Apparatus for mapping electrical activity in a body and treating tissue

• US 5,908,385 A
• Filed: 02/08/1996
• Issued: 06/01/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Volcano Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.), Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Cardiometrics, Inc. (JOMED NV)
• Inventors: Ortiz, John E., Frisble, Jeffrey S., Corl, Paul D., Chechelski, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US08/599,223
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 128/642, 128/661.08, 128/661.09, 128/662.06, 128/692, 128/702, 607/116, 607/119, 607/122, 606/41, 600/373, 600/374, 600/377, 600/378, 600/381, 600/462, 600/465, 600/467, 600/468, 600/505, 600/585
• US Class Current: 600/374
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/082 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00292 mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/17 Comprising radiolucent components
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6851 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/445 Details of catheter construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0285 Local anaesthetic effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/12 Devices for heating or cooling internal body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09033 with fixed mandrils, e.g. mandrils fixed to tip; Tensionable wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals

Abstract

A guide wire assembly comprises a tubular body having a distal end and an proximal end. At least a portion of the body comprises a single continuous helical spring to which one or more tubular electrodes are secured. The electrodes are insulated from the spring by means of an insulator. The electrodes can take a variety of forms, including conductive ribbons, longitudinally split conductive tubes, tubular sections, etc. The guide wire assembly may further include a variety of sensors, such as velocity sensors or temperature sensors. In order to allow flowable material to be passed to the distal end of the guide wire, the guide wire can include a catheter tube passable over the tubular body of the guide wire.

Claims

1. A guide wire assembly comprising a tubular body having a single continuous helical spring forming at least a portion thereof, an insulative sleeve covering at least a portion of the helical spring, and a tubular electrode mounted on the body over the insulative sleeve with the sleeve insulating the electrode from the spring.

2. The guide wire assembly of claim 1 wherein the assembly has lateral dimensions of from 0.010" to 0.038".

3. The guide wire assembly of claim 1 wherein the electrode is a unipolar electrode.

4. The guide wire assembly of claim 1 wherein the body includes a smooth proximal portion.

5. The guide wire assembly of claim 1 further comprising an electrical conductor connected to the electrode and extending along a lumen within the tubular body.

6. The guide wire assembly of claim 1 further comprising a central core extending along the full length of the tubular body.

7. The guide wire assembly of claim 6 wherein the core comprises an electrical conductor which is connected to the electrode.

8. The guide wire assembly of claim 6 wherein the core decreases in lateral dimension toward a distal end of the tubular body.

9. The guide wire assembly of claim 8 wherein the core decreases in the lateral dimension in a plurality of discrete steps.

10. The guide wire assembly of claim 8 wherein the core decreases in the lateral dimension in a continuous gradual taper.

11. The guide wire assembly of claim 8 wherein a distal end portion of the core is flattened from a point between 1 cm and 1.5 cm from a distal end of the core.

12. The guide wire assembly of claim 1 wherein the insulative sleeve covers the entire helical spring.

13. The guide wire assembly of claim 1 wherein the tubular electrode is secured to the insulative sleeve, and the insulative sleeve is secured to the helical spring.

14. The guide wire assembly of claim 1 further including means connected to the body for sensing the velocity of blood flow in a blood vessel.

15. The guide wire assembly of claim 14 wherein the means for sensing the velocity of blood flow includes a Doppler ultrasound transducer.

16. The guide wire assembly of claim 1 further including a temperature sensor connected to the tubular body.

17. The guide wire assembly of claim 1 further including a catheter tube passable over the tubular body to define a pathway for flowable material.

18. The guide wire assembly of claim 1 wherein a distal portion of the body is covered with a radiopaque material.

19. The guide wire assembly of claim 1 wherein a distal portion of the helical spring is stretched to provide greater flexibility toward a distal end of the body.

20. The guide wire assembly of claim 1 wherein a portion of the helical spring is stretched to permit an electrical conductor to pass from within the tubular body to the electrode.

21. The guide wire assembly of claim 20 wherein the electrode has a longitudinally extending slot formed in one side thereof, and the conductor passes through the body adjacent to one end of the electrode, extends within the slot and is connected to the electrode midway between the ends of the electrode.

22. The guide wire assembly of claim 20 wherein the conductor passes through the body adjacent to one end of the electrode and is connected to the electrode at the one end.

23. The guide wire assembly of claim 1 wherein the insulative sleeve comprises a coating on the helical spring.

24. The guide wire assembly of claim 1 wherein the insulative sleeve comprises an insulative layer on an inner surface of the tubular electrode.

25. The guide wire assembly of claim 1 wherein the electrode comprises a conductive tube which is split longitudinally.

26. The guide wire assembly of claim 1 wherein the electrode comprises a conductive ribbon wound on the insulative sleeve.

27. The guide wire assembly of claim 1 wherein the insulative sleeve is formed by an adhesive which secures the tubular electrode to the helical spring.