Heart Wall Ablation/Mapping Catheter and Method
First Claim
1. A catheter for ablation and/or mapping of the heart wall comprising:
- an elongated catheter body having proximal and distal ends and a catheter body axis, the catheter body further comprising a catheter body proximal section joined at a proximal section distal end with a deflectable catheter body distal section;
said distal section including a curvable proximal segment, a distal segment and a bendable intermediate segment having a predetermined intermediate segment length joined at an intermediate segment proximal end with a curvable proximal segment distal end and joined at an intermediate segment distal end with the distal segment, the intermediate segment capable of bending in a knuckle bend having a radius in the range of about 2.0 mm through 7.0 mm through a bend angle range of about −
90°
to about +180°
with respect to the catheter body axis at the intermediate segment proximal end;
at least one electrode positioned along the distal segment;
a handle at the proximal end of the catheter body;
a conductor extending along the catheter body between said electrode and the handle;
a knuckle bend wire coupled to the distal segment and extending proximally through the bendable intermediate segment, the curvable proximal segment, and the proximal section of the catheter body to a knuckle bend wire proximal end in the handle;
a knuckle bend manipulator coupled to the knuckle bend wire proximal end and mounted for movement to the handle enabling selective extension and retraction of the knuckle bend wire to induce a bend in the bendable intermediate segment;
a curve deflection wire coupled to the distal end of the proximal segment and extending proximally through the curvable proximal segment and the proximal section of the catheter body to a curve deflection wire proximal end in the handle; and
a proximal curve manipulator coupled to the curve deflection wire proximal end and mounted for movement to the handle enabling selective extension and retraction of the curve deflection pull wire to induce a curve in the curvable proximal segment,whereby selective adjustment of the knuckle bend and proximal curve manipulators induce bends in said bendable intermediate segment and curves in said proximal segment that are independent of one another.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Steerable electrophysiology catheters for use in mapping and/or ablation of accessory pathways in myocardial tissue of the heart wall and methods of use thereof are disclosed. The catheter comprises a catheter body and handle, the catheter body having a proximal section and a distal section and manipulators that enable the deflection of a distal segment of the distal tip section with respect to the independently formed curvature of a proximal segment of the distal tip section through a bending or knuckle motion of an intermediate segment between the proximal and distal segments. A wide angular range of deflection within a very small curve or bend radius in the intermediate segment is obtained. At least one distal tip electrode is preferably confined to the distal segment which can have a straight axis extending distally from the intermediate segment. The curvature of the proximal segment and the bending angle of the intermediate segment are independently selectable. The axial alignment of the distal segment with respect to the nominal axis of the proximal shaft section of the catheter body can be varied between substantially axially aligned (0° curvature) in an abrupt knuckle bend through a range of about −90° to about +180° within a bending radius of between about 2.0 mm and 7.0 mm and preferably less than 5.0 mm. The proximal segment curve can be independently formed in a range of about −180° through about +270° with respect to the axis of the proximal shaft section to provide an optimum angular orientation of the distal electrode(s). The distal segment can comprise a highly flexible elongated distal segment body and electrode(s) that conform with the shape and curvature of the heart wall.
112 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A catheter for ablation and/or mapping of the heart wall comprising:
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an elongated catheter body having proximal and distal ends and a catheter body axis, the catheter body further comprising a catheter body proximal section joined at a proximal section distal end with a deflectable catheter body distal section; said distal section including a curvable proximal segment, a distal segment and a bendable intermediate segment having a predetermined intermediate segment length joined at an intermediate segment proximal end with a curvable proximal segment distal end and joined at an intermediate segment distal end with the distal segment, the intermediate segment capable of bending in a knuckle bend having a radius in the range of about 2.0 mm through 7.0 mm through a bend angle range of about −
90°
to about +180°
with respect to the catheter body axis at the intermediate segment proximal end;at least one electrode positioned along the distal segment; a handle at the proximal end of the catheter body; a conductor extending along the catheter body between said electrode and the handle; a knuckle bend wire coupled to the distal segment and extending proximally through the bendable intermediate segment, the curvable proximal segment, and the proximal section of the catheter body to a knuckle bend wire proximal end in the handle; a knuckle bend manipulator coupled to the knuckle bend wire proximal end and mounted for movement to the handle enabling selective extension and retraction of the knuckle bend wire to induce a bend in the bendable intermediate segment; a curve deflection wire coupled to the distal end of the proximal segment and extending proximally through the curvable proximal segment and the proximal section of the catheter body to a curve deflection wire proximal end in the handle; and a proximal curve manipulator coupled to the curve deflection wire proximal end and mounted for movement to the handle enabling selective extension and retraction of the curve deflection pull wire to induce a curve in the curvable proximal segment, whereby selective adjustment of the knuckle bend and proximal curve manipulators induce bends in said bendable intermediate segment and curves in said proximal segment that are independent of one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification