Catheter positioning system

• US 7,731,681 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2004
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Atrionix, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Atrionix, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Lesh, Michael D., Schaer, Alan K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Van; Quang T
• Application Number:
  US10/805,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20040181188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,269 Days
• Field of Search: 604/95.04, 604/528, 604/523, 604/20, 604/22, 604/105, 600/101, 600/201, 600/208, 600/585, 600/373, 600/374, 128/898, 606/22, 606/34, 606/41, 606/128
• US Class Current: 604/95.04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• 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 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00285 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00839 Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/125 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0668 splittable, tear apart
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2201/12 Shape memory

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system adapted to position a medical device, such as an ablation catheter, at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium. The system optimally includes a deflectable catheter and a sheath. An ablation member is disclosed for use with the positioning system, wherein the deflectable catheter and the sheath cooperate so as to facilitate positioning of the ablation member at the location.

Claims

1. A positioning system for guiding a medical device to a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium, comprising:

a transeptal sheath;

a guiding introducer slidable within the transeptal sheath;

a deflectable catheter having proximal and distal end portions, wherein the medical device is disposed along the distal end portion, and wherein the deflectable catheter is configured to be torquable and steerable; and

a pullwire integrated within the deflectable catheter that is adapted to deflect at least a portion of the distal end portion such that the deflectable catheter may be advanced through the guiding introducer wherein the guiding introducer is pre-shaped to direct the catheter towards the pulmonary vein and the catheter is further directed into the pulmonary vein by manipulation of the pullwire along the proximal end portion.

2. The positioning system of claim 1, wherein the medical device further comprises an electrode element.

3. The positioning system of claim 2, wherein the electrode element comprises a mapping electrode.

4. The positioning system of claim 2, wherein the electrode element comprises an ablation electrode.

5. The positioning system of claim 2, wherein the electrode element comprises both a mapping electrode and an ablation electrode.

6. The positioning system of claim 2, wherein the electrode element is an RF ablation element.

7. The positioning system of claim 1, wherein the medical device further comprises an ablation element.

8. The positioning system of claim 6, wherein the ablation element comprises a microwave ablation element.

9. The positioning system of claim 6, wherein the ablation element comprises a cryogenic ablation element.

10. The positioning system of claim 6, wherein the ablation element comprises a thermal ablation element.

11. The positioning system of claim 6, wherein the ablation element comprises a light-emitting ablation element.

12. The positioning system of claim 6, wherein the ablation element comprises an ultrasound transducer.

13. The positioning system of claim 6, wherein the ablation element is adapted to form a linear lesion.

14. The positioning system of claim 6, wherein the ablation element is adapted to form a circumferential lesion.

15. The positioning system of claim 14, wherein the ablation element is adapted to form the circumferential lesion at the location.