BASKET CATHETER WITH IMPROVED SPINE FLEXIBILITY
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A catheter comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A catheter comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. The catheter of claim 20, wherein the at least one tensile member is affixed to equatorial regions of the adjacent spines.
Specification