Catheter assembly

• US 4,559,951 A
• Filed: 11/29/1982
• Issued: 12/24/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Mayer, David W., Dahl, Roger W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US06/445,240
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 128/784-786, 128/419 P, 128/642
• US Class Current: 600/374
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/004 characterized by lumina being arranged circumferentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0063 having means, e.g. stylets, mandrils, rods or wires to reinforce or adjust temporarily the stiffness, column strength or pushability of catheters which are already inserted into the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/005 with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems

Abstract

A catheter assembly designed for long term or short term implantation in an animal body comprising a flexible tube of a biocompatible polymeric material in which plural electrical conductors are helically wound at a predetermined pitch with the conductors being laterally offset from one another and totally buried between the walls of the tube whereby many conductive signal paths can be established through the catheter without increasing its overall diameter. The inclusion of the helically wound conductors in the walls of the tube also allows the torque transfer, flexibility and structural properties to be tailored to fit a variety of applications. Such a catheter may be used as a cardiac pacer lead assembly or as an instrument for carrying out various diagnostic catheterization procedures.

Claims

1. An intravascular catheter assembly comprising in combination:

(a) a first extruded flexible plastic tube having at least one lumen longitudinally extending therealong, a proximal end and a distal end, said first tube being formed from a plurality of layered, tubular extrusions, wherein each tubularly extruded layer is extruded over a preceding layer;

(b) a plurality of electrical conductors integrally contained within the walls of said first tube, each of said electrical conductors being wound in a continuous helix over one of said layers at a predetermined pitch, before extruding the next successive layer thereover, such that the convolutions of each of said helices are bound in noncontacting relation to one another within the walls of said first tube;

(c) a second flexible plastic tube formed from a plastic material having a high molecular weight relative to the plastic material of said first plastic tube and having an outer diameter which is less than the inner diameter of the lumen of said first flexible plastic tube, said second plastic tube being coaxially disposed within the lumen of said first plastic tube;

(d) at least one further electrical conductor wound as a helix and disposed within the lumen of said second plastic tube and extending longitudinally from said proximal end to said distal end;

(e) means attached to each of said conductors at said proximal end for making electrical connections thereto; and

(f) at least two surface electrodes, one of which has edge portions of a lesser thickness than a center portion thereof and said center portion having an annular recess formed within its exterior surface and wherein an outer tubular sheath formed from a plastic material of a high molecular weight relative to the plastic material of said first plastic tube is mounted over said first tube so as to overlie said edge portions of said one of said surface electrodes to thereby contain said one of said surface electrodes to said first tube and expose said exterior surface of said center portion of said one of said surface electrodes, at least one of said plurality of electrical conductors being electrically coupled to said one of said surface electrodes at said recess, the other of said surface electrodes being positioned at said distal end of said first tube and electrically connected to said further electrical conductor.

2. A catheter assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second plastic tube is movable within the lumen of said first tube.

3. The catheter assembly as in claim 1 wherein the plastic material of said second plastic tube and said outer tubular sheath is polyethylene.

4. A catheter assembly for use with an electrical device in a living animal comprising in combination:

(a) a first flexible plastic tube having a proximal end and a distal end;

(b) a plurality of electrical conductor elements helically wound at a predetermined radii and pitch, the convolutions of each of said plurality of electrical conductor elements being axially offset from one another and integrally contained within the walls of said first flexible plastic tube and extending longitudinally therealong from said proximal end toward said distal end;

(c) an outer tubular sheath formed from a plastic material having a high molecular weight relative to the plastic material of said first plastic tube and concentrically surrounding said first plastic tube;

(d) means attached to predetermined ones of said plurality of electrical conductor elements at the proximal end of said first plastic tube for making electrical connections to said electrical device; and

(e) a plurality of tubular ring-like surface electrodes, each of said surface electrodes including edge portions at each end thereof of a lesser thickness than a center portion thereof, said center portion having an annular recess in which predetermined ones of said plurality of conductor elements are attached, and wherein said edge portions are constrained beneath said outer sheath and the exterior surface of said center portion is exposed to body tissue.