Steerable catheter

• US 5,807,324 A
• Filed: 04/01/1996
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Procath Corp. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Procath Corp. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Griffin, Joseph C. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Coggins, Wynn Wood
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gring, N. Kent
• Application Number:
  US08/625,866
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 604/21, 604/95, 604/280, 604/281, 604/164, 604/264, 128/656-658, 128/772, 607/115, 607/116, 607/148
• US Class Current: 604/529
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 with regions for increasing flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0152 with pre-shaped mechanisms, e.g. pre-shaped stylets or pre-shaped outer tubes

Abstract

A steerable catheter comprises an elongated flexible member that has a proximal end and a distal end. The flexible member further has a plurality of lumens which extend from the proximal end to the distal end thereof. In one embodiment, a stylet is slidably receivable in one of the lumens and has a bent portion formed along the length thereof. The bent portion causes a segment of the flexible member in contact with the same to bend. In a second embodiment, the stylet is straight and the flexible member has a bent portion. In yet another embodiment, both the stylet and flexible member include a bent portion. A plurality of electrodes are secured around the periphery of the flexible member in a predetermined pattern. A plurality of electrical leads extend through the proximal end of the flexible member and through a corresponding one of the plurality of lumens. The electrical leads are adapted to supply electrical current to the electrodes.

Claims

1. A steerable catheter comprising:

an elongated flexible member having a proximal end and a distal end, said flexible member further having a plurality of lumens, each of said lumens extending from said proximal end to said distal end thereof;

a stylet having a first end and a second end, said stylet being insertable in one of said lumens, said stylet further having a bent portion formed along the length thereof, and a J-shaped tip adjacent said first end, said bent portion and said tip causing segments of said flexible member in contact with said bent portion and said tip to bend;

a plurality of electrode means secured around the periphery of said flexible member in a predetermined pattern, and

a plurality of electrical leads, each of said electrical leads extending through said proximal end of said flexible member and through a corresponding one of said plurality of lumens, said electrical leads being connected to said electrode means.

2. The catheter of claim 1 further including a manifold extending outwardly from said proximal end of said flexible member, and wherein each of said electrical leads partially extends through said manifold into a corresponding one of said plurality of lumens.

3. The catheter of claim 1 further including a stylet tube extending proximally from one of said lumens, said stylet being insertable through said stylet tube and into said lumen.

4. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said electrode means includes an electrode cap secured around said distal end of said flexible member and an electrode band secured around said flexible member and spaced from said electrode cap.

5. A steerable catheter comprising:

an elongated flexible member having a proximal end and a distal end, said flexible member having a J-shaped tip located adjacent said distal end thereof, said flexible member further having a plurality of lumens, each of said lumens extending from said proximal end to said distal end thereof;

a stylet having a first end and a second end, said stylet being insertable in one of said lumens, said stylet further having a first bent portion formed along the length thereof, and a second bent portion which is offset from said first bent portion, said first and second bent portions causing said tip of said flexible member to rotate as said first and second bent portions approach said tip through said lumen therein;

a plurality of electrode means secured around the periphery of said flexible member in a predetermined pattern, and

a plurality of electrical leads, each of said electrical leads extending through said proximal end of said flexible member and through a corresponding one of said plurality of lumens, said electrical leads being connected to said electrode means.

6. The catheter of claim 5 further including a manifold extending outwardly from said proximal end of said flexible member, and wherein each of said electrical leads partially extends through said manifold into a corresponding one of said plurality of lumens.

7. The catheter of claim 5 further including a stylet tube extending proximally from one of said lumens, said stylet being insertable through said stylet tube into said lumen.

8. The catheter of claim 7 wherein said electrode means includes an electrode cap secured around said distal end of said flexible member and an electrode band secured around said flexible member and spaced from said electrode cap.