ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY CATHETER WITH ELECTRODE LOOP
First Claim
1. A magnetically guidable electrophysiology catheter comprising an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end;
- at least one magnetically responsive element adjacent the distal end for aligning the distal end relative to an externally applied magnetic field;
the portion of the catheter adjacent the distal end being formed in a generally planar loop, adjacent the distal end, with the distal end of the catheter projecting from the center of the loop, generally perpendicularly to the plane of the loop; and
a plurality of electrodes on the loop for measuring electrical activity in the tissue with which the loop is in contact.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetically guidable electrophysiology catheter has an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end. At least one magnetically responsive element is disposed adjacent the distal end for aligning the distal end relative to an externally applied magnetic field. The portion of the catheter adjacent the distal end is formed in a generally planar loop, adjacent the distal end, with the distal end of the catheter projecting from the center of the loop, generally perpendicularly to the plane of the loop. A plurality of electrodes are disposed on the loop for measuring electrical activity in the tissue with which the loop is in contact.
128 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A magnetically guidable electrophysiology catheter comprising an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end;
- at least one magnetically responsive element adjacent the distal end for aligning the distal end relative to an externally applied magnetic field;
the portion of the catheter adjacent the distal end being formed in a generally planar loop, adjacent the distal end, with the distal end of the catheter projecting from the center of the loop, generally perpendicularly to the plane of the loop; and
a plurality of electrodes on the loop for measuring electrical activity in the tissue with which the loop is in contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
- at least one magnetically responsive element adjacent the distal end for aligning the distal end relative to an externally applied magnetic field;
-
4. A magnetically guidable electrophysiology catheter comprising an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end;
- at least one magnetically responsive element adjacent the distal end for aligning the distal end relative to an externally applied magnetic field;
the catheter body having a distal end portion with a generally planar loop formed therein, a helical transition portion between the proximal portion and the catheter body loop, so that the loop is generally transverse to, and co-axial with the proximal portion of the catheter body, a generally radially extending portion extending from the loop to the center of the loop, the distal end of the catheter projecting from the center of the loop, generally perpendicularly to the plane of the loop; and
a plurality of electrodes on the loop for measuring electrical activity in the tissue with which the loop is in contact. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 18)
- at least one magnetically responsive element adjacent the distal end for aligning the distal end relative to an externally applied magnetic field;
-
11. A magnetically guidable electrophysiology catheter comprising an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end;
- at least one magnetically responsive element adjacent the distal end for aligning the distal end relative to an externally applied magnetic field;
the portion of the catheter proximal to the at least one magnet being configured to have a loop therein, substantially in a plane perpendicular to the portions of the catheter body proximal and distal to the loop; and
a plurality of electrodes on the loop for measuring electrical activity in the tissue with which the loop is in contact. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
- at least one magnetically responsive element adjacent the distal end for aligning the distal end relative to an externally applied magnetic field;
-
14. A method of measuring the electrical activity in the tissue surrounding an anatomical opening, the method comprising orienting the distal end of a catheter with the anatomical opening, the catheter having a loop formed therein proximal to the distal end, substantially in a plane generally perpendicular to the distal end of the catheter, by applying a magnetic field to realign a magnetically responsive element associated with the distal end;
- and advancing the distal end of the catheter into the anatomical opening to bring the loop into contact with the tissue surrounding the opening; and
measuring electrical activity in the tissue in contact with the loop using at least one electrode on the loop. - View Dependent Claims (15)
- and advancing the distal end of the catheter into the anatomical opening to bring the loop into contact with the tissue surrounding the opening; and
-
16. A method of measuring the electrical activity in the tissue surrounding an anatomical opening, the method comprising orienting the distal end of a catheter with the anatomical opening by applying a magnetic field sufficient to orient at least one magnetically responsive element associated with the distal end of the catheter to cause the distal end of the catheter to align with the anatomical opening;
- advancing the distal end of the catheter into the anatomical opening to bring a generally transversely extending planer loop formed in the catheter adjacent the distal end, into contact with the tissue surrounding the opening, and measuring the electrical activity in the tissue in contact with the loop using at least one electrode carried on the loop.
