ELECTRICALLY ISOLATED CATHETER WITH WIRELESS SENSORS

• US 20100042010A1
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Tombeur, Antoon Marie Henrie, Dekker, Ronald, Michielsen, Theodorus Martinus
• Granted Patent: US 8,708,922 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/523
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/027 using catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/03 Detecting, measuring or recording fluid pressure within the body other than blood pressure, e.g. cerebral pressure; Measuring pressure in body tissues or organs A61B5/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/283 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A local power-delivery/data-reception unit is installed within an insertion end of a sealed catheter. The local power-delivery/data-reception unit wirelessly powers a separately sealed sensor that is attached to the insertion end and configured for wirelessly sending a data signal to the local power-delivery/data-reception unit. The catheter may further feature a remote power-delivery/data-reception unit disposed within the handle and configured for wirelessly communicating with the local power-delivery/data-reception unit and a controller for controlling the sensor.

Claims

1. A catheter, comprising:

a sealed catheter body including a handle and an insertion end for inserting into a patient, and

a sealed sensor adjoined to said insertion end, the sensor and catheter body being sealed from each other, and

a local power-delivery/data-reception unit incorporated at the insertion end and configured for wirelessly emitting a signal that powers the sensor, said sensor being configured for wirelessly sending a data signal to the local power-delivery/data-reception unit.

2. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising an integrated circuit incorporating the sensor such that the sealing seals the integrated circuit, the integrated circuit being flexible.

3. The catheter of claim 2, wherein said end includes an end of an electrode, the integrated circuit being rolled around the electrode end.

4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said unit is electrically insulated from the sealed sensor.

5. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising, for said returning by the sensor, a magnetic loop antenna having an inner coil and an outer coil, each coil having two loops in respective parallel planes, the inner loop being nested within the outer loop.

6. The catheter of claim 5, wherein the inner and outer coils are electrically isolated from each other and disposed to communicate energy with one another by mutual inductance.

7. The catheter of claim 5, wherein said unit comprises an antenna formed into a single coil, said coil having a single loop, said single loop residing in a single plane.

8. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising one cable disposed longitudinally within the catheter body to extend between said unit and a controller for controlling the sensor, said cable being a coaxial cable.

9. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising a remote power-delivery/data-reception unit disposed within the handle and configured for wirelessly communicating with the local power-delivery/data-reception unit and a controller for controlling the sensor.

10. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising an integrated circuit incorporating the sensor and incorporating an electro-static antenna, said unit also incorporating an electro-static antenna, for communicating wirelessly with the electro-static antenna in the integrated circuit.

11. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the adjoining fixes so that the sealed sensor remains fixed to said end during said inserting and during withdrawal of the catheter from the patient.

12. A method for assembling a catheter, comprising:

providing a catheter body with a handle, and an insertion end for inserting into a patient;

configuring a local power-delivery/data-reception unit to be incorporated within said end for wirelessly emitting a signal that powers a sensor to be adjoined to said end;

configuring the sensor for wirelessly sending, to the local power-delivery/data reception unit, a data signal;

disposing the local power-delivery/data reception unit within said end;

sealing the sensor and the catheter body so that they are sealed from each other; and

adjoining the sealed sensor to said end.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said configuring of the sensor comprises embodying the sensor in an integrated circuit such that the sealing seals the integrated circuit, said adjoining comprising flexing the integrated circuit.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said providing provides, as part of said end, an end of an electrode, said flexing comprising rolling the integrated circuit around the electrode end.

15. The method of claim 12, comprising electrically isolating said unit from the sensor.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said configuring of the sensor comprises providing a magnetic loop antenna having an inner coil and an outer coil, each coil having two loops in respective parallel planes, the inner loop being nested within the outer loop, wherein said providing of the magnetic loop antenna comprises configuring the inner and outer coils to be electrically isolated from each other and disposed to communicate energy with one another by mutual inductance.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising disposing a remote power-delivery/data-reception unit within the handle for wirelessly communicating with the local power-delivery/data-reception unit.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein said adjoining comprises fixing so that the sealed sensor remains fixed to said end during said inserting and during withdrawal of the catheter from the patient.

19. A sealed sensor integrated circuit for attachment to a sealed catheter body that comprises a handle, and an insertion end for inserting into a patient, said circuit being configured for, while attached at said end, wirelessly communicating with a local power-delivery/data-reception unit that is disposed within said end and that is configured for wirelessly emitting a signal that powers the circuit, said circuit being configured for wirelessly returning a data signal to the unit.

20. The integrated circuit of claim 19, wherein said catheter body is a body of a cardiac-mapping catheter.

21. A local power-delivery/data-reception unit for installation within an insertion end of a sealed catheter, said unit being configured for wirelessly powering a separately sealed sensor that is attached to said end and configured for wirelessly returning a data signal to said unit.

22. The unit of claim 21, wherein said catheter comprises a handle, said unit being further configured for wirelessly relaying the data signal to a remote power-delivery/data-reception unit within the handle and for receiving, from the remote power-delivery/data-reception unit, a power signal serving as a power source for said powering.