Catheter with magnetic fixation
First Claim
1. Apparatus for maintaining a pacing catheter adjacent the interior wall of the heart, said apparatus comprising:
- a "pacing" catheter having a distal end;
a first magnet mounted in the distal end of said "pacing" catheter in proximity to the heart;
a second magnet disposed outside the chamber of the heart;
means to fix the position of said second magnet to the body; and
said first and second magnets exerting a force for maintaining the position of the tip of said catheter against the wall of the heart.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention involves catheters used for electrical pacing or excitation of the heart where critical placement and firm contact within the inner wall of the heart is required. The invention meets the requirement in the case of pacing catheters in the electrode at the catheter tip which maintains a firm, constant contact pressure against the inner surface of the heart'"'"'s muscular wall despite the beating and movement of the heart. The invention provides a mechanism whereby the electrode tip actually presses against the heart with constant pressure resulting in a much more effective and desirable operation. A first magnet is positioned at or near the electrode tip of the pacing catheter and a second passive or holding magnet is fixed to the chest of the use to provide a magnetic force to position the tip of the pacing catheter.
The invention also sets forth a method for positioning the passive or holding magnet to optimize the magnetic effect that will hold the electrode tip of the pacing catheter in position.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. Apparatus for maintaining a pacing catheter adjacent the interior wall of the heart, said apparatus comprising:
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a "pacing" catheter having a distal end; a first magnet mounted in the distal end of said "pacing" catheter in proximity to the heart; a second magnet disposed outside the chamber of the heart; means to fix the position of said second magnet to the body; and said first and second magnets exerting a force for maintaining the position of the tip of said catheter against the wall of the heart. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for positioning and maintaining a catheter in the heart comprising the steps of:
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positioning a catheter in the heart with a distal end touching the appropriate portion of the heart wall; said distal end of said catheter including a permanent magnet to form a magnetic field about said distal end of said catheter; locating the position of said magnet in said distal end of said catheter by moving a magnetic finder device over the surface of the skin adjacent to the magnet positioned in the distal end of the catheter within the heart; and fixing a holding magnet on the body outside the heart in place. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification