Atraumatic Medical Device

• US 20150105729A1
• Filed: 10/16/2014
• Published: 04/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MedWerks LLC (MDWerks, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MedWerks LLC (MDWerks, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilson, Robert F., Gainor, John P., Valeti, Uma S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,943,665 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/173
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• 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 2018/00113 with foam
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00351 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1465 Deformable electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3784 both receiver and transmitter being in the instrument or receiver being also transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0081 Soft tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0074 Dynamic characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. openable, closable, expandable or deformable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/008 Strength or flexibility characteristics of the catheter tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0565 Electrode heads

Abstract

A catheter with a spring tip that facilitates atraumatic initial placement and also continues to protect tissue contacted by the catheter device subsequent to the initial placement. The spring tip is shock-absorbing and axially compliant and allows enhanced use of various devices in conjunction with the tip such as bioptomes, electrodes, needles, flushing catheters, delivery catheters, and the like. The atraumatic shock-absorbing tip could include conductive or non-conductive materials.

Claims

1. An medical device comprising:

a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;

a spring tip attached to a distal end of the catheter and having a distal diameter greater than a diameter of the catheter when the spring tip is in a deployed configuration;

wherein said spring tip is axially compliant such that when a distal end of the spring tip is pressed against a surface, said spring tip compresses axially.

2. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said spring tip comprises a mesh.

3. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said spring tip comprises a foam.

4. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said spring tip comprises an electrode.

5. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said spring tip comprises a cone in a deployed, uncompressed configuration.

6. The medical device of claim 5 wherein said spring tip assumes a cylindrical shape when compressed axially.

7. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said spring tip has a diameter that does not increase when axially compressed.

8. The medical device of claim 1 further comprising a lumen extending through said spring tip and said catheter.

9. A method of engaging target tissue with a catheter comprising:

navigating a catheter having a distal spring tip to target tissue;

contacting the target tissue with the spring tip;

axially compressing the spring tip against the target tissue;

performing a procedure on the target tissue while maintaining contact between the tissue and the spring tip.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein navigating a catheter having a distal spring tip to target tissue comprises navigating a catheter having a mesh spring tip.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein navigating a catheter having a distal spring tip to target tissue comprises navigating a catheter having a foam spring tip.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein axially compressing the spring tip against the target tissue comprises advancing the catheter toward the target tissue.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein contacting the target tissue with the spring tip comprises magnetically attracting the spring tip to the target tissue.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein performing a procedure on the target tissue comprises sending electricity through the tissue using the spring tip as an electrode.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein maintaining contact between the tissue and the spring tip comprises positioning the spring tip such that biological movement of the target tissue is absorbed by the spring tip without affecting a position of the catheter.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein performing a procedure on the target tissue comprises advancing a tool through a lumen in the catheter and through the spring tip to engage the target tissue.

17. A medical device usable to access target tissue comprising:

a first catheter having a lumen;

a deformable spring tip attached to a distal end of said catheter and having a first configuration, a second configuration and a third configuration, wherein;

said first configuration is a radially compressed configuration;

said second configuration is a radially expanded configuration; and

,

said third configuration is an axially compressed configuration.

18. The medical device of claim 17 further comprising a second catheter through which the catheter and spring tip are deployed and wherein the spring tip assumes the radially expanded configuration from the radially compressed configuration upon exiting the second catheter.

19. The medical device of claim 17 further comprising a mechanism attached to the spring device usable to transform the spring tip between the first and second configurations.

20. The medical device of claim 17 wherein the spring tip has a diameter that increases when the spring tip assumes the third configuration from the second configuration.