Catheter and cable inspection system and method

• US 20050182466A1
• Filed: 10/12/2004
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alliance Medical Limited (Life Healthcare Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alliance Medical Limited (Life Healthcare Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mahajan, Atul
• Application Number:
  US10/963,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20050182466A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0276 Determining malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/276 Protection against electrode failure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/283 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/08 Arrangements or circuits for monitoring, protecting, controlling or indicating for external stimulators A61N1/3603; for implantable neurostimulators A61N1/36128; for heart stimulators A61N1/37; for defibrillators A61N1/3925
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/083 Monitoring integrity of contacts, e.g. by impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/54 Testing for continuity
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/58 Testing of lines, cables or conductors testing of electric windings G01R31/72

Abstract

The invention includes an automated inspection system, which automates the evaluation of electrical integrity to determine whether electrode catheters and/or cables are functioning properly. An exemplary embodiment of the system is to provide a system and method for automating the testing of various electrical parameters of several electrode catheters and/or cables so that its performance can be evaluated. The automated inspection system also automates, for example, catheter/cable identification, analysis to known specifications, and report printing and recording of the data analyses.

Claims

1. A system for testing the functional reliability of electrophysiology catheters and cables comprising:

an electrical resistance measuring device;

a first support structure, having electrical contact elements for receiving a connective end of one or more catheters, connected to the electrical resistance measuring device; and

a second support structure for receiving an electrode end of one or more catheters connected to the electrical resistance measuring device.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising switching hardware connected to the second support structure and the electrical resistance measuring device.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the switching hardware comprises a multiplexer.

4. The system of claim 2 further comprising a computer for controlling the switching hardware.

5. The system of claim 2 further comprising a display for viewing test data or test reports.

6. A method for automatically testing the functional reliability of one or more electrophysiology catheters and cables comprising the steps of:

connecting a connective end of one or more catheters to a first support structure having electrical contact elements for receiving the connective end of one or more catheters;

connecting an electrode end of one or more catheters to a second support structure;

connecting the first and second support structures to an electrical resistance measuring device;

providing a switching hardware between the second support structure and the electrical resistance measuring device; and

programming the electrical resistance measuring device and the switching hardware to sequentially connect each electrode to measure at least one of electrode circuit continuity and insulation between electrodes.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of recording the measurements obtained from programming the electrical resistance measuring device and the switching hardware.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of displaying the recorded measurements on at least one of a monitor and a written report.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of providing a switching hardware comprises the step of providing a multiplexer between the second support structure and the electrical resistance measuring device.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of connecting the first and second support structures to an electrical resistance measuring device comprises the step of connecting the first support structure to a first probe embodying part of the electrical resistance measuring device and connecting the second support structure to a second probe embodying part of the electrical resistance measuring device.