Steerable diagnostic catheters
First Claim
1. A steerable diagnostic catheter comprising:
- a catheter body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said distal end portion including a probe assembly formed by a deformable length of multi-lumened tubing having a first end and a second end, said first end being affixed to said proximal end portion of said catheter body, an end cap affixed to said second end, and a plurality of electrodes distributed along the length of said tubing, said electrodes being formed by metal rings circumscribing said tubing and disposed in spaced apart relationship along the length thereof;
a handle affixed to said proximal end portion, and including a steering actuator;
a plurality of signal wires extending through said handle, said proximal end portion and the lumens of said tubing, a distal end portion of each said signal wire being deformed and extending through an opening in the wall of said tubing, said deformed portion being ohmically connected to one of said rings by mechanical engagement thereto;
at least one steering wire having a first end affixed to said steering actuator and extending therefrom through said proximal end portion and a lumen of said tubing, said steering wire being affixed to said first end of said tubing;
whereby manipulation of said steering actuator causes said probe assembly to be deformed thereby enabling said catheter to be steered.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A diagnostic catheter with a steering device to direct the distal end of the catheter while it is inserted in a vessel. The catheter may include either a bi-directional steering mechanism, or a unidirectional steering mechanism. Pre-formed catheters with no steering means are also provided. The catheter bodies include a plurality of ring electrodes used for sensing the intracardial electrogram signal during operation of the catheter. The ring electrodes are placed in ohmic contact with their corresponding signal wires by a solderless connection. In addition, the catheter may be embodied as a basket catheter including a plurality of splines. After the catheter is inserted into the vessel or organ to be examined (typically the heart), the splines may be expanded from an at-rest position to form the basket. A central retractable and steerable member is included to provide the expansion force. The expansion force can also be provided by moving the proximal portion of the catheter relative to the central member. Each of the splines forming the basket includes a length of spring wire disposed therein to provide conformal forces causing the splines to conform to the surfaces being inspected.
-
Citations
34 Claims
-
1. A steerable diagnostic catheter comprising:
-
a catheter body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said distal end portion including a probe assembly formed by a deformable length of multi-lumened tubing having a first end and a second end, said first end being affixed to said proximal end portion of said catheter body, an end cap affixed to said second end, and a plurality of electrodes distributed along the length of said tubing, said electrodes being formed by metal rings circumscribing said tubing and disposed in spaced apart relationship along the length thereof;
a handle affixed to said proximal end portion, and including a steering actuator;
a plurality of signal wires extending through said handle, said proximal end portion and the lumens of said tubing, a distal end portion of each said signal wire being deformed and extending through an opening in the wall of said tubing, said deformed portion being ohmically connected to one of said rings by mechanical engagement thereto;
at least one steering wire having a first end affixed to said steering actuator and extending therefrom through said proximal end portion and a lumen of said tubing, said steering wire being affixed to said first end of said tubing;
whereby manipulation of said steering actuator causes said probe assembly to be deformed thereby enabling said catheter to be steered. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A steerable diagnostic catheter comprising:
-
an elongated, tubular central member having a distal end and a proximal end, said central member having a deformable end portion proximate said distal end;
a catheter body having a proximal portion and a distal portion enveloping said central member, said distal portion including a probe assembly formed by a plurality of deformable lengths of multi-lumened tubing forming splines disposed in parallel and surrounding relationship to the deformable end portion of said central member, each said length of multi-lumened tubing having a first end affixed to the distal end of said central member by an end cap, and a second end affixed to the distal end of said proximal portion of said catheter body, and a plurality of electrodes distributed along the length of each spline, said electrodes being formed by circumscribing metal rings;
a handle affixed to said proximal portion, and including a steering actuator and a slider means for enabling relative axial movement between said proximal portion and said central member;
a plurality of signal wires extending through said handle, said proximal portion and the lumens of said splines, a distal end portion of each said signal wire being deformed and extending through an opening in the outer wall of its corresponding tubing, said deformed portion being ohmically connected to one of said rings by mechanical engagement thereto;
at least one steering wire having a first end affixed to said steering actuator and extending therefrom through said central member and being affixed to the distal end;
whereby movement of said slider means causes deployment of said lengths of multi-lumened tubing away from central member, and whereby manipulation of said steering actuator causes deformation of said deformable end portion and said probe assembly thereby enabling said catheter to be steered. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
-
34. A steerable diagnostic catheter comprising:
-
a catheter body having a proximal portion and a distal portion, said distal portion including a probe assembly formed by a deformable length of multi-lumened tubing having a first end and a second end, said first end being affixed to said proximal portion of said catheter body, said deformable length of multi-lumened tubing including a coaxially disposed first lumen of generally rectangular transverse cross section extending along the length of said probe assembly, said transverse cross section having a first dimension substantially longer than a second dimension orthogonal to said first dimension, and second and third lumens disposed on opposite sides of said first lumen and lying in a plane orthogonal to said first dimension, and a plurality of electrodes distributed in spaced apart relationship along the length said probe assembly, said electrodes being formed by metal rings circumscribing said length of multi-lumened tubing;
a handle affixed to said proximal portion, and including a steering actuator pivotably mounted thereto;
a plurality of signal wires extending through said handle, said proximal portion and other lumens of said length of multi-lumened tubing, a distal end portion of each said signal wire being deformed and extending outwardly through an opening in the wall of said tubing where it is ohmically connected to one of said rings by mechanical engagement therewith;
a single length of steering wire having a first end connected to said steering actuator on one side of its pivotal mount, said steering wire extending through said proximal portion said second lumen to engage said second end of said length of multi-lumened tubing, then extending back through said third lumen of said length of multi-lumened tubing, and back through said proximal portion to said handle, the second end of said steering wire being attached to said actuator on an opposite side of its pivotal mount, whereby movement of said actuator in one direction causes deflection of said probe assembly in one direction, and movement of said actuator in an opposite direction causes deflection of said probe assembly in a second direction, said first and second directions lying in said orthogonal plane.
-
Specification