IRRIGATED BALLOON CATHETER WITH SUPPORT SPINES AND VARIABLE SHAPE

• US 20180161093A1
• Filed: 11/30/2017
• Published: 06/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2016
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Biosense Webster Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Biosense Webster Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Basu, Shubhayu, Fuentes-Ortega, Cesar
• Application Number:
  US15/827,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20180161093A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 2018/00065 porous
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0016 Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00166 Multiple lumina
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00232 having an irregular shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00238 porous
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00357 Endocardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00375 Ostium, e.g. ostium of pulmonary vein or artery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00648 using more than one sensed parameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00839 Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0105 Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning systems for detection of markers A61B
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1018 Balloon inflating or inflation-control devices

Abstract

An irrigated balloon catheter, includes a balloon carrying contact electrodes, wherein a user can vary the balloon'"'"'s configuration by manipulating an elongated expander that extends along the catheter and through the balloon'"'"'s interior, with its distal end coupled to a distal end of the balloon. The expander may pass through an irrigation lumen to save on space within the catheter, and the expander itself may be hollow in providing a lumen for cables or lead wires. The expander may include flexure slits for increased flexibility. The distal end of the balloon includes a housing for components, e.g., a position sensor. The distal end of the balloon and the manner by which the balloon membrane is attached to the housing present a generally flat atraumatic surface suitable for direct head-on contact with tissue. Longitudinal spines extend along the outer surface of the balloon to provide support.

Claims

1. An electrophysiology catheter, comprising:

an elongated catheter shaft having a first lumen;

a balloon distal of the catheter shaft, the balloon having a distal end and a proximal end defining a longitudinal axis, the balloon including a membrane and a contact electrode supported on an outer surface of the membrane, the membrane defining an interior of the balloon;

an irrigation tubing extending through the first lumen of the catheter shaft, the irrigation tubing having a second lumen, the irrigation tubing having a distal end terminating generally at the proximal end of the balloon.

an elongated expander having a first portion extending through the second lumen of the irrigation tubing, and a second portion extending through the proximal end of the balloon and into the interior of the balloon, the expander having a distal end coupled to the distal end of the balloon, the expander being longitudinally movable relative to the catheter shaft to move the distal end of the balloon in changing a configuration of the balloon.

2. The electrophysiology catheter of claim 1, wherein the balloon further comprises a plurality of support spines extending longitudinally along the outer surface of the membrane of the balloon.

3. The electrophysiology catheter of claim 2, wherein at least one support spine extends between the proximal end and distal end of the balloon.

4. The electrophysiology catheter of claim 2, wherein at least one support spine extends from the proximal end to a location on the outer surface of the membrane proximal of the distal end of the balloon.

5. The electrophysiology catheter of claim 2, wherein at least one support spine extends from the distal end to a location on the outer surface of the membrane distal of the proximal end of the balloon.

6. The electrophysiology catheter of claim 2, wherein the balloon further comprises a plurality of covers affixed to the balloon membrane, and at least one cover covering the at least one support spine.

7. The electrophysiology catheter of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the balloon has a flat distal face.

8. The electrophysiology catheter of claim 7, wherein the distal end includes a housing having the flat distal face, and an outer radial surface, wherein a distal end portion of the balloon membrane is turned inwardly and affixed to the outer radial surface.

9. The electrophysiology catheter of claim 1, wherein the expander has a section with a flexure slit.

10. The electrophysiology catheter of claim 9, wherein the flexure slit includes a spiral slit.

11. The electrophysiology catheter of claim 8, further comprising a position sensor housed in the housing.

12. The electrophysiology catheter of claim 11, wherein the expander includes a third lumen, and the position sensor includes a cable extending through the third lumen.

13. The electrophysiology catheter of claim 8, wherein the housing includes a distal electrode having the flat distal face.

14. The electrophysiology catheter of claim 1, wherein the contact electrode includes painted conductive ink.

15. An electrophysiology catheter, comprising:

an elongated catheter shaft having a first lumen;

a balloon distal of the catheter shaft, the balloon having a distal end and a proximal end defining a longitudinal axis, the balloon including a membrane and a flex circuit electrode assembly supported on an outer surface of the membrane, the membrane defining an interior of the balloon, the distal end including a component having an electrical conduit;

a hollow elongated expander longitudinally movable through the first lumen relative to the catheter shaft, the expander having a second lumen and a distal end, the electrical conduit passing through the second lumen, the distal ends of the expander and the balloon being coupled to each other.

16. The electrophysiology catheter of claim 15, wherein the balloon further comprises a support spine extending longitudinally along the balloon membrane.

17. The electrophysiology catheter of claim 16, wherein the support spine extends from the proximal end of the balloon to the distal end of the balloon.

18. The electrophysiology catheter of claim 16, wherein the support spine extends from the proximal end of the balloon to a location proximal of the distal end of the balloon.

19. The electrophysiology catheter of claim 16, wherein the support spine extends from the distal end of the balloon to a location distal of the proximal end of the balloon.

20. The electrophysiology catheter of claim 15, wherein the balloon has an atraumatic distal end.

21. The electrophysiology catheter of claim 15, wherein the distal end of the balloon includes a flat distal face, and a distal end portion, and the balloon membrane is turned inwardly and affixed to the distal end of the expander.

22. The electrophysiology catheter of claim 15, wherein lead wires for the flex circuit electrode assembly extend along the membrane outside of the interior of the balloon, from a proximal end of the flex circuit electrode to the proximal end of the balloon.