Ablation catheter having flexible tip with multiple flexible electrode segments
First Claim
1. A catheter apparatus comprising:
- an elongated catheter body having a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one fluid lumen extending longitudinally therein; and
a plurality of flexible electrode segments on a distal portion of the catheter body adjacent the distal end, the plurality of flexible electrode segments comprising at least one pair of neighboring flexible electrode segments spaced from each other longitudinally by a corresponding electrically nonconductive segment, wherein each flexible electrode segment of the plurality of flexible electrode segments is configured to produce an ablation zone when energy is supplied thereto, and wherein a length of the electrically nonconductive segment is sufficiently small such that the ablation zones of the at least one pair of neighboring flexible electrode segments overlap and form a continuous lesion;
wherein the corresponding electrically non-conductive segment is not as flexible as the neighboring flexible electrode segments; and
wherein said each flexible electrode segment comprises a sidewall provided with one or more elongated stiffness reductions extending through the sidewall, the one or more elongated stiffness reductions providing flexibility in the sidewall for bending movement relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter apparatus comprises an elongated catheter body having a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one fluid lumen extending longitudinally therein; and a plurality of flexible electrode segments on a distal portion of the catheter body adjacent the distal end, each pair of neighboring flexible electrode segments being spaced from each other longitudinally by a corresponding electrically nonconductive segment. Each flexible electrode segment comprises a sidewall provided with one or more elongated stiffness reductions extending through the sidewall, the one or more elongated stiffness reductions providing flexibility in the sidewall for bending movement relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter body. The electrically nonconductive segment is substantially smaller in length than each of the corresponding pair of neighboring flexible electrode segments.
115 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A catheter apparatus comprising:
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an elongated catheter body having a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one fluid lumen extending longitudinally therein; and a plurality of flexible electrode segments on a distal portion of the catheter body adjacent the distal end, the plurality of flexible electrode segments comprising at least one pair of neighboring flexible electrode segments spaced from each other longitudinally by a corresponding electrically nonconductive segment, wherein each flexible electrode segment of the plurality of flexible electrode segments is configured to produce an ablation zone when energy is supplied thereto, and wherein a length of the electrically nonconductive segment is sufficiently small such that the ablation zones of the at least one pair of neighboring flexible electrode segments overlap and form a continuous lesion; wherein the corresponding electrically non-conductive segment is not as flexible as the neighboring flexible electrode segments; and wherein said each flexible electrode segment comprises a sidewall provided with one or more elongated stiffness reductions extending through the sidewall, the one or more elongated stiffness reductions providing flexibility in the sidewall for bending movement relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A catheter apparatus comprising:
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an elongated catheter body having a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one fluid lumen extending longitudinally therein; and a plurality of flexible electrode segments on a distal portion of the catheter body adjacent the distal end, the plurality of flexible electrode segments comprising at least one pair of neighboring flexible electrode segments spaced from each other longitudinally by a corresponding electrically nonconductive segment, wherein each flexible electrode segment of the plurality of flexible electrode segments is configured to produce an ablation zone when energy is supplied thereto, and wherein a length of the electrically nonconductive segment is sufficiently small such that the ablation zones of the at least one pair of neighboring flexible electrode segments overlap and form a continuous lesion; wherein said each flexible electrode segment comprises a sidewall provided with one or more elongated stiffness reductions extending through the sidewall, the one or more elongated stiffness reductions providing flexibility in the sidewall for bending movement relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter body; and wherein the corresponding electrically nonconductive segment is not as flexible as the neighboring flexible electrode segments and is smaller in length than each of the corresponding pair of neighboring flexible electrode segments to provide substantially continuous flexibility across the flexible electrode segments and the corresponding electrically nonconductive segment. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A catheter apparatus comprising:
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an elongated catheter body having a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one fluid lumen extending longitudinally therein; and a plurality of flexible electrode segments on a distal portion of the catheter body adjacent the distal end, the plurality of flexible electrode segments comprising at least one pair of neighboring flexible electrode segments spaced from each other longitudinally by a corresponding electrically nonconductive segment, wherein each flexible electrode segment of the plurality of flexible electrode segments is configured to produce an ablation zone when energy is supplied thereto, and wherein a length of the electrically nonconductive segment is sufficiently small such that the ablation zones of the at least one pair of neighboring flexible electrode segments overlap and form a continuous lesion; wherein each said flexible electrode comprises a sidewall provided with one or more elongated stiffness reductions extending through the sidewall, the one or more elongated stiffness reductions providing flexibility in the sidewall for bending movement relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter body; wherein the corresponding electrically nonconductive segment is not as flexible as the neighboring flexible electrode segments; and wherein the electrically nonconductive segment is smaller in length than each of the corresponding pair of neighboring flexible electrode segments. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification