Magnetically navigable telescoping catheter and method of navigating telescoping catheter
First Claim
1. A method of navigating the distal end of a catheter within the body into contact with specific body structures, the method comprising:
- providing a magnetically navigable catheter comprising a sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, an extension member having a proximal end and a distal end, the extension member being slidably mounted in the sheath so that the distal end portion of the extension member telescopes from the distal end of the sheath, the distal end portion of the extension member being relatively more flexible than the distal end of the sheath; and
at least one magnet on the distal end portion of the extension member;
introducing the distal end of the magnetically navigable catheter into the part of the body where the distal end will be used to contact the specific body structures;
moving the distal end into contact with a body structure by applying an external magnetic field and selectively telescoping extension member relative to the sheath to bring the electrode on the distal end of the extension member into contact with the specific body structure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetically navigable catheter includes a sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, and an extension member having a proximal end and a distal end, slidably mounted in the sheath so that the distal end portion of the extension member telescopes from the distal end of the sheath. The distal end portion of the extension member being relatively more flexible than the distal end of the sheath. There may be one or more electrodes on the distal end of the extension member. There is also at least one magnet, and preferably more than one magnet, on the distal end portion of the extension member to allow the distal end of extension member to be oriented by the application of an externally applied magnetic field. The catheter preferably also includes a sleeve, having a proximal end and a distal end, the sleeve being slidably mounted in the sheath so that the distal end portion of the sleeve telescopes from the distal end of the sheath, so that the sleeve can be selectively extended and retracted relative to the sheath, and the extension member can be selectively extended and retracted relative to the sleeve. According to the method of this invention, the distal end of the electrode catheter is introduced into the part of the body where the electrode will be used to contact the specific body structures, and the electrode is moved into contact with the body structure by applying an external magnetic field and selectively telescoping the extension member relative to the sheath to bring the electrode on the distal end of the extension member into contact with the specific body structure.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of navigating the distal end of a catheter within the body into contact with specific body structures, the method comprising:
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providing a magnetically navigable catheter comprising a sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, an extension member having a proximal end and a distal end, the extension member being slidably mounted in the sheath so that the distal end portion of the extension member telescopes from the distal end of the sheath, the distal end portion of the extension member being relatively more flexible than the distal end of the sheath; and
at least one magnet on the distal end portion of the extension member;
introducing the distal end of the magnetically navigable catheter into the part of the body where the distal end will be used to contact the specific body structures;
moving the distal end into contact with a body structure by applying an external magnetic field and selectively telescoping extension member relative to the sheath to bring the electrode on the distal end of the extension member into contact with the specific body structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An magnetically navigable electrode catheter comprising:
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a sheath having a proximal end and a distal end;
a sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end, the sleeve being slidably mounted in the sheath so that the distal end portion of the sleeve telescopes from the distal end of the sheath;
an extension member having a proximal end and a distal end, the extension member being slidably mounted in the sleeve so that the distal end portion telescopes from the distal end of the sleeve, the distal end portion of the extension member being relatively more flexible than the distal end of the sleeve;
at least one electrode on the distal end of the extension member; and
the distal end portion of the extension member comprises a hollow flexible tube with a plurality of magnets disposed therein to allow the distal end of extension member to be oriented by the application of an externally applied magnetic field the plurality of magnets being relatively closely spaced within the hollow flexible tube, but spaced proximally from the at least one electrode on the distal end to form a flex point in the extension member between the magnets and the at least one electrode.
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8. An magnetically navigable electrode catheter comprising:
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a sheath having a proximal end and a distal end;
a sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end, the sleeve being slidably mounted in the sheath so that the distal end portion of the sleeve telescopes from the distal end of the sheath;
an extension member having a proximal end and a distal end, the extension member being slidably mounted in the sleeve so that the distal end portion telescopes from the distal end of the sleeve, the distal end portion of the extension member being relatively more flexible than the distal end of the sleeve;
at least one electrode on the distal end of the extension member; and
the distal end portion of the extension member comprises a hollow flexible tube with a plurality of magnets disposed therein to allow the distal end of extension member to be oriented by the application of an externally applied magnetic field the plurality of magnets being relatively closely spaced within the hollow flexible tube, and wherein the tube can telescope out of the sleeve beyond the most proximal of the magnets, to form a flex point in the extension member between the magnets and the sleeve.
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9. A method of mapping the electrical characteristics of the left atrium of the heart comprising:
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providing a magnetically navigable electrode catheter comprising a sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end, an extension member having a proximal end and a distal end, the extension member being slidably mounted in the sleeve so that the distal end portion telescopes from the distal end of the sleeve, the distal end portion of the extension member being relatively more flexible than the distal end of the sleeve;
at least one electrode on the distal end of the extension member; and
at least one magnet on the distal end portion of the extension member;
introducing the distal end of the magnetically navigable electrode catheter into left atrium;
moving the electrode into contact with a selected point on the surface of the left atrium by applying an external magnetic field and selectively telescoping extension member relative to the sleeve to bring the electrode on the distal end of the extension member into contact with the specific point on the surface of the left atrium;
measuring the electrical characteristics of the left atrium between the electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of therapeutically ablating tissue in the left atrium of the heart comprising:
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providing a magnetically navigable electrode catheter comprising a sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end, an extension member having a proximal end and a distal end, the extension member being slidably mounted in the sleeve so that the distal end portion telescopes from the distal end of the sleeve, the distal end portion of the extension member being relatively more flexible than the distal end of the sleeve;
at least one electrode on the distal end of the extension member; and
at least one magnet on the distal end portion of the extension member;
introducing the distal end of the magnetically navigable electrode catheter into left atrium;
moving the electrode into contact with a selected point on the surface of the left atrium by applying an external magnetic field and selectively telescoping extension member relative to the sleeve to bring the electrode on the distal end of the extension member into contact with the specific point on the surface of the left atrium; and
applying an RF signal to the tissue in contact with the electrode to ablate the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification