Basket catheter with improved expansion mechanism

• US 7,522,950 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2007
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Biosense Webster Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Biosense Webster Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Rangel, Maria G., Fuimaono, Kristine B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen; Lee S
• Application Number:
  US11/838,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20070276212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 600/374, 600/509, 607/122
• US Class Current: 600/374
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00053 Mapping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3954 magnetic, e.g. NMR or MRI
• 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 5/283 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6858 with a distal basket, e.g. expandable basket

Abstract

A catheter is provided that has a basket-shaped electrode assembly with an improved mechanism for expanding and contracting the electrode array. The expansion mechanism is designed to permit reproducible reintroduction of the catheter into the heart. The catheter comprises an elongated catheter body having at least one lumen therethrough. A basket-shaped electrode assembly is mounted at the distal end of the catheter body. The basket assembly comprises a plurality of spines connected at their proximal and distal ends, each of which comprises at least one electrode. The basket assembly has an expanded arrangement wherein the spines bow radially outwardly and a collapsed arrangement wherein the spines are arranged generally along the axis of the catheter body. An expander is attached at or near its distal end to the distal ends of the spines and extends through the catheter body. The expander has a proximal end that extends out the proximal end of the catheter body a lumen extending therethrough. In use, the expander can be moved longitudinally relative to the catheter body to expand and contract the basket-shaped electrode assembly. The lumen that extends through the expander permits the catheter to be introduced into the heart over a guidewire. If the catheter is removed and subsequently reintroduced over the guidewire, the basket-shaped electrode assembly can be easily reintroduced to its original position.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising:

an elongated catheter body having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen therethrough;

a control handle;

a basket-shaped electrode assembly at the distal end of the catheter body, the basket assembly having proximal and distal ends and comprising a plurality of spines connected at their proximal and distal ends, each spine comprising at least one electrode, the basket assembly having an expanded arrangement wherein the spines bow radially outwardly and a collapsed arrangement wherein the spines are arranged generally along the axis of the catheter body; and

an expander attached at or near its distal end to the distal ends of the spines and extending through the catheter body, having a proximal end that extends out the proximal end of the catheter body and terminates in the control handle, whereby, in use, the expander can be moved longitudinally relative to the catheter body to expand and contract the basket-shaped electrode assembly;

wherein the basket assembly at its proximal end includes a first inner tubing configured to provide a tunnel through which the expander can be moved longitudinally relative to the catheter body; and

wherein a second inner tubing is provided at a junction of the basket assembly and catheter body, the second inner tubing being configured to provide a second tunnel through which the expander can be moved longitudinally relative to the junction of the catheter body and basket assembly,

wherein the basket assembly at its proximal end further includes a third tubing around the first inner tubing, the third tubing configured to enable longitudinal movement of electrode lead wires or a sensor cable relative to the catheter body between the first inner tubing and the third tubing, and

wherein the basket assembly at its proximal end further includes a fourth tubing around the third tubing, the fourth tubing configured to hold at least wires of the spines in place between the fourth tubing and the third tubing at the proximal end of the basket assembly.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the expander is isolated within the first inner tubing at the proximal end of the basket assembly.

3. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising a location sensor mounted at or near the distal end of the basket assembly.

4. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the location sensor comprises a bend sensor.

5. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the location sensor comprises a magnetic-field-responsive coil.

6. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising a location sensor mounted at or near the proximal end of the basket assembly.

7. The catheter of claim 6, wherein the location sensor comprises a bend sensor.

8. The catheter of claim 6, wherein the location sensor comprises a magnetic-field-responsive coil.

9. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the basket assembly at its distal end comprises an inner tubing to hold the distal end of the expander.

10. The catheter of claim 9, wherein the basket assembly at its distal end further comprises an outer tubing around the inner tubing, the outer tubing configured to hold at least wires of the spines in place at the distal end of the basket assembly.

11. The catheter of claim 10, wherein the basket assembly at its distal end further comprises a ring mounted over the outer tubing to maintain a generally round shape in the distal end of the basket assembly.

12. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the expander comprises braided polyimide tubing.

13. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising a distal location sensor mounted at or near the distal end of the basket assembly and a proximal location sensor mounted at or near the proximal end of the basket assembly, the sensors configured to provide location information about the electrode on the basket assembly.

14. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the basket assembly comprises at least three spines.

15. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the basket assembly comprises at least five spines.

16. A catheter comprising:

an elongated catheter body having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen therethrough;

a control handle;

a basket-shaped electrode assembly at the distal end of the catheter body, the basket assembly having proximal and distal ends and comprising a plurality of spines connected at their proximal and distal ends, each spine comprising at least one electrode, the basket assembly having an expanded arrangement wherein the spines bow radially outwardly and a collapsed arrangement wherein the spines are arranged generally along the axis of the catheter body; and

an expander attached at or near its distal end to the distal ends of the spines and extending through the catheter body, having a proximal end that extends out the proximal end of the catheter body and terminates in the control handle, whereby, in use, the expander can be moved longitudinally relative to the catheter body to expand and contract the basket-shaped electrode assembly;

wherein the basket assembly at its proximal end includes a first inner tubing configured to provide a tunnel through which the expander can be moved longitudinally relative to the catheter body;

wherein a second inner tubing is provided at a junction of the basket assembly and catheter body, the second inner tubing being configured to provide a second tunnel through which the expander can be moved longitudinally relative to the junction of the catheter body and basket assembly, and

wherein the basket assembly at its distal end comprises an inner tubing to hold the distal end of the expander, the catheter further comprising a location sensor mounted at or near the distal end of the basket assembly, the location sensor being held at the distal end of the basket assembly in the inner tubing.