BASKET CATHETER WITH IMPROVED SPINE FLEXIBILITY

• US 20160183877A1
• Filed: 12/31/2014
• Published: 06/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biosense Webster Israel Ltd. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Biosense Webster Israel Ltd. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Williams, Stuart, Tran, Paul, Solis, Mario A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,782,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2018/00059 Material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0016 Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00351 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00357 Endocardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6858 with a distal basket, e.g. expandable basket
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/125 Heart

Abstract

A catheter with basket-shaped electrode assembly with spines configured for hyper-flexing in a predetermined, predictable manner when a compressive force acts on the assembly from either its distal end or its proximal end. At least one spine has at least one region of greater (or hyper) flexibility that allows the electrode assembly to deform, for example, compress, for absorbing and dampening excessive force that may otherwise cause damage or injury to tissue wall in contact with the assembly, without compromising the structure and stiffness of the remaining regions of the spine, including its distal and proximal regions. The one or more regions of greater flexibility in the spine allow the spine to flex into a generally V-shape configuration or a generally U-shape configuration.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising:

an elongated catheter body having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen therethrough;

a basket-shaped electrode assembly at the distal end of the catheter body, the basket-shaped electrode assembly having proximal and distal ends and comprising a plurality of spines, at least one spine having at least one region of greater flexibility and at least one region of lesser flexibility.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the region of greater flexibility includes an equatorial region of the at least one spine.

3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the at least one spine has a thickness dimension and the region of greater flexibility has a lesser thickness.

4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the at least one spine has a width dimension and the region of greater flexibility has a lesser width.

5. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the region of greater flexibility includes a notch.

6. The catheter of claim 5, wherein the notch is lateral.

7. The catheter of claim 5, wherein the notch is inner or outer.

8. The catheter of claim 5, wherein the notch has a generally smooth contour.

9. The catheter of claim 5, wherein the notch has a stepped contour.

10. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the at least one spine includes a second region of lesser flexibility and the region of greater flexibility is between regions of lesser flexibility.

11. The catheter of claim 10, wherein the region of greater flexibility includes an equatorial region of the at least one spine, and the regions of lesser flexibility include a distal region and a proximal region of the at least one spine.

12. A catheter comprising:

an elongated catheter body having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen therethrough;

a basket-shaped electrode assembly at the distal end of the catheter body, the basket-shaped electrode assembly having proximal and distal ends and comprising a plurality of spines, at least one spine having a proximal region, a distal region, and at least one region therebetween of greater flexibility having a smaller cross-section;

wherein the assembly is adapted to assume a collapsed configuration, an expanded configuration and a hyper-expanded configuration.

13. The catheter of claim 12, wherein the at least one region includes an equatorial region of the at least one spine.

14. The catheter of claim 12, wherein the at least one spine has a first region and a second region of greater flexibility separated by a mid-region of lesser flexibility.

15. The catheter of claim 12, wherein the at least one spine has a thickness dimension and the at least one region has a lesser thickness.

16. The catheter of claim 12, wherein the at least one spine has a width dimension and the at least one region has a lesser width.

17. The catheter of claim 12, wherein the at least one region has a smooth contour.

18. The catheter of claim 12, wherein the at least one region has a stepped contour.

19. The catheter of claim 12, further comprising at least one tensile member elastically connecting adjacent spines to each other.

20. The catheter of claim 20, wherein the at least one tensile member is affixed to equatorial regions of the adjacent spines.