Irrigated ablation catheter assembly having a flow member to create parallel external flow
First Claim
1. An irrigated ablation catheter assembly comprising:
- a catheter including a catheter shaft having a lumen;
an irrigated ablation electrode assembly including a proximal portion and a distal portion disposed distally of the proximal portion,the proximal portion having a body portion including an outer surface, an inner cavity within the body portion, and at least one passageway that extends from the inner cavity to the outer surface of the body portion; and
a flow member having a body including a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the flow member is coupled or connected to the catheter shaft and the distal end of the flow member is disposed about the proximal portion of the electrode assembly so as to overlay an outlet for the passageway,further wherein the body of the flow member includes a plurality of axial passageways disposed within an inner surface of the body, the passageways extending within a portion of the body to the distal end of the body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to irrigated ablation catheter assemblies and methods of facilitating parallel irrigation fluid flow along irrigated assemblies. An irrigated catheter assembly according to an embodiment includes a catheter, an irrigated ablation electrode assembly, and a flow member. The catheter includes a catheter shaft having a fluid lumen. The irrigated ablation electrode assembly includes a proximal portion having at least one irrigation passageway and a distal portion. The proximal portion of the electrode assembly may include a proximal member and the distal portion of the electrode assembly may include a distal member which is connected to the proximal member. The proximal end of the flow member is coupled or connected to the catheter shaft and the distal end of the flow member is disposed about the proximal portion of the electrode assembly. Fluid flows through the irrigated electrode assembly and is guided, at least in part, along the outer surface of the proximal portion by the flow member towards the distal portion along the outer surface of the distal portion substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the electrode assembly.
83 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An irrigated ablation catheter assembly comprising:
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a catheter including a catheter shaft having a lumen; an irrigated ablation electrode assembly including a proximal portion and a distal portion disposed distally of the proximal portion, the proximal portion having a body portion including an outer surface, an inner cavity within the body portion, and at least one passageway that extends from the inner cavity to the outer surface of the body portion; and a flow member having a body including a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the flow member is coupled or connected to the catheter shaft and the distal end of the flow member is disposed about the proximal portion of the electrode assembly so as to overlay an outlet for the passageway, further wherein the body of the flow member includes a plurality of axial passageways disposed within an inner surface of the body, the passageways extending within a portion of the body to the distal end of the body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An irrigated ablation electrode assembly comprising:
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a proximal portion and a distal portion which is disposed distally of the proximal portion;
the proximal portion having a body portion including an outer surface, an inner cavity within the body portion, and at least one passageway that extends from the inner cavity to at least one orifice at the outer surface of the body portion in a direction generally toward the distal portion at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the electrode assembly;
the distal portion having a distal end and an outer surface;means for guiding a fluid flowing out of the at least one orifice at the outer surface of the body portion to flow along at least a portion of the outer surface of the distal portion in a direction generally parallel to the outer surface portion toward the distal end; and a support member configured to be disposed between the means for guiding a fluid and a catheter shaft portion disposed proximate the proximal portion so as to provide a circumferential space between a portion of the means for guiding a fluid and a portion of the proximal portion. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for facilitating parallel fluid flow along an irrigated electrode assembly, the method comprising:
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providing a flow member having a body including a proximal end and a distal end, a catheter shaft, and an irrigated electrode assembly having a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the proximal end of the body is connected to the catheter shaft and the distal end of the body is disposed about an outer surface of the proximal portion of the irrigated electrode assembly, further wherein the body of the flow member includes an expanded portion disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, the expanded portion having a greater inner diameter than the inner diameter of adjacent portions of the proximal end and distal end; delivering fluid to an inner cavity of the proximal portion of the electrode assembly and to at least one passageway that extends from the inner cavity of the proximal portion to the outer surface of the proximal portion, wherein the fluid flows between the outer surface of the proximal portion and the flow member towards the distal portion of the irrigated electrode assembly substantially in parallel with a longitudinal axis of the electrode assembly. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification