Loop structures for supporting multiple electrode elements

• US 6,454,758 B1
• Filed: 02/21/2000
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EP Technology (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EP Technology (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: McGee, David L., Yang, Yi, Fleischman, Sidney D., Whayne, James G., Thompson, Russell B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Anhtuan T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lam, Ann Y
• Application Number:
  US09/510,437
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 604/528, 604/524, 604/530, 604/532, 604/533, 604/539, 604/95.01, 604/95.04, 604/164.01, 604/164.08, 604/22, 604/27, 604/20
• 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 25/0138 having flexible regions as a result of weakened outer material, e.g. slots, slits, cuts, joints or coils
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0141 having flexible regions as a result of using materials with different mechanical properties
• 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. A catheter assembly, comprising:

a sheath including a side wall defining an interior bore and a distal end;

a bendable catheter tube carried for sliding movement in the interior bore of the sheath, the catheter tube defining a distal tip region; and

a pivot assembly, associated with the distal end of the sheath and the distal tip region of the catheter tube, including a movable member that is movable relative to the distal end of the sheath.

2. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side wall of the sheath defines an opening, and the catheter tube is secured to the pivot assembly such that the catheter tube will bend outwardly through the opening in the side wall in response to sliding movement of the catheter tube toward the distal region of the sheath.

3. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivot assembly includes a base member and the movable member is movable relative to the base member.

4. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the base member and movable member are formed from substantially rigid material.

5. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable member pivots relative to the distal end of the sheath.

6. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one operative element carried by the catheter tube.

7. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one operative element includes an electrode.

8. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivot assembly is located in spaced relation to the distal end of the sheath.

9. A catheter assembly, comprising:

a sheath including a side wall defining an interior bore and a distal region;

a bendable catheter tube carried for sliding movement in the interior bore of the sheath, the catheter tube defining a distal region; and

a pivot assembly including a base member and a movable member that is movable relative to the base member, the base member having a socket and the movable member having a ball adapted to be received in the socket;

the pivot assembly being associated with the distal region of the sheath and the distal region of the catheter tube such that the movable member is movable relative to at least one of the distal region of the sheath and the distal region of the catheter tube.

10. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

a pin extending across the socket such that the ball is secured within the socket.

11. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the movable member further comprises a connector adapted to be secured to the distal region of the catheter tube and a neck member extending from the ball to the connector.

12. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

at least one operative element carried by the catheter tube.

13. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the at least one operative element includes an electrode.

16. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least one operative element includes an electrode.

14. A catheter assembly, comprising:

a sheath including a side wall defining an interior bore and a distal region;

a bendable catheter tube carried for sliding movement in the interior bore of the sheath, the catheter tube defining a distal region; and

a pivot assembly including a base member and movable member that is movable relative to the base member, the base member defining a slot through which the movable member moves, and the movable member and base member slot being configured such that the movable member is substantially prevented from rotating when a portion thereof is within the slot;

the pivot assembly being associated with the distal region of the sheath and the distal region of the catheter tube such that the movable member is movable relative to at least one of the distal region of the sheath and the distal region of the catheter tube.

15. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

at least one operative element carried by the catheter tube.

17. A catheter assembly, comprising:

a sheath including a side wall defining an interior bore and a distal region;

a bendable catheter tube carried for sliding movement in the interior bore of the sheath, the catheter tube defining a distal region; and

a pivot assembly including a base member and movable member that is movable relative to the base member and pivotably secured to the base member by a pin;

the pivot assembly being associated with the distal region of the sheath and the distal region of the catheter tube such that the movable member is movable relative to at least one of the distal region of the sheath and the distal region of the catheter tube.

18. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

at least one operative element carried by the catheter tube.

19. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein the at least one operative element includes an electrode.

20. A catheter assembly, comprising:

a sheath including a side wall defining a distal region, a distal end, and an interior bore with an inner surface having a shape and a longitudinal axis;

a bendable catheter tube carried for sliding movement in the interior bore of the sheath, the catheter tube defining a distal region, a distal end, a longitudinal axis and an outer surface having a shape; and

a pivot assembly associated with the distal region of the sheath and the distal region of the catheter tube;

wherein the respective shapes of the outer surface of the catheter tube and inner surface of the sheath at at least one location proximally spaced from the distal ends of the catheter tube and sheath are such that rotation of the catheter tube relative to the sheath about the longitudinal axis of the catheter tube will cause at least a portion of the outer surface of the catheter tube to engage the inner surface of the sheath when the longitudinal axis of the catheter tube is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the interior bore at the at least one location.

21. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

at least one operative element carried by the catheter tube.

22. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the at least one operative element includes an electrode.

23. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 20, wherein the respective shapes of the outer surface of the catheter tube and inner surface of the sheath are such that rotation of the catheter tube relative to the sheath is substantially prevented.

24. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 20, wherein the sheath and the catheter tube define respective distal ends and the pivot assembly is adapted to allow the distal end of the catheter tube to pivot at least approximately 180 degrees relative to the distal end of the sheath.

25. A catheter assembly, comprising:

a sheath including a side wall defining a distal region, a distal end, and an interior bore with an inner surface having a shape and a longitudinal axis;

a bendable catheter tube carried for sliding movement in the interior bore of the sheath, the catheter tube defining a distal region, a distal end, a longitudinal axis and an outer surface having a shape; and

a pivot assembly associated with the distal region of the sheath and the distal region of the catheter tube;

wherein the outer surface of the catheter tube and inner surface of the sheath are elliptically keyed at at least one location proximally spaced from the distal ends of the catheter tube and sheath, and rotation of the catheter tube relative to the sheath about the longitudinal axis of the catheter tube will cause at least a portion of the outer surface of the catheter tube to engage the inner surface of the sheath when the longitudinal axis of the catheter tube is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the interior bore at the at least one location.

26. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 25, further comprising:

at least one operative element carried by the catheter tube.

27. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 26, wherein the at least one operative element includes an electrode.

28. A catheter assembly, comprising:

a sheath including a side wall defining a distal region, a distal end, and an interior bore with an inner surface having a shape and a longitudinal axis;

a bendable catheter tube carried for sliding movement in the interior bore of the sheath, the catheter tube defining a distal region, a distal end, a longitudinal axis and an outer surface having a shape; and

a pivot assembly associated with the distal region of the sheath and the distal region of the catheter tube;

wherein the outer surface of the catheter tube defines a non-circular cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the catheter tube at at least one location proximally spaced from the distal ends of the catheter tube and sheath, the sheath includes an outer surface that defines a circular cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sheath at the at least one location, and rotation of the catheter tube relative to the sheath about the longitudinal axis of the catheter tube will cause at least a portion of the outer surface of the catheter tube to engage the inner surface of the-sheath when the longitudinal axis of the catheter tube is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the interior bore at the at least one location.

29. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 28, further comprising:

at least one operative element carried by the catheter tube.

30. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 29, wherein the at least one operative element includes an electrode.

31. A catheter, comprising:

a sheath including a side wall defining a distal region, a distal end, and an interior bore with an inner surface having a shape and a longitudinal axis;

a bendable catheter tube carried for sliding movement in the interior bore of the sheath, the catheter tube defining a distal region, a distal end, a longitudinal axis and an outer surface having a shape; and

a pivot assembly associated with the distal region of the sheath and the distal region of the catheter tube;

wherein the inner surface of the sheath is butterfly shaped at at least one location proximally spaced from the distal end of the sheath and the respective shapes of the outer surface of the catheter tube and inner surface of the sheath at the at least one location are such that rotation of the catheter tube relative to the sheath about the longitudinal axis of the catheter tube will cause at least a portion of the outer surface of the catheter tube to engage the inner surface of the sheath when the longitudinal axis of the catheter tube is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the interior bore at the at least one location.

32. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 31, further comprising:

at least one operative element carried by the catheter tube.

33. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 32, wherein the at least one operative element includes an electrode.

34. A catheter assembly, comprising:

a sheath including a side wall defining a longitudinal axis, an interior bore, a distal end and a distal region;

a bendable catheter tube carried for sliding movement in the interior bore of the sheath, the catheter tube defining a distal tip region; and

a pivot assembly, associated with the distal end of the sheath and the distal tip region of the catheter tube, that allows the distal tip region of the catheter tube to pivot at least approximately 180 degrees relative to the distal end of the sheath about an axis substantially perpendicular to the distal region of the longitudinal axis of the sheath.

35. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 34, wherein the pivot assembly allows the distal region of the catheter tube to pivot at least approximately 270 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis.

36. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 34, further comprising:

at least one operative element carried by the catheter tube.

37. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 36, wherein the at least one operative element includes an electrode.

38. A catheter assembly, comprising:

a sheath including a side wall defining a distal end, a distal region, a distal end, and an interior bore with a longitudinal axis;

a bendable catheter tube, defining a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a distal region, carried for sliding movement in the interior bore of the sheath;

the sheath and catheter tube further including respective distal region portions proximally spaced from the respective distal ends that are longitudinally aligned with one another when the longitudinal axis of the interior bore is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the catheter tube; and

a pivot assembly associated with the distal region of the sheath and the distal region of the catheter tube that allows the distal region portion of the catheter tube to pivot at least approximately 180 degrees relative to the distal end of the sheath about an axis substantially perpendicular to the distal region of the longitudinal axis of the interior bore.

39. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 38, wherein the pivot assembly allows the distal region of the catheter tube to pivot at least approximately 270 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis.

40. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 38, further comprising:

at least one operative element carried by the catheter tube.

41. A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 40, wherein the at least one operative element includes an electrode.