole through said common trunk so that the aorta and pulmonary artery are in communication at said location along said common trunk; (d) monitoring the blood and oxygen characteristics; and (e) utilizing the laser to increase the size of the hole until the monitored characteristic achieves a predetermined level.

Claim 12

A method for creating an aortico-pulmonary shunt in the human body at a location outside of the chambers of the heart where the pulmonary artery and aorta form a common trunk without performing a surgical procedure at the situs of said shunt, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing a catheter into the body, said catheter being coupled to equipment for monitoring blood and oxygen characteristics; (b) utilizing ultrasonic imaging to position said catheter outside of the chambers of the heart at said location where the pulmonary artery and aorta form a common trunk; (c) utilizing a laser in conjunction with said catheter to remove tissue through the process of ablation to form a hole through said common trunk so that the aorta and pulmonary artery are in communication at said location along said common trunk; (d) monitoring the blood and oxygen characteristics; and (e) utilizing the laser to increase the size of the hole until the monitored characteristic achieves a predetermined level.

Claim 13

A method for creating an aortico-pulmonary shunt in the human body at a location outside of the chambers of the heart where the pulmonary artery and aorta form a common trunk without performing a surgical procedure at the situs of said shunt, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing a catheter into the body, said catheter being coupled to equipment for monitoring blood and oxygen characteristics; (b) utilizing ultrasonic imaging to position said catheter outside of the chambers of the heart at said location where the pulmonary artery and aorta form a common trunk; and (c) utilizing a laser in conjunction with said catheter to remove tissue through the process of ablation to form a hole through said common trunk so that the aorta and pulmonary artery are in communication at said location along said common trunk.

Claim 14

A method for creating an aortico-pulmonary shunt in the human body at a location outside of the chambers of the heart where the pulmonary artery and aorta form a common trunk without performing a surgical procedure at the situs of said shunt, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing a catheter into the body, said catheter being coupled to equipment for monitoring blood and oxygen characteristics; (b) utilizing ultrasonic imaging to position said catheter outside of the chambers of the heart at said location where the pulmonary artery and aorta form a common trunk; and (c) utilizing a laser in conjunction with said catheter to remove tissue through the process of ablation to form a hole through said common trunk so that the aorta and pulmonary artery are in communication at said location along said common trunk.