MAGNETICALLY GUIDED CATHETER

• US 20100174177A1
• Filed: 03/12/2010
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: St. Jude Medical (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wu, Kirk
• Granted Patent: US 8,734,440 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0166 Sensors, electrodes or the like for guiding the catheter to a target zone, e.g. image guided or magnetically guided
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0012 with embedded structures, e.g. coils, braids, meshes, strands or radiopaque coils
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/005 with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0127 Magnetic means; Magnetic markers

Abstract

A catheter comprising a flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end. An electrode assembly is attached to the distal end of the flexible tubing. The electrode assembly includes an electrically conductive tip electrode and a coupler which is connected between the tip electrode and the distal end of the flexible tubing. The coupler and the tip electrode are coupled by an interlocking connection. A first magnet is at least partially housed in the coupler. A fluid lumen extends through the flexible tubing to the coupler. The fluid lumen extends completely through the first magnet and connects to at least one port formed in the electrode assembly. A second magnet is spaced from the electrode assembly along a longitudinal axis of the tubing. The first magnet and the second magnet are responsive to an external magnetic field to selectively position and guide the electrode assembly within a body of a patient.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising:

a flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end;

an electrode assembly attached to the distal end of the flexible tubing, the electrode assembly including an electrically conductive tip electrode and a coupler which is connected between the tip electrode and the distal end of the flexible tubing, the coupler and the tip electrode being coupled by an interlocking connection;

a first magnet at least partially housed in the coupler;

a fluid lumen extending through the flexible tubing to the coupler, the fluid lumen extending completely through the first magnet and connecting to at least one port formed in the electrode assembly; and

a second magnet spaced from the electrode assembly along a longitudinal axis of the tubing;

wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are responsive to an external magnetic field to selectively position and guide the electrode assembly within a body of a patient.

2. A catheter in accordance with claim 1, wherein the coupler comprises an internal coupler, and the interlocking connection is formed by coupling an annular projection on the tip electrode and a groove on the coupler, and wherein an adhesive is applied to the interlocking connection.

3. A catheter in accordance with claim 1, wherein the interlocking connection is a snap-fit connection, the interlocking connection press-fit at least partially over the first magnet between the first magnet an inner surface of the flexible tubing.

4. A catheter in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first magnet is disposed in a cavity formed at least partially inside the coupler.

5. A catheter in accordance with claim 4, wherein the electrode assembly further includes a band electrode on an external surface of the coupler, the band electrode being spaced from the tip electrode and offset from the first magnet.

6. A catheter in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one wire is provided between the fluid lumen and an inner diameter of the first magnet, the at least one wire being oriented generally in a longitudinal direction.

7. A catheter in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a lumen passing through the first magnet and the second magnet, and in fluid communication with the electrode assembly, wherein the electrode assembly has at least one row of irrigation ports, the at least one row having at least six irrigation ports.

8. A catheter in accordance with claim 7, wherein the electrode assembly has at least two rows of irrigation ports spaced apart longitudinally from one another, each row having at least six irrigation ports.

9. A catheter in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second magnet has an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of the flexible tubing at a location spaced from the second magnet, and wherein the flexible tubing has a first outer diameter and a second outer diameter, the second outer diameter being greater than the first outer diameter and overlying the second magnet.

10. A catheter in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a third magnet separated from the second magnet by a first distance along the longitudinal axis of the flexible tubing, wherein the second magnet is spaced from the electrode assembly by a second distance along the longitudinal axis of the flexible tubing, the first distance being greater than the second distance.

11. A catheter in accordance with claim 1, wherein a portion of the flexible tubing distal to the second magnet is more flexible than another portion of the flexible tubing proximal to the second magnet.

12. A catheter in accordance with claim 1, wherein the flexible tubing comprises a unitary tubing, and wherein the second magnet is placed inside the flexible tubing after the unitary flexible tubing is formed.

13. A catheter in accordance with claim 14, wherein the second magnet is pushed into the unitary flexible tubing with a mechanical interference fit therebetween.

14. A catheter in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a safety wire coupled at a first end to one a handle of the catheter and coupled at an opposite end to the tip electrode.

15. A catheter comprising:

an electrode assembly attached to the distal end of the flexible tubing and including a first magnet at least partially therein, the electrode assembly including an electrically conductive tip electrode and an internal coupler which is connected between the tip electrode and the distal end of the flexible tubing; and

a second magnet spaced from the electrode assembly along a longitudinal axis of the tubing;

wherein the flexible tubing is a unitary tubing, and wherein the second magnet is pushed inside the flexible tubing after the unitary flexible tubing is formed;

wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are responsive to an external magnetic field to selectively position and guide the electrode assembly within a body of a patient;

a lumen passing through the first magnet and the second magnet, and in fluid communication with the electrode assembly, wherein the electrode assembly has at least one row of irrigation ports.

16. A catheter in accordance with claim 15, wherein the portion of the unitary flexible tubing distal to the second magnet includes a material which is more flexible than a different material in the portion of the flexible tubing proximal to the second magnet.

17. A catheter in accordance with claim 15, further comprising a third magnet spaced proximally from the second magnet along the longitudinal axis of the unitary flexible tubing, the magnets being responsive to an external magnetic field to selectively position and guide the electrode assembly within a body of a patient.

18. A catheter in accordance with claim 15, wherein the first magnet is offset longitudinally from a band electrode.

19. A catheter in accordance with claim 15, further comprising a safety wire connected on one end to a handle of the catheter and on the opposite end to the tip electrode.

20. A catheter in accordance with claim 19, wherein the safety wire is connected to the tip electrode by forming a knot in the safety wire and pressing the knotted end of the safety wire into a hole formed in the tip electrode.