Shape-imparting mechanisms for catheter assemblies

• US 8,977,333 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2007
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cathrx Ltd
• Original Assignee: Cathrx Ltd
• Inventors: Anderson, Neil L., Partlett, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGHERTY, SEAN PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US12/299,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20100030112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,867 Days
• Field of Search: 600/549, 600/585, 600/547, 600/374, 604/528, 604/530, 606/41, 606/46, 606/47
• US Class Current: 600/374
• 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 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6856 with a distal loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0161 wherein the distal tips have two or more deflection regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0009 Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0041 pre-formed, e.g. specially adapted to fit with the anatomy of body channels urethral catheters A61F2/04
• 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 25/0152 with pre-shaped mechanisms, e.g. pre-shaped stylets or pre-shaped outer tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 53/083 bending longitudinally, i.e. modifying the curvature of the tube axis

Abstract

A shape-imparting mechanism for a catheter that includes an elongate element dimensioned to fit within a lumen of an electrode sheath of a catheter. An insertion facilitating arrangement is carried at a distal end of the elongate element for facilitating insertion of the distal end of the elongate element into the lumen of the electrode sheath of the catheter.

Claims

1. A catheter assembly, comprising:

an elongate element dimensioned to fit within a lumen of an electrode sheath of a catheter, the elongate element comprising;

a distal end;

a distal part having a curvilinearly shaped portion; and

a bend-enhancing region located proximally of the curvilinearly shaped portion; and

a sleeve being axially displaceable relative to the elongate element between an extended position in which the sleeve collapses the curvilinearly shaped portion of the elongate element into a substantially rectilinear configuration and exposes the bend-enhancing region proximally of the sleeve, and a retracted position in which the curvilinearly shaped portion of the elongate element adopts a curvilinear shape and the sleeve exposes the bend-enhancing region distally of the sleeve to facilitate steering of the curvilinearly shaped portion of the elongate element; and

an electrode sheath receiving the elongate element within a lumen of the electrode sheath, the electrode sheath covering the distal end of the elongate element in the retracted position.

2. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein a tip of the distal end of the elongate element is rounded to aid insertion into the lumen of the electrode sheath of the catheter.

3. The catheter assembly of claim 2, wherein the elongate element includes a withdrawal inhibiting means at the distal end to inhibit withdrawal of the distal end into the sleeve.

4. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein at least the distal part of the elongate element comprises a shape memory material, which allows the distal part to adopt the curvilinear shape when the sleeve is in the retracted position.

5. The catheter assembly of claim 2, further comprising a kink imparted to the distal part of the elongate element, proximally of the rounded tip of the elongate element.

6. The catheter assembly of claim 5, wherein the kink is arranged distally of the curvilinearly shaped portion of the elongate element, the kink defining an angled distal portion, which is arranged at a predetermined, acute angle relative to an axis of that part of the elongate element arranged proximally of the kink.

7. A catheter assembly comprising:

a handle having a proximal end and a distal end;

an elongate element extending from the distal end of the handle, the elongate element comprising;

a distal end;

a distal part having a curvilinearly shaped portion; and

a bend-enhancing region located proximally of the curvilinearly shaped portion;

a sleeve being axially displaceable relative to the elongate element between an extended position in which the sleeve collapