Electrode catheter having coil structure
First Claim
1. A catheter comprising:
- a catheter body;
a first strip;
a second strip;
a first electrode located on the first strip; and
a second electrode located on the second strip;
wherein the first and second strips are connected to the catheter body to form an expandable helical coil, the first and second electrodes remaining a constant distance apart when the coil is being expanded, the first and second strips being electrically conductive, an insulating material partially covering the first and second strips, and the first and second electrodes being formed at exposed portions of the first and second strips.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A coil is located at the distal working end of an electrode catheter. The coil includes two parallel electrically conductive strips separated by a narrow gap. The strips are covered with insulation, and are connected respectively to electrical leads having opposite polarity. Electrodes are formed by removing portions of the insulation from the strips. The coil can be expanded to define an increased effective diameter at the working end of the catheter. An RF field produced along the helical path defined by the strips of the coil is unaffected by the expanded state of the coil. The energy from the RF field heats the surrounding venous tissue and causes a reduction in the diameter of the vein. The expanded coil mechanically prevents the vein from shrinking beyond the effective diameter defined by the expanded coil and the patency of the vein is maintained for venous function.
1010 Citations
64 Claims
-
1. A catheter comprising:
-
a catheter body;
a first strip;
a second strip;
a first electrode located on the first strip; and
a second electrode located on the second strip;
wherein the first and second strips are connected to the catheter body to form an expandable helical coil, the first and second electrodes remaining a constant distance apart when the coil is being expanded, the first and second strips being electrically conductive, an insulating material partially covering the first and second strips, and the first and second electrodes being formed at exposed portions of the first and second strips. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A catheter comprising:
-
a working end having a first segment and a second segment;
a first conductive band having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the first segment, the second end being attached to the second segment, wherein the first conductive band is formed into a coil at the working end;
a second conductive band located parallel to the first conductive band;
an insulating gap separating the first conductive band from the second conductive band;
an insulating material substantially covering the first conductive band and the second conductive band such that a plurality of portions of the first conductive band and the second conductive band remain exposed;
wherein each exposed portion of the first conductive band alternates with an exposed portion of the second conductive band along a path defined by the first conductive band, and each exposed portion of the second conductive band alternates with an exposed portion of the first conductive band along a path defined by the second conductive band. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A catheter comprising:
-
a working end having a first segment and a second segment, the second segment being movable relative to the first segment for a first distance;
a first conductive band having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the first segment, the second end being attached to the second segment, wherein the first conductive band is formed into a coil at the working end;
a second conductive band located parallel to the first conductive band;
an insulating gap separating the first conductive band from the second conductive band;
an insulating material partially covering the first conductive band and the second conductive band such that an exposed first portion of the first conductive band and an exposed second portion of the second conductive band are not covered by the insulating material;
wherein the exposed first portion of the first conductive band is parallel to and has substantially the same length as the exposed second portion of the second conductive band. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A catheter comprising:
-
a catheter body having a working end;
a coil having a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end of the coil being connected to the catheter body at the working end, the coil being capable of expanding to define a substantially cylindrical surface area having an effective diameter; and
means for applying energy along the coil wherein the coil having sufficient strength to mechanically prevent shrinkage of surrounding tissue heated by the means for applying energy beyond the effective diameter defined by the coil;
wherein the working end includes a first segment, a second segment constructed to controllably move relative to the first segment, and the effective diameter defined by the coil increases at the working end as the second segment moves toward the first segment. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 40)
-
-
38. A catheter comprising:
-
a catheter body;
a first strip;
a second strip;
a first electrode located on the first strip; and
a second electrode located on the second strip;
wherein the first and second strips are connected to the catheter body to form an expandable helical coil, the first and second electrodes remaining a constant distance apart when the coil is being expanded, wherein the first electrode is parallel to and has substantially the same length as the second electrode. - View Dependent Claims (39, 41, 42)
-
-
43. A catheter comprising:
-
a catheter body;
a first strip;
a second strip;
an insulating gap between the first strip and the second strip;
a temperature sensor located in the insulating gap;
a first electrode located on the first strip;
a second electrode located on the second strip; and
wherein the first and second strips are connected to the catheter body to form an expandable helical coil, the first and second electrodes remaining a constant distance apart when the coil is being expanded. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
-
-
53. A catheter comprising:
-
a catheter body having a working end;
a coil having a first and a second end connected to the catheter at the working end, the coil being capable of expanding to define a substantially cylindrical surface area having an effective diameter;
means for applying energy along the coil ,wherein the coil having sufficient strength to mechanically prevent shrinkage of surrounding tissue heated by the means for applying energy beyond the effective diameter defined by the coil; and
a balloon located between the first end of the coil and the second end of the coil. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56)
-
-
57. A catheter comprising:
-
catheter body;
a first strip;
a second strip;
a first electrode located on the first strip;
a second electrode located on the second strip; and
wherein the first and second strips are connected to the catheter body to form an expandable helical coil, the first and second electrodes remaining a constant distance apart when the coil is being expanded, the first and second strips having sufficient strength when expanded to mechanically prevent shrinkage of surrounding tissue heated by the first and second electrodes to a selected diameter defined by the first and second strips. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
-
Specification