Low profile defibrillation catheter

• US 5,649,974 A
• Filed: 08/28/1995
• Issued: 07/22/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ela Medical S.A. (LivaNova Plc)
• Original Assignee: Angeion Corporation (Niterra Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kroll, Mark W., Nelson, Randall S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHAETZLE, KENNEDY
• Application Number:
  US08/520,533
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 607/122, 607/123, 607/119, 607/5, 607/4, 128/642, 29/857, 29/825
• US Class Current: 607/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0563 specially adapted for defibrillation or cardioversion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A low profile defibrillation catheter is disclosed which is much thinner than existing devices. The thin structure is provided by using the current conductor coil as a first electrode coil and the same materials as the conductor for the second electrode. The second electrode coil is bonded to the second conductor coil and wound in the same direction. The thin design is motivated by an electrical field analysis which reveals that the length of the catheter is the important determinant of defibrillation efficacy, and that the large radius and surface area of prior art devices were less beneficial.

Claims

1. A low profile defibrillation catheter comprising:

a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one defibrillation electrode located on an exterior surface of the catheter between the proximal end and the distal end and electrically connected to an electrical connector on the proximal end, the defibrillation electrode being electrically bonded to an underlying, insulated conductor coil electrically connected to the electrical connector at the proximal end, and wherein the electrode coil and the conductor coil are wound in the same direction.

2. The defibrillation catheter of claim 1 wherein the catheter includes two defibrillation electrodes, each defibrillation electrode being an electrode coil having a maximum diameter of less than 6 French.

3. The defibrillation catheter of claim 1 wherein the maximum diameter is less than 6 French.

4. The defibrillation catheter of claim 1 wherein the defibrillation electrode has a longitudinal length that is more than thirty times the maximum diameter.

5. The defibrillation catheter of claim 1 wherein the electrode coil and the conductor coil are mechanically and electrically bonded together at a distal end of each.

6. The defibrillation catheter of claim 5 further comprising a cylindrical metallic element coaxial with the distal end of the electrode coil and the conductor coil to which the electrode coil and the conductor coil are mechanically and electrically bonded.

7. A multiple electrode defibrillation catheter comprising:

a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and a conductor coil extending longitudinally therebetween, the conductor coil electrically connected to a first electrical connector located at the proximal end;

a first flexible, dielectric tubular member coaxially surrounding the conductor coil for a longitudinal length;

a first electrode coil coaxially surrounding the first tubular member for a longitudinal length less than the longitudinal length of the first tubular member and electrically connected to a second electrical connector located at the proximal end;

a second flexible, dielectric tubular member coaxially surrounding the longitudinal length of the first electrode coil;

a second electrode coil coaxially surrounding the conductor coil and having a proximal end located beyond the longitudinal length of the first electrode coil; and

means for electrically and mechanically bonding at least a coaxial portion of the conductor coil and the second electrode coil,

such that the conductor coil and the second electrode coil are wound in the same direction.

8. The multiple electrode defibrillation catheter of claim 7 further comprising:

a third flexible, dielectric tubular member coaxially surrounding a distal portion of the first electrode coil and a proximal portion of the second electrode coil and extending longitudinally therebetween.

9. The multiple electrode defibrillation catheter of claim 7 further comprising:

a tip secured to the distal end of the catheter and having a bore into which a distal end of the conductor coil and the second electrode coil are inserted.

10. The multiple electrode defibrillation catheter of claim 7 wherein the first and the second electrode coils each have a maximum diameter of less than 6 French.

11. The multiple electrode defibrillation catheter of claim 10 where the maximum diameter is less than 4 French.

12. The multiple electrode defibrillation catheter of claim 7 wherein at least one of the first and second electrode coils has a longitudinal length that is more than thirty times a maximum diameter of the electrode coil.

13. The multiple electrode defibrillation catheter of claim 7 wherein the conductor coil and the second electrode coil are mechanically and electrically bonded together at a distal end of each.

14. The multiple electrode defibrillation catheter of claim 7 further comprising a cylindrical metallic element coaxial to which at least a portion of the conductor coil and the second electrode coil are mechanically and electrically bonded.

15. A multiple electrode cardioversion defibrillation transvenous catheter for defibrillating a human heart,

a. first and a second electrical connector covered with a dielectric insulating material, except for the most proximal portions thereof;

b. a junction member, covered with a dielectric insulating material, and with a bifurcated proximal end and a distal end,

joined to the first and second electrical connectors at each of the proximal furcations of the junction member, thereby forming a continuous outer surface of insulating dielectric material impervious to penetration by body fluids;

c. a first dielectric flexible plastic tubular member, a second dielectric flexible plastic tubular member, a first flexible wound electrode coil longer than the first tubular member and a flexible wound conductor coil,

the proximal end of the conductor coil coaxially disposed within the second tubular member, the second tubular member coaxially disposed within the first electrode coil, the proximal portion of the first electrode coil disposed within the first tubular member, the first tubular member joined to the distal end of the junction member, thereby forming a continuous outer surface of insulating dielectric material, impervious to penetration to body fluids, the proximal end of the first electrode coil in electrical communication with the distal end of the first electrical connector within the junction member and the proximal end of the conductor coil in electrical communication with the distal end of the second electrical connector within the junction member, the second tubular member extending the length of the conductor coil, the first electrode coil extending past the distal end of the first tubular member, thereby becoming exposed;

d. a third dielectric flexible tubular member with a proximal flared end and a distal flared end,

the exposed distal end of the first electrode coil residing within the proximal flared end of the third tubular member, the conductor coil and second tubular member coaxially disposed within the portion of the third tubular member distal to the proximal flared end and distal to the distal end of the first electrode coil;

e. a second flexible wound electrode coil and a tined metal catheter tip,

the second electrode coil coaxially disposed around the second tubular member, the second tubular member coaxially disposed around the conductor coil, the proximal end of the second electrode coil disposed within the distal flared end of the third tubular member, the distal end of the second electrode coil disposed within the metal catheter tip, at least one of the electrode coils with an exposed length of at least about 30 times the maximum electrode diameter; and

f. means for rigidly and electrically bonding the distal end of the second electrode coil to the conductor coil, the second electrode coil coiled in the same direction as the conductor coil, the second electrode coil thereby being in electrical communication with the second electrical connector.

16. The catheter of claim 15, in which at least one electrode coil has a maximum diameter of less than 6 French and a length of at least 30 times the maximum electrode coil diameter.

17. A method of constructing a multiple electrode cardioversion defibrillation transvenous catheter for defibrillating a human heart, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a first and a second electrical connector covered with a dielectric insulating material, except for the most proximal portions thereof;

b. joining the first and second electrical connectors using a junction member, covered with a dielectric insulating material, and having a bifurcated proximal end and a distal end, thereby forming a continuous outer surface of insulating dielectric material impervious to penetration by body fluids;

c. providing a first dielectric flexible plastic tubular member, a second dielectric flexible plastic tubular member, a first flexible wound electrode coil longer than the first tubular member and a flexible wound conductor coil, the proximal end of the conductor coil being coaxially disposed within the second tubular member, the second tubular member being coaxially disposed within the first electrode coil, the proximal portion of the first electrode coil disposed within the first tubular member, the first tubular member joined to the distal end of the junction member, thereby forming a continuous outer surface of insulating dielectric material, impervious to penetration to body fluids, the proximal end of the first electrode coil in electrical communication with the distal end of the first electrical connector within the junction member and the proximal end of the conductor coil in electrical communication with the distal end of the second electrical connector within the junction member, the second tubular member extending the length of the conductor coil, the first electrode coil extending past the distal end of the first tubular member, thereby becoming exposed;

d. providing a third dielectric flexible tubular member with a proximal flared end and a distal flared end, the exposed distal end of the first electrode coil residing within the proximal flared end of the third tubular member, the conductor coil and second tubular member being coaxially disposed within the portion of the third tubular member distal to the proximal flared end and distal to the distal end of the first electrode coil;

e. providing a second flexible wound electrode coil and a tined metal catheter tip, the second electrode coil being coaxially disposed around the second tubular member, the second tubular member being coaxially disposed around the conductor coil, the proximal end of the second electrode coil disposed within the distal flared end of the third tubular member, the distal end of the second electrode coil disposed within the metal catheter tip, at least one of the electrode coils with an exposed length of at least about 30 times the maximum electrode diameter; and

f. rigidly and electrically bonding the distal end of the second electrode coil to the conductor coil, the second electrode coil coiled in the same direction as the conductor coil, the second electrode coil thereby being in electrical communication with the second electrical connector.

18. The method of claim 17 in which step f is accomplished by laser welding, resistance welding or crimping.

19. The method of claim 17 in which step f is accomplished by laser welding a metallic pin to the distal end of the second electrode coil and the conductor coil.

20. The method of claim 17 in which step f is accomplished by resistance welding a metallic pin to the distal end of the second electrode coil and the conductor coil.

21. The method of claim 17 in which step f is accomplished by crimping a metallic pin to the distal end of the second electrode and the conductor coil.

22. The method of claim 17 in which step f is accomplished by laser welding a metallic tube to the distal end of the second electrode coil and the conductor coil.

23. The method of claim 17 in which step f is accomplished by resistance welding a metallic tube to the distal end of the second electrode coil and the conductor coil.

24. The method of claim 17 in which step f is accomplished by crimping a metallic tube to the distal end of the second electrode and the conductor coil.

25. The method of claim 17 in which step f is accomplished by laser welding a metallic pin and a metallic tube to the distal end of the second electrode coil and the conductor coil.

26. The method of claim 17 in which step f is accomplished by resistance welding a metallic pin and a metallic tube to the distal end of the second electrode coil and the conductor coil.

27. The method of claim 17 in which step f is accomplished by crimping a metallic pin and a metallic tube to the distal end of the second electrode and the conductor coil.