Electrode support structure assembly

• US 20170065227A1
• Filed: 04/30/2015
• Published: 03/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Marrs, James C., Hawkinson, Neil D., Monahan, Brian M., Just, Dale E.
• Granted Patent: US 11,826,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/221 Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056
• 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 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/283 Invasive
• 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

Abstract

An electrode support structure assembly in a body in accordance with one embodiment of the present teachings includes a plug defining a longitudinal axis. The plug includes a lumen extending in an axial direction and including an axial distal end and a distal tip adjacent to the axial distal end of the lumen and including a first channel. The assembly further includes a cap disposed around at least a portion of the plug and including a plurality of apertures and an interior. The assembly further includes a plurality of support members, each support member comprising a distal portion. The cap is configured to constrain relative movement of the distal portions of the plurality of support members with respect to the cap, and the first channel of the plug and at least one of the plurality of support members are configured to direct a fluid after exiting the lumen of the plug.

Claims

1. An electrode support structure assembly, comprising:

a plug defining a longitudinal axis and configured to connect to a fluid delivery line, the plug comprising;

(i) a lumen configured to receive a fluid from the fluid delivery line, the lumen extending in an axial direction and comprising an axial distal end; and

(ii) a distal tip adjacent to the axial distal end of the lumen and comprising a first channel;

a cap disposed around at least a portion of the plug, the cap comprising;

(i) a first wall extending in the axial direction and comprising a plurality of apertures; and

(ii) a second wall extending inwardly from the first wall in a radial direction, the first wall and the second wall defining an interior into which the distal tip of the plug is disposed; and

a plurality of support members, each support member comprising a distal portion at least partially disposed in the interior of the cap such that the cap is configured to constrain relative movement of the distal portions of the plurality of support members with respect to the cap,

wherein the first channel of the plug and at least one of the plurality of support members are configured to direct the fluid after exiting the lumen of the plug.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal portions of the plurality of support members each comprise a nose protruding in the axial direction and are configured to constrain movement thereof in the interior of the cap.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the noses of the distal portions of the plurality of support members overlap along the longitudinal axis.

4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the noses of the distal portions of the plurality of support members correspond in shape to at least one of the tapered portion and the distal tip of the plug.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the plug is configured to constrain movement of the distal portions of the plurality of support members.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of apertures are configured to permit the fluid to exit the interior of the cap.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the plug further comprises a second channel configured for directing the fluid after exiting the lumen of the plug.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the first and second channels extend across the distal tip of the plug and the longitudinal axis and are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and the second channel is perpendicular to the first channel.

9. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the first channel and the second channel are distal of the axial distal end of the lumen.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the plug further comprises a tapered portion proximal to the distal tip, and the tapered portion is tapered in the axial direction toward the axial distal end of the lumen.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein a first and second aperture of the plurality of apertures are aligned with the tapered portion of the plug in a radial direction.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of apertures are substantially aligned in the axial direction.

13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of support members comprises:

a first support member extending through a first pair of the plurality of apertures of the cap;

a second support member extending through a second pair of the plurality of apertures of the cap;

a third support member extending through a third pair of the plurality of apertures of the cap; and

a fourth support member extending through a fourth pair of the plurality of apertures of the cap.

14. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the first pair, second pair, third pair, and fourth pair of the plurality of apertures are offset from one another in the axial direction.

15. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of support members are substantially similar in shape and size to one another.

16. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of support members comprise a first, second, third, and fourth support member, and the distal portions of the plurality of support members comprise:

a first distal portion of the first support member;

a second distal portion of the second support member disposed distally of the first distal portion;

a third distal portion of the third support member disposed distally of the second distal portion; and

a fourth distal portion of the fourth support member disposed distally of the third distal portion.

17. An electrode support structure assembly with a longitudinal axis, a proximal portion, and a distal portion, comprising:

a support member, comprising a first proximal portion extending in the axial direction and a second proximal portion generally parallel to the first proximal portion;

a constraining ring disposed at the proximal portion of the assembly and configured to constrain the first and second proximal portions of the support member in the axial direction;

a torsion ring disposed at the proximal portion of the assembly and configured to constrain rotation of the first and second proximal portions of support member about the longitudinal axis; and

a retainer ring partially surrounding at least one of the constraining ring and torsion ring and configured to secure the first and second proximal portions of the support member relative to at least one of the constraining ring and torsion ring.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the support member further comprises a first side and a second side diametrically opposed of the first side, the first proximal portion of the support member comprises a first slot disposed on the first side, and the second proximal portion of the support member comprises a second slot disposed on the second side.

19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the first and second slots of the first and second proximal portions of the support member couple with the constraining ring via a first and second groove of the constraining, respectively.

20. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the first and second proximal portions of the support member couple with the torsion ring via a first and second groove of the torsion ring.