New endomyocardial biopsy catheter for the left ventricle.

A new biopsy catheter specifically made for left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy is described. The biopsy catheter is equipped with a device enabling one to bend the tip at will by rotating a knob on the operating handle. The rate of success in obtaining left ventricular biopsy specimens was very high (100%) and there were no serious complications in a group of 10 dogs and in five patients with cardiomyopathy.