Conformal catheter

• US 6,063,022 A
• Filed: 04/12/1999
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Biosense, Inc. (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biosense, Inc. (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ben-Haim, Shlomo
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US09/125,927
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/49, 600/407, 600/509, 600/595
• US Class Current: 600/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0056 the insertion parts being asymmetric, e.g. for unilateral bending mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/02 Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3403 Needle locating or guiding means guides for suture needles A61B17/0482; guiding or tracking by nuclear magnetic resonance G01R33/285
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00053 Mapping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00247 Making holes in the wall of the heart, e.g. laser Myocardial revascularization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22008 used or promoted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00392 Transmyocardial revascularisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2272 with reflective or refractive surfaces for deflecting the beam A61B2018/2261, A61B2018/2266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3954 magnetic, e.g. NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3958 : emitting a signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 : Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 : Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/061 : Determining position of a probe within the body employing means separate from the probe, e.g. sensing internal probe position employing impedance electrodes on the surface of the body A61B1/00158 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 : Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6885 : Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0833 : involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0841 : for locating instruments
• 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: A61M 2025/0166 : Sensors, electrodes or the like for guiding the catheter to a target zone, e.g. image guided or magnetically guided
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/01 : Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters A61M25/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0105 : Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning systems for detection of markers A61B
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 : for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 : for high-frequency therapy

Abstract

An invasive probe apparatus includes a flexible, elongate probe having a distal end for insertion into the patient'"'"'s body, first and second position sensors in a fixed, known relation to the distal end for generating signals responsive to their respective position coordinates and at least one contact sensor along a radial surface of the probe for generating a signal representing its contact with body tissue to be ablated by electrodes on the probe.

Claims

1. Invasive probe apparatus comprising:

a flexible, elongate probe, having a distal end for insertion into the body of a subject, comprising;

first and second position sensors, fixed in a known relation to the distal end, which generate signals responsive to position coordinates thereof; and

at least one contact sensor along a radial surface thereof, which generates signals responsive to contact of the radial surface with a surface inside the body; and

signal processing circuitry, which receives the position-responsive and contact-responsive signals and processes them to determine the locations of a plurality of points along the length of a portion of the probe in a vicinity of the first and second position sensors.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the position sensor comprises at least one coil, which generates signals responsive to an externally-applied magnetic field.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing circuitry determines six-dimensional position and orientation coordinates of at least one of the position sensor.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, and comprising a bend sensor.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one contact sensor comprises a pressure sensor.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one contact sensor comprises a proximity sensor.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, and comprising a physiological sensor disposed along the length of the portion of the probe.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 and comprising an ablation device disposed along the length of the portion of the probe.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the ablation device comprises at least one RF electrode, radially disposed along the length of the portion.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the at least one RF electrode comprises a longitudinal row of electrodes.