Magnetically guided catheter with concentric needle port

• US 8,480,653 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biosense Webster Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Biosense Webster Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Birchard, Christopher J., Creed, Jerett A., Wong, Wai Chung
• Primary Examiner(s): SHUMATE, VICTORIA PEARL
• Application Number:
  US12/125,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20090018497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,874 Days
• Field of Search: 604/95.01, 604/264, 604/272, 604/523, 604/528, 606 41- 52
• 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 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00839 Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3975 active
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/73 Manipulators for magnetic surgery
• 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 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/283 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0089 Single injection needle protruding axially, i.e. along the longitudinal axis of the catheter, from the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0069 Tip not integral with tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/008 Strength or flexibility characteristics of the catheter tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0082 Catheter tip comprising a tool
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0084 being one or more injection needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0127 Magnetic means; Magnetic markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0158 with magnetic or electrical means, e.g. by using piezo materials, electroactive polymers, magnetic materials or by heating of shape memory materials

Abstract

A catheter adapted for ablation, mapping, injection, and directional control by an external magnetic system has a catheter body, an intermediate section, and a tip section having a tip electrode configured with an omnidirectional distal end and a concentric needle port. The tip electrode houses a magnetic device and a position sensor arranged in an integrated configuration, wherein the configuration facilitates a path in the tip section for a component, including an injection needle, to extend through the tip section for extension and retraction with reduced stress and friction. The integrated configuration is an efficient use of space in the tip electrode that allows the tip section to carry both the position sensor for determining location and orientation of the tip section and the necessary volume of magnetic or magnetizable material to accomplish magnetic navigation. The catheter also includes a very soft and flexible intermediate section and an even softer and more flexible distal transitional section carrying additional magnetic members to facilitate remote magnetic navigation.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising:

a catheter body;

an intermediate section distal of the catheter body; and

a tip section distal of the intermediate section, the tip section having a tip electrode configured with an omnidirectional distal end and a needle port concentric with the distal end of the tip electrode, the tip electrode housing a magnetic device and a position sensor that are assembled to form an integrated configuration, wherein the magnetic device defines a path in the tip section that circumvents the position sensor for a component extending at least between the catheter body and the tip section and adapted to extend and retract from the tip electrode through the needle port.

2. A catheter of claim 1, wherein the path is generally linear.

3. A catheter of claim 1, wherein the path is nonlinear.

4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the path is in communication with the needle port.

5. A catheter of claim 1, wherein the component is an injection needle.

6. A catheter of claim 1, wherein the magnetic device responds to a magnetic surgery system for controlling movement of the tip section.

7. A catheter of claim 1, further comprising a transitional section distal of the intermediate section, the transitional section carrying at least an additional magnetic member.