-
17. A method of magnetically navigating multiple magnetically navigable medical devices in a chamber, the method comprising:
- orienting the distal end of a first medical device with an anatomical opening by applying a magnetic field sufficient to orient at least one magnetically responsive element associated with the distal end of the first medical device to cause the distal end of the first medical device to align with the anatomical opening;
advancing the distal end of the first medical device into the anatomical opening, and holding the first medical device in place with the at least one magnetically responsive element in the anatomical opening;
applying a magnetic field to orient at least one magnetically responsive element associated with the distal end of a second medical device to cause the distal end of the second medical device to align relative to the magnetic field while the distal end of the first medical device is held in the anatomical opening.
- orienting the distal end of a first medical device with an anatomical opening by applying a magnetic field sufficient to orient at least one magnetically responsive element associated with the distal end of the first medical device to cause the distal end of the first medical device to align with the anatomical opening;
-
19. A magnetically guidable electrophysiology catheter comprising an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end;
- at least one magnetically responsive element proximal to the distal end for aligning the distal end relative to an externally applied magnetic field;
the portion of the catheter distal to the at least one magnetically responsive element being formed in a generally planar loop, adjacent the distal end, with the proximal portion of the catheter with the magnetically responsive elements catheter projecting from the center of the loop, generally perpendicularly to the plane of the loop; and
a plurality of electrodes on the loop for measuring electrical activity in the tissue with which the loop is in contact.
- at least one magnetically responsive element proximal to the distal end for aligning the distal end relative to an externally applied magnetic field;
-
20. A magnetically guidable electrophysiology catheter comprising an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end;
- at least one magnetically responsive element proximal to the distal end for aligning the distal end relative to an externally applied magnetic field;
the catheter body having a distal end portion with a generally planar loop formed therein, generally transverse to, and co-axial with the proximal portion of the catheter body; and
a plurality of electrodes on the loop for measuring electrical activity in the tissue with which the loop is in contact.
- at least one magnetically responsive element proximal to the distal end for aligning the distal end relative to an externally applied magnetic field;
-
21. A magnetically guidable electrophysiology catheter comprising an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end;
- at least one magnetically responsive element adjacent the distal end for aligning the distal end relative to an externally applied magnetic field;
the portion of the catheter distal to the at least one magnetically responsive element being configured to have a loop therein, substantially in a plane perpendicular to the portions of the catheter body proximal and distal to the loop; and
a plurality of electrodes on the loop for measuring electrical activity in the tissue with which the loop is in contact.
- at least one magnetically responsive element adjacent the distal end for aligning the distal end relative to an externally applied magnetic field;
-
22. A method of measuring the electrical activity in the tissue surrounding an anatomical opening, the method comprising orienting the distal end of a catheter with the anatomical opening, the catheter having a loop formed therein in its distal end, substantially in a plane generally perpendicular to the proximal portion of the catheter, by applying a magnetic field to realign a magnetically responsive element associated with the proximal portion of the catheter;
- and advancing the proximal portion of the catheter into the anatomical opening to bring the loop into contact with the tissue surrounding the opening; and
measuring electrical activity in the tissue in contact with the loop using at least one electrode on the loop.
- and advancing the proximal portion of the catheter into the anatomical opening to bring the loop into contact with the tissue surrounding the opening; and
-
23. A method of measuring the electrical activity in the tissue surrounding an anatomical opening, the method comprising orienting the distal end of the catheter with the anatomical opening by applying a magnetic field sufficient to orient at least one magnetically responsive element associated with the catheter to cause the distal end of the catheter to align with the anatomical opening;
- advancing the distal end of the catheter into the anatomical opening to bring a generally transversely extending planer loop formed in the catheter distal to the at least one magnetically responsive element, into contact with the tissue surrounding the opening, and measuring the electrical activity in the tissue in contact with the loop using at least one electrode carried on the loop.
Specification