IRRIGATED CATHETER

• US 20140303619A1
• Filed: 05/27/2014
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Pappone, Carlo, de la Rama, Alan, Chen, Peter, Hata, Cary
• Granted Patent: US 10,433,903 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• 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 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1497 Electrodes covering only part of the probe circumference
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0034 characterized by elements which are assembled, connected or fused, e.g. splittable tubes, outer sheaths creating lumina or separate cores
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1093 having particular tip characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/003 characterized by features relating to least one lumen located at the distal part of the catheter, e.g. filters, plugs or valves catheter tips A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0071 Multiple separate lumens multiple separate lumens throughout the catheter A61M25/0026
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1002 characterised by balloon shape A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters

Abstract

A fluid delivery catheter configured to allow optimal fluid distribution through each electrode by varying the diameter of a catheter lumen is disclosed. Uniform or different fluid flow rates through longitudinally spaced apart elution holes may be achieved. Exemplary fluids for use with the catheter include a cooling fluid, a therapeutic fluid, and a medication.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. An electrode for a catheter, said electrode comprising a longitudinal length, a sidewall, a terminal end extending from the sidewall, and at least one internal lumen, wherein at least a portion of the sidewall is substantially straight along the longitudinal length, the electrode further comprising a plurality of elution holes extending through the substantially straight sidewall portion and spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal length, the electrode further comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced ducts in fluid communication with the lumen, each of the longitudinally spaced ducts extending from the lumen to a respective one of the plurality of elution holes, wherein the diameter of the lumen is varied between at least two of the longitudinally spaced ducts.

21. The electrode of claim 20, wherein the diameter of the lumen is smaller at a distal end of the electrode than at a proximal end of the electrode such that a substantially uniform outflow rate of fluid is produced in substantially all of the plurality of elution holes.

22. The electrode of claim 20, wherein the plurality of elution holes includes a first row of elution holes and a second row of elution holes, the diameter of the lumen is varied to produce a higher outflow rate of fluid through the first row of elution holes which is spaced closer to the terminal end than through the second row of elution holes which is spaced farther from the terminal end.

23. The electrode of claim 20, wherein the plurality of elution holes includes a first row of elution holes and a second row of elution holes, the diameter of the lumen is varied to produce a higher outflow rate of fluid through the second row of elution holes which is spaced farther from the terminal end than through the first row of elution holes which is spaced closer to the terminal end.

24. The electrode of claim 20, wherein the diameter of the lumen is varied to produce an overall uniform outflow rate through the plurality of elution holes except at a predetermined location along the longitudinal axis, wherein the plurality of elution holes at the predetermined location have a flow rate different from the uniform outflow rate.

25. The electrode of claim 20, wherein the diameter of the lumen decreases between the at least two of the longitudinally spaced ducts in a direction toward the terminal end.

26. The electrode of claim 20, wherein the electrode is a tip electrode.

27. An irrigated catheter comprising:

a catheter body comprising a distal region including a terminal end, at least one band electrode and a longitudinal axis; and

an irrigation path extending through the distal region, the irrigation path comprising;

a fluid delivery lumen extending along the longitudinal axis; and

a first plurality of elution holes extending through the at least one band electrode, each elution hole of the first plurality of elution holes in fluid communication with the fluid delivery lumen.

28. The irrigated catheter of claim 27, wherein the first plurality of elution holes includes a first elution hole and a second elution hole, the first elution hole spaced from the second elution hole along the longitudinal axis.

29. The irrigated catheter of claim 27, wherein the first plurality of elution holes includes a first row of elution holes and a second row of elution holes, the first row of elution holes spaced from the second row of elution holes along the longitudinal axis.

30. The irrigated catheter of claim 27, wherein the at least one band electrode comprises a first band electrode, a first group of the first plurality of elution holes extending through the first band electrode.

31. The irrigated catheter of claim 30, wherein the at least one band electrode further comprises a second band electrode, a second group of the first plurality of elution holes extending through the second band electrode.

32. The irrigated catheter of claim 30, further comprising a tip electrode extending from the sidewall, the tip electrode further comprising a second plurality of elution holes extending therethrough.

33. The irrigated catheter of claim 27, further comprising a plurality of ducts in fluid communication with the lumen, wherein each elution hole of the first plurality of elution holes in fluid communication with one of the ducts of the plurality of ducts.

34. The irrigated catheter of claim 30, wherein a diameter of the lumen is varied between the first group of the first plurality of elution holes and the second group of the first plurality of elution holes.

35. The irrigated catheter of claim 27, wherein the band electrode is configured to contact tissue.

36. The irrigated catheter of claim 35, wherein the band electrode is configured to deliver energy to the tissue.

43. The irrigated catheter of claim 36, wherein the band electrode is configured to contact tissue.

44. The irrigated catheter of claim 43, wherein the band electrode is configured to deliver energy to the tissue.

37. An irrigated catheter comprising:

a catheter body including a band electrode and an internal lumen, the catheter body defining a longitudinal axis; and

a plurality of elution holes extending through the band electrode, the plurality of elution holes in fluid communication with the internal lumen.

38. The irrigated catheter of claim 37, wherein the plurality of elution holes includes a first elution hole and a second elution hole, the first elution hole spaced from the second elution hole along the longitudinal axis.

39. The irrigated catheter of claim 37, wherein the plurality of elution holes includes a first row of elution holes and a second row of elution holes, the first row of elution holes spaced from the second row of elution holes along the longitudinal axis.

40. The irrigated catheter of claim 37, wherein the catheter body further comprises a second band electrode and a second plurality of elution holes, wherein the second plurality of elution holes extend through the second band electrode and are in fluid communication with the internal lumen.

41. The irrigated catheter of claim 40, wherein the catheter body further comprises a tip electrode including a third plurality of elution holes, wherein the third plurality of elution holes extend through the tip electrode and are in fluid communication with the internal lumen.

42. The irrigated catheter of claim 41, wherein a diameter of the internal lumen is varied between the second plurality of elution holes and the third plurality of elution holes.