Multipurpose flow-directed catheter
First Claim
1. A flow-directed catheter comprising a tube having a distal artery located portion, a ventricular portion proximally of said distal portion, and an atrial portion proximal to said first two portions, an inflatable balloon on said distal portion adapted to pull the tube through the right atrium and right ventricle of the heart and into the pulmonary artery causing an entrance section of said ventricular portion of the tube to enter said ventricle in one direction and causing an exit section of said ventricular portion to exit the ventricle in a different direction, at least one ventricular electrode on said exit section of said ventricular portion adapted to be positioned in said ventricle, and means stiffening said entrance section of said ventricular portion which emerges from said atrium into said ventricle, said stiffening means producing an abrupt reduction of the stiffness of the tube on the proximal side of said electrode and forming a sharp bend between said entrance and exit sections of said ventricular portion of the tube to press said electrode against the myocardial wall between the left and right ventricles.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The catheter is flow-directed through the heart of the patient by a balloon on its distal end to pass through the right atrium, right ventricle and into the pulmonary artery. A through lumen in the catheter tube is open at the distal end to monitor blood pressures in the pulmonary artery or a branch, or take blood samples. A thermistor proximal to the balloon permits monitoring of blood temperature in this region and thus allows the determination of cardiac output by the thermodilution technique. A second lumen has an orifice, which is characteristically located in the region of the junction of the superior vena cava and the right atrium, for pressure monitoring, infusion of liquid media, or blood sampling. A stylet in the second lumen assists in advancing the catheter and, by means of a sudden variation in stiffness, facilitates forming a sharp bend within the right ventricle to press distal electrodes against the myocardial wall which separates the left and right ventricles. Proximal electrodes on the catheter tube are positioned in the right atrium. In addition to the two lumens mentioned, a third lumen serves as a balloon inflation lumen and a fourth lumen contains the wires for the thermistor, distal electrodes and proximal electrodes.
677 Citations
10 Claims
- 1. A flow-directed catheter comprising a tube having a distal artery located portion, a ventricular portion proximally of said distal portion, and an atrial portion proximal to said first two portions, an inflatable balloon on said distal portion adapted to pull the tube through the right atrium and right ventricle of the heart and into the pulmonary artery causing an entrance section of said ventricular portion of the tube to enter said ventricle in one direction and causing an exit section of said ventricular portion to exit the ventricle in a different direction, at least one ventricular electrode on said exit section of said ventricular portion adapted to be positioned in said ventricle, and means stiffening said entrance section of said ventricular portion which emerges from said atrium into said ventricle, said stiffening means producing an abrupt reduction of the stiffness of the tube on the proximal side of said electrode and forming a sharp bend between said entrance and exit sections of said ventricular portion of the tube to press said electrode against the myocardial wall between the left and right ventricles.
Specification