Catheter electrode assembly

• US 10,052,152 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2015
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: St. Jude Medical (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tegg, Troy T., Kauphusman, James V.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROANE, AARON F
• Application Number:
  US14/692,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20150289932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 606 41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/73 Manipulators for magnetic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0166 Sensors, electrodes or the like for guiding the catheter to a target zone, e.g. image guided or magnetically guided
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0127 Magnetic means; Magnetic markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0158 with magnetic or electrical means, e.g. by using piezo materials, electroactive polymers, magnetic materials or by heating of shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A magnetically-guided catheter includes a tip positioning magnet in the distal electrode assembly configured to interact with externally applied magnetic fields for magnetically-guided movement. A magnetically-guided mapping catheter includes an electrically-conductive capsule in the form of a casing that includes a distal ablation surface and isolates the positioning magnet from bio-fluids to prevent corrosion. An open irrigation ablation catheter includes an isolated manifold that isolates the positioning magnet from contact with irrigation fluid to prevent corrosion.

Claims

1. An electrode assembly for an ablation catheter, comprising:

a body comprising thermally insulative and electrically non-conductive material having a longitudinal axis associated therewith and including a proximal shank portion having a first, radial diameter and a distal portion having a second, radial diameter that is larger than said first diameter of said proximal shank portion, said body further including an outside surface, said body comprising a plurality of longitudinally-extending grooves in said outside surface extending from said proximal shank portion to said distal portion of said body wherein said grooves extend radially inwardly from a radially-outermost portion of said outside surface of said body;

a distribution cavity configured to receive irrigation fluid and at least one irrigation passageway fluidly coupled to said distribution cavity for delivery of said irrigation fluid, said irrigation passageway including an exit irrigation port at said distal portion of said body; and

an unitary outer capsule surrounding said body, said outer capsule comprising electrically conductive material including a distal ablation surface.

2. The assembly of claim 1 further including a tubular portion in communication with said distribution cavity, said tubular portion including a proximal end portion configured to receive said fluid, said irrigation passageway being in fluid communication with said tubular portion.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said body includes a centrally-disposed, longitudinally-extending bore configured to receive said tubular portion.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said exit irrigation port associated with said irrigation passageway comprises one of a distal exit irrigation port, a side exit irrigation port and an angled exit irrigation port.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said irrigation passageway is a radially-extending irrigation passageway.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said irrigation passageway is an axially-extending irrigation passageway.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said unitary outer capsule includes (i) a cup-shaped tip cap configured to cover said distal portion of said body, and (ii) a cylindrical-shaped shank cover configured to surround said proximal shank portion, said tip cap including at least one aperture corresponding to said irrigation exit port.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said thermally insulative material comprises one of polyether ether ketone (“

PEEK”

), high-density polytheylene, polyimides, polyaryletherketones, polyetheretherketones, polyurethane, polypropylene, oriented polypropylene, polyethylene, crystallized polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyester, polyetherimide, acetyl, ceramics, and a combination of a plurality of the foregoing.

9. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of temperature sensors electrically connected by way of respective sensor connection wires routed through said ablation catheter to a proximal end portion thereof.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said outside surface of said plurality of grooves and an inside surface of said outer capsule form a plurality of passages from said proximal end of said proximal shank portion of said body and extending toward said distal portion of said body.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said grooves in said outside surface extend from a proximal end of said proximal shank portion to said distal portion of said body.

12. An electrode assembly for an electrode catheter, comprising:

a body comprising thermally insulative and electrically non-conductive material having a longitudinal axis associated therewith and including a proximal shank portion having a first, radial diameter and a distal portion having a second, radial diameter that is larger than said first diameter of said proximal shank portion, said body further including an outside surface, said body comprising a plurality of longitudinally-extending grooves in said outside surface extending from said proximal shank portion to said distal portion of said body, wherein said grooves extend radially inwardly relative to a radially-outermost portion of said outside surface; and

an unitary outer casing surrounding said body, said casing including a cup-shaped tip cap configured to cover said distal portion of said body and a cylindrical-shaped shank cover configured to surround said proximal shank portion of said body, said casing comprising electrically conductive material, said proximal shank cover being configured to receive a distal end portion of a catheter shaft.

13. The electrode assembly of claim 12 wherein said grooves in said outside surface extend from a proximal end of said proximal shank portion to said distal portion of said body.