Mapping electrode balloon
First Claim
1. An electrode balloon for use in anatomical cavities for picking up bioelectrical signals from walls thereof simultaneously in a multitude of sites for the mapping of activation potentials thereof, comprising an inflatable tight member defining a chamber and having an opening at a proximal end thereof in connection with a flexible tube;
- an extensible cover means covering at least said chamber and provided with a plurality of sensor electrodes distributed thereon for contacting the walls of a cavity when said inflatable member is inflated by a fluid conveyed through said tube into said chamber;
insulated electrical conductors connected to said sensor electrodes and adapted for connection to means for recording and processing the signals picked up thereby;
a flexible tutor means extending within said chamber from a distal end of said inflatable member through and past said proximal end thereof for providing said electrode balloon with a handle; and
a flexible intubation guide means adapted to be received in said tutor means and adapted for conferring a shape to said tutor means for facilitating an insertion of said inflatable member into the cavity, said cover means being adapted for conferring to said inflatable member a shape similar to that of the cavity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrode balloon for use in anatomical cavities, such as cardiac chambers, to pick up bioelectrical signals from the walls thereof simultaneously in a multitude of sites for the mapping of the activation potentials thereof comprises an inflated tight rubber balloon having an opening at a proximal end thereof communicating with a filling tube which defines apertures for dispensing fluid in the rubber balloon. An extensible knitting which covers the rubber balloon is provided with a plurality of electrode heads distributed thereon to contact the walls of the cavity when the rubber balloon is inflated by a fluid conveyed therein through the tube. Insulated electrical conductors connect the electrodes to a signal recording and processing device. A tutor extending longitudinally through the rubber balloon and further extending therefrom to form a handle includes two separate longitudinal compartments which constitute the filling tube and a compartment for receiving an intubation guide which serves to guide the knitting covered rubber balloon into the cavity. The electrodes are hollow balls sewn to the knitting and joined to the conducting wires with weldless joints. The knitting is patterned in order to confer to the inflated rubber balloon the shape of the cavity being studied. The electrode balloon is adapted, for instance, to study the left and right ventricles by way of its the insertion through an incision in their respective auricles and through the mitral and tricuspid valves thereof, respectively.
303 Citations
46 Claims
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1. An electrode balloon for use in anatomical cavities for picking up bioelectrical signals from walls thereof simultaneously in a multitude of sites for the mapping of activation potentials thereof, comprising an inflatable tight member defining a chamber and having an opening at a proximal end thereof in connection with a flexible tube;
- an extensible cover means covering at least said chamber and provided with a plurality of sensor electrodes distributed thereon for contacting the walls of a cavity when said inflatable member is inflated by a fluid conveyed through said tube into said chamber;
insulated electrical conductors connected to said sensor electrodes and adapted for connection to means for recording and processing the signals picked up thereby;
a flexible tutor means extending within said chamber from a distal end of said inflatable member through and past said proximal end thereof for providing said electrode balloon with a handle; and
a flexible intubation guide means adapted to be received in said tutor means and adapted for conferring a shape to said tutor means for facilitating an insertion of said inflatable member into the cavity, said cover means being adapted for conferring to said inflatable member a shape similar to that of the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- an extensible cover means covering at least said chamber and provided with a plurality of sensor electrodes distributed thereon for contacting the walls of a cavity when said inflatable member is inflated by a fluid conveyed through said tube into said chamber;
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22. An electrode balloon for use in anatomical cavities for picking up bioelectrical signals from walls thereof simultaneously in a multitude of sites for the mapping of activation potentials thereof, comprising an inflatable tight member defining a chamber;
- means connected to said chamber for filling the inflatable tight member;
an extensible knitting constituted of closely stitched fine threads covering at least said chamber and provided with a plurality of sensor electrodes distributed thereon for contacting the walls of a cavity when said inflatable member is inflated by a fluid conveyed through said means for filling into said chamber;
conductor means connected to said sensor electrodes and adapted for connection to a means for recording and processing the signals picked up thereby; and
a flexible handles extending from said chamber for guiding said inflatable member into the cavity, said knitting being adapted for conferring to said inflatable member a shape similar to that of the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
- means connected to said chamber for filling the inflatable tight member;
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43. A method for picking up bioelectrical signals from the walls of anatomical cavities simultaneously in a multitude of sites for the mapping of activation potentials thereof, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing an electrode balloon comprising an inflatable tight member defining a chamber and having an opening at a proximal end thereof in connection with a flexible tube, an extensible cover means covering at least said chamber and provided with a plurality of sensor electrodes distributed thereon,, insulated electrical conductors connected to said sensor electrodes and to a means for recording and processing the signals picked up thereby, and a flexible tutor means extending within said chamber from a distal end of said inflatable member through and past said proximal end thereof for providing said electrode balloon with a handle; b) introducing in said tutor means a flexible intubation guide adapted for conferring a shape thereto for facilitating an insertion of said inflatable member into a cavity of a patient; c) inserting said inflatable member into the cavity; d) supplying a liquid through said tube in said chamber for inflating said inflatable member, whereby said cover means confers to said inflatable member a shape similar to that of the cavity and said sensor electrodes contact walls of the cavity; and e) picking up by way of said sensor electrodes the bioelectrical signals of the walls of the cavity simultaneously in a multitude of sites. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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45. A method for picking up bioelectrical signals from the walls of anatomical cavities simultaneously in a multitude of sites for the mapping of activation potentials thereof, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing an electrode balloon comprising an inflatable tight member defining a chamber, a flexible filling means connected to said chamber, an extensible knitting constituted of closely stitched fine threads covering at least said chamber and provided with a plurality of sensor electrodes distributed thereon, conductor means connected to said sensor electrodes and connected to a means for recording and processing the signals picked up thereby, and a flexible tubular handle extending from said chamber; b) introducing in said handle a flexible intubation guide adapted for conferring a shape thereto for facilitating an insertion of said inflatable member into a cavity; c) inserting said inflatable member into the cavity; d) supplying a liquid by way of said filling means in said chamber for inflating said inflatable member, whereby said knitting confers to said inflatable member a shape similar to that of the cavity and said sensor electrodes contact walls of the cavity; and e) picking up by way of said sensor electrodes the bioelectrical signals of the walls of the cavity simultaneously in a multitude of sites. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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Specification