US 7,320,695 B2
Safe septal needle and method for its use
Sean M. Carroll, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (US)
Assigned to Biosense Webster, Inc., Diamond Bar, Calif. (US)
Filed on Dec. 31, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/750,097.
Prior Publication US 2005/0149062 A1, Jul. 07, 2005
Int. Cl. A61B 17/34 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 606—185 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for puncturing a proximal membrane without puncturing a distal membrane comprising:
distally advancing an elongated body through a first elongated tubular member to a first position where a distal end of the elongated body is in a first configuration outside a distal end of the first elongated tubular member, the elongated body having a distal tip that is sufficiently rigid and sharp to puncture the proximal membrane;
puncturing the proximal membrane with the distal tip of the elongated body; and
advancing the elongated body distally through the punctured proximal membrane whereby the distal tip of the elongated body has shape memory and automatically moves into a second configuration having a blunt distal surface facing the distal membrane.