Magnetically guided catheter
First Claim
1. A catheter comprising:
- a flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end;
an electrode assembly attached to the distal end of the flexible tubing and including a first magnet therein, the electrode assembly including an electrically conductive tip electrode and an electrically nonconductive coupler which is connected between the tip electrode and the distal end of the flexible tubing, the coupler and the tip electrode being coupled by an interlocking connection; and
a second magnet spaced from the electrode assembly along a longitudinal axis of the tubing;
wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are responsive to an external magnetic field to selectively position and guide the electrode assembly within a body of a patient.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter includes a flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end. The catheter also includes an electrode assembly attached to the distal end of the flexible tubing and having a first magnet therein. The electrode assembly further includes an electrically conductive tip electrode and an electrically nonconductive coupler which is connected between the tip electrode and the distal end of the flexible tubing. The coupler and the tip electrode are coupled by an interlocking connection. The catheter also includes a second magnet spaced from the electrode assembly along a longitudinal axis of the tubing. The first magnet and the second magnet are responsive to an external magnetic field to selectively position and guide the electrode assembly within a body of a patient.
70 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A catheter comprising:
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a flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end; an electrode assembly attached to the distal end of the flexible tubing and including a first magnet therein, the electrode assembly including an electrically conductive tip electrode and an electrically nonconductive coupler which is connected between the tip electrode and the distal end of the flexible tubing, the coupler and the tip electrode being coupled by an interlocking connection; and a second magnet spaced from the electrode assembly along a longitudinal axis of the tubing; wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are responsive to an external magnetic field to selectively position and guide the electrode assembly within a body of a patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A catheter comprising:
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a flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end; an electrode assembly attached to the distal end of the flexible tubing and including a first magnet therein, the electrode assembly including an electrically conductive tip electrode and an electrically nonconductive coupler which is connected between the tip electrode and the distal end of the flexible tubing; and a second magnet spaced from the electrode assembly along a longitudinal axis of the tubing; wherein the flexible tubing is a unitary tubing, and wherein the second magnet is placed inside the flexible tubing after the unitary flexible tubing is formed; wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are responsive to an external magnetic field to selectively position and guide the electrode assembly within a body of a patient. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification