Apparatus and methods for assisted breathing by transvascular nerve stimulation

• US 10,293,164 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2017
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lungpacer Medical Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lungpacer Medical Inc.
• Inventors: Nash, John E., Evans, Douglas G., Thakkar, Viral
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ghand, Jennifer L
• Application Number:
  US15/606,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20180339156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3611 Respiration control stimulating respiratory organs A61N1/3601
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration

Abstract

A catheter may include an outer layer defining a plurality of apertures therethrough, and a body defining at least one longitudinal lumen therein. The body may be within the outer layer, and the apertures may be radially outward of the lumen. The catheter may also include a plurality of electrodes positioned in or on the catheter, with each electrode being electrically exposed through an aperture of the plurality of apertures. A ribbon cable may extend through the lumen and include a plurality of leads, with the plurality of leads being electrically connected to the plurality of electrodes. The plurality of leads and electrodes may be formed by the deposition of conductive inks or paints, or by the electrodeposition of copper or other conductive metals or materials.

Claims

1. A catheter, comprising:

an outer sheath defining a plurality of apertures therethrough;

a body defining at least one longitudinal lumen therein, wherein at least a portion of the body is radially inward of the outer sheath, and the apertures are radially outward of the lumen;

a plurality of electrodes positioned in or on the catheter, each electrode being electrically exposed through an aperture of the plurality of apertures; and

a ribbon cable extending through the lumen and including a plurality of leads, the plurality of leads being electrically connected to the plurality of electrodes,

wherein the plurality of apertures includes a plurality of proximal apertures and a plurality of distal apertures, the plurality of proximal apertures including two longitudinally extending rows of proximal apertures, and wherein the outer sheath includes (1) a first radiopaque feature at a distal portion of the sheath for confirming an orientation of the distal apertures and (2) a second radiopaque feature at a proximal portion of the sheath and positioned circumferentially opposite to a line extending between the two rows of proximal apertures.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the lumen is a groove exposed along the circumference of the body along at least a portion of the length of the body, the groove being at least partially covered by the outer sheath.

3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of leads are at least partially surrounded by a non-conducting material;

and wherein the ribbon cable is electrically connected to at least one electrode via a connection.

4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the ribbon cable includes a plurality of corrugations.

5. The catheter of claim 4, further including at least one filler positioned within at least a portion of the corrugations, and wherein the corrugations are positioned radially inward of at least one electrode.

6. The catheter of claim 1, further including:

at least one fluid lumen and a guide wire lumen, and a connector feed and an application specific integrated circuit radially inward or outward of the outer sheath, wherein the application specific integrated circuit connects the connector feed to the ribbon cable.

7. The catheter of claim 6, wherein the ribbon cable includes three branches of ribbon cable;

wherein the at least one longitudinal lumen includes three longitudinal lumens spaced circumferentially around an exterior of the body and radially inward of the outer sheath; and

wherein the three branches extend distally from the application specific integrated circuit, and each of the three branches connects to at least one electrode through a corresponding longitudinal lumen.

8. The catheter of claim 7, wherein one branch of the three branches includes at least one lead that electrically connects at least one proximal electrode and at least one other lead that electrically connects at least one distal electrode.

9. The catheter of claim 1,

wherein the plurality of distal apertures includes two longitudinally extending rows comprising a first row of distal apertures and a second row of distal apertures;

and

wherein one row of the two rows of proximal apertures is circumferentially aligned with the first row of distal apertures.

10. The catheter of claim 9, wherein the first radiopaque feature is for confirming an orientation of the first row of distal apertures relative to the second row of distal apertures.

11. The catheter of claim 9, wherein the other of the two rows of proximal apertures is circumferentially offset from both the first row of distal apertures and the second row of distal apertures.

12. The catheter of claim 10, further including a hub, wherein the hub includes an orientation feature and a port, wherein the port is configured to couple the hub to a proximal portion of the catheter in a particular orientation.

13. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the lumen and the ribbon cable are recessed from an outer surface of the body.

14. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the lumen is a first lumen, and the ribbon cable is a first ribbon cable, and wherein the catheter further comprises a second ribbon cable extending through a second lumen defined by the body.

15. The catheter of claim 14, wherein the first lumen and the second lumen are spaced circumferentially around an exterior of the body.

16. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the ribbon cable includes three or more leads arranged in a row.

17. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the ribbon cable has a single, flexible planar structure.

18. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the outer sheath has an inner surface exposed to the at least one longitudinal lumen and an outer surface comprising the outermost surface of at least a portion of the catheter.

19. A catheter, comprising:

an outer sheath defining a plurality of apertures therethrough;

a body defining at least one lumen recessed within an outer surface of the body, wherein the apertures are radially outward of the lumen, and wherein an inner surface of the sheath is exposed to the ribbon cable, and an outer surface of the sheath is the outermost surface of at least a portion of the catheter;

a plurality of electrodes positioned in or on the catheter, each electrode being electrically exposed through an aperture of the plurality of apertures; and

a ribbon cable extending through the lumen, in a single flexible planar configuration, and including at least three leads arranged in a row, the plurality of at least three leads being electrically connected to the plurality of electrodes.

20. The catheter of claim 19, wherein the lumen is a first lumen, and the ribbon cable is a first ribbon cable, and wherein the catheter further comprises a second ribbon cable extending through a second lumen defined by the body.

21. The catheter of claim 19, wherein the lumen is a groove exposed along the circumference of the body along at least a portion of the length of the body, the groove being at least partially covered by the outer sheath.

22. The catheter of claim 19, wherein the plurality of apertures includes a first row of proximal apertures, a second row of proximal apertures, a first row of distal apertures, and a second row of distal apertures, and wherein the first row of proximal apertures is circumferentially aligned with one of either the first row of distal apertures or the second row of distal apertures, and the second row of proximal apertures is circumferentially offset from both the first row of distal apertures and the second row of distal apertures.