Loop structures for supporting multiple electrode elements

• US 6,332,880 B1
• Filed: 12/19/1996
• Issued: 12/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: EP Technology (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EP Technology (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Yang, Yi, McGee, David L., Whayne, James G, Thompson, Russell B, Fleischman, Sidney D
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bianco, Patricia
• Application Number:
  US08/769,856
• Time in Patent Office: 1,832 Days
• Field of Search: 604/95, 604/264, 604/280, 604/104, 604/113, 604/114, 604/523, 604/528, 604/532-34, 604/95.01, 604/95.04, 607/99, 607/122, 607/125
• US Class Current: 604/528
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00065 porous
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00553 Sphincter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00797 measured by multiple temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 Loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/142 at least partly surrounding the target, e.g. concave, curved or in the form of a cave
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/015 Details of the distal fixation of the movable mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0163 Looped catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0043 characterised by structural features
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/01 Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters A61M25/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0144 having flexible regions as a result of inner reinforcement means, e.g. struts or rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0152 with pre-shaped mechanisms, e.g. pre-shaped stylets or pre-shaped outer tubes
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2201/12 Shape memory

Abstract

A catheter assembly comprises a sheath, which includes a side wall enclosing an interior bore, a distal region, and an opening in the sidewall. The assembly also comprises a bendable catheter tube, which is carried for sliding movement in the interior bore. The catheter tube has a distal portion. The assembly further comprises a coupling, which joins the distal region of the sheath and the distal portion of the catheter tube. The coupling causes bending of the catheter tube outwardly through the opening, in response to sliding movement of the catheter tube within the interior bore toward the distal region of the sheath.

Claims

1. An assembly, comprising:

an outer member including a side wall defining an interior bore, a distal region, and an opening in the sidewall,

a flexible member located within the interior bore, defining a distal region and including a prebent region that bows relative to the distal region of the flexible member when outside the outer member,

a coupler fixedly connected to the distal region of the outer member and the distal region of the flexible member such that the distal region of the flexible member will bow outwardly through the opening and the prebent region will bow relative to the distal region of the flexible member in response to sliding movement of the flexible member toward the distal region of the outer member, and

at least one operative element on the flexible member.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operative element comprises an electrode.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupler is directly connected to the distal region of the outer member and the distal region of the flexible member.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible member comprises a catheter tube.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible member defines a distal end and the coupler is connected to the distal end of the flexible member.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer member defines a distal end and the coupler is connected to the distal end of the outer member.

7. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bending of the flexible member forms a loop extending outwardly of the opening.

8. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the coupler comprises a flexible joint.

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one operative element is located on the distal region of the flexible member.

10. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prebent region includes a spline.

11. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prebent region bows radially away from the distal region of the flexible member.

12. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prebent region and distal region of the flexible member together define a substantially symmetric loop.

13. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prebent region has a generally uniform bend.

14. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prebent region bends in a single plane.

15. An assembly, comprising:

an outer member including a proximal portion having an inner surface defining a proximal interior bore, a distal portion having an inner surface defining a distal interior bore, and a portion defining an opening located between the proximal and distal portions,

a flexible member carried for sliding movement within the outer member, the flexible member having a distal portion with an outer surface secured to the inner surface of the distal portion of the outer member such that the flexible member will bend outwardly through the opening in response to sliding movement of the flexible member within the interior bore toward the distal region of the outer member, and

at least one operative element carried by the flexible member.

16. An assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the outer member defines a distal-most end and a distal opening at the distal-most end and the flexible member extends through the distal opening.

17. An assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the at least one operative element comprises an electrode.

18. An assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the flexible member comprises a catheter tube.

19. An assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the outer member comprises a sheath.

20. An assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the distal interior bore of the outer member and the outer surface of the flexible member are substantially the same size.

21. An assembly, comprising:

an outer member including a side wall defining an interior bore, a distal region, and an opening,

a flexible member located within the interior bore, defining a distal region and including a prebent region that bows relative to the distal region of the flexible member when outside the outer member, and

a coupler associated with the distal region of the outer member and the distal region of the flexible member such that the distal region of the flexible member will bow outwardly through the opening and the prebent region will bow relative to the distal region of the flexible member in response to sliding movement of the flexible member toward the distal region of the outer member.

22. An assembly as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:

at least one operative element on the flexible member.

23. An assembly as claimed in claim 22, wherein the at least one operative element comprises an electrode.

24. An assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the flexible member comprises a catheter tube.

25. An assembly according to claim 21, wherein the coupler comprises a flexible joint.

26. An assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the outer member comprises a sheath.

27. An assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the prebent region includes a spline.

28. An assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the prebent region bows radially away from the distal region of the flexible member.

29. An assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the prebent region and distal region of the flexible member together define a substantially symmetric loop.

30. An assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the prebent region has a generally uniform bend.

31. An assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the prebent region bends in a single plane.