Steerable catheter with rotatable tip electrode and method of use
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A catheter comprising:
- (a) a handle,(b) a longitudinally extended shaft connected to said handle,(c) a distal end connected to said shaft, said distal end being bendable with respect to said shaft,(d) a tip electrode mounted on said distal end for axial rotation thereon, and at least one ring electrode mounted on said distal end adjacent to said tip,(e) said tip electrode having a conductive portion and an insulated portion,(f) a first control extending from said handle through said shaft and connected to said distal end and being operable for bending said distal end relative to said shaft,(g) a second control extending from said handle through said shaft to said tip electrode and being operable for axially rotating said tip electrode, so that said conductive portion of said tip electrode may be placed against tissue and said insulated portion may be oriented to face a patient'"'"'s bloodstream.
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Abstract
A catheter, used e.g. for cardiac ablation, has a handle, a shaft, and a J-bendable distal end containing tip and ring electrodes. The tip electrode is axially rotatable and has insulated and uninsulated portions. As the tip electrode is rotated, the impedance between it and a reference level is observed. When the impedance reaches a maximum, this indicates that the uninsulated portion lies against the tissue and the insulated portion faces the bloodstream. An electrogram can be taken from the electrode, or an ablation current can then be applied to it. Short circuiting of the signal or current through the blood is thus reduced.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A catheter comprising:
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(a) a handle, (b) a longitudinally extended shaft connected to said handle, (c) a distal end connected to said shaft, said distal end being bendable with respect to said shaft, (d) a tip electrode mounted on said distal end for axial rotation thereon, and at least one ring electrode mounted on said distal end adjacent to said tip, (e) said tip electrode having a conductive portion and an insulated portion, (f) a first control extending from said handle through said shaft and connected to said distal end and being operable for bending said distal end relative to said shaft, (g) a second control extending from said handle through said shaft to said tip electrode and being operable for axially rotating said tip electrode, so that said conductive portion of said tip electrode may be placed against tissue and said insulated portion may be oriented to face a patient'"'"'s bloodstream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of positioning a catheter in a desired manner over selected tissue within a patient, said catheter having a handle, a longitudinally elongated shaft connected to said handle, a bendable distal end connected to said shaft, a first control connected to said distal end for bending said distal end relative to said shaft to steer said catheter, an axially rotatable electrode on said distal end, and a second control connected to said electrode for axially rotating said electrode, said electrode having a conductive portion and an insulated portion, said method comprising:
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(a) steering said catheter so that said electrode is positioned over said selected tissue, (b) operating said second control to axially rotate said electrode while said electrode is positioned over said selected tissue, (c) monitoring the impedance between said electrode and a reference level as said electrode is axially rotated, (d) determining when said impedance reaches a peak value, said peak value being indicative that said conductive portion of said electrode is lying against said tissue, and; (e) thereby positioning said electrode with said conductive portion lying against said tissue. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification