CATHETER WITH OPTICAL CONTACT SENSING

• US 20120123276A1
• Filed: 11/16/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Biosense Webster Israel Ltd. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Biosense Webster Israel Ltd. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Govari, Assaf, Ephrath, Yaron, Beeckler, Christopher Thomas, Papaioannou, Athanassios, Garcia, Ariel, Altmann, Andres Claudio
• Application Number:
  US12/946,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20120123276A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• 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 2018/00357 Endocardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00755 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6885 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0009 Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92619 Diameter or circumference
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92628 Width or height
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/022 characterised by the choice of material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/09 Articles with cross-sections having partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. pipes or channels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/10 flexible, e.g. blown foils
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/20 one of the layers being a strip, e.g. a partially embedded strip
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/21 the layers being joined at their surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/32 with annular openings, e.g. for forming tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/335 Multiple annular extrusion nozzles in coaxial arrangement, e.g. for making multi-layered tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/49 using two or more extruders to feed one die or nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0056 Biocompatible, e.g. biopolymers or bioelastomers

Abstract

A medical probe, including a biocompatible sheath having proximal and distal ends, and having at least one transparent strip between the proximal end and the distal end. The probe also has one or more functional elements positioned within the biocompatible sheath.

Claims

1. A medical probe, comprising:

a biocompatible sheath having proximal and distal ends, and having at least one transparent strip between the proximal end and the distal end; and

one or more functional elements positioned within the biocompatible sheath.

2. The medical probe according to claim 1, wherein each of the one or more functional elements comprises an optical contact sensor comprising an optical emitter, and an optical detector in close proximity to the optical emitter.

3. The medical probe according to claim 2, wherein the optical contact sensor is configured to detect proximity of the distal end to body tissue, and to verify contact between the distal end and the body tissue.

4. The medical probe according to claim 2, wherein the optical contact sensor faces the at least one transparent strip.

5. The medical probe according to claim 2, and comprising one or more electrodes disposed along the biocompatible sheath which are configured to perform an ablation, and wherein the optical contact sensor is configured to provide an indication for controlling the ablation.

6. The medical probe according to claim 5, wherein the optical contact sensor is configured to provide a further indication for assessing a quality of the ablation.

7. A medical probe, comprising:

a biocompatible sheath having proximal and distal ends, and having at least one transparent element;

a dielectric substrate which is inserted within the biocompatible sheath;

one or more electronic components positioned on the dielectric substrate; and

one or more printed wiring traces positioned on the dielectric substrate and coupled to each of the one or more electronic components.

8. The medical probe according to claim 7, wherein the at least one transparent element comprises a transparent strip between the proximal end and the distal end of the sheath.

9. The medical probe according to claim 8, wherein each of the one or more electronic components comprises an optical contact sensor comprising an optical emitter, and an optical detector in close proximity to the optical emitter.

10. The medical probe according to claim 9, wherein the optical contact sensor faces the transparent strip.

11. The medical probe according to claim 7, wherein the dielectric substrate comprises a flexible printed circuit board material.

12. The medical probe according to claim 7, wherein the one or more electronic components are positioned on an outer side of the dielectric substrate, and the one or more printed wiring traces are positioned on an inner side of the dielectric substrate.

13. A method, comprising:

incorporating at least one transparent strip between proximal and distal ends of a biocompatible sheath; and

positioning one or more functional elements within the biocompatible sheath.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein each of the one or more functional elements comprises an optical sensor comprising an optical emitter, and an optical detector in close proximity to the optical emitter.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the optical sensor faces the at least one transparent strip.

16. A method, comprising:

incorporating at least one transparent element between proximal and distal ends of a biocompatible sheath;

inserting a dielectric substrate within the biocompatible sheath;

positioning one or more electronic components on the dielectric substrate;

positioning one or more printed wiring traces on the dielectric substrate; and

coupling the one or more printed wiring traces to each of the one or more electronic components.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the at least one transparent element comprises a transparent strip between the proximal end and the distal end of the sheath.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein each of the one or more electronic components comprises an optical contact sensor comprising an optical emitter, and an optical detector in close proximity to the optical emitter.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the optical contact sensor faces the transparent strip.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the dielectric substrate comprises a flexible printed circuit board material.

21. The method according to claim 16, wherein the one or more electronic components are positioned on an outer side of the dielectric substrate, and the one or more printed wiring traces are positioned on an inner side of the dielectric substrate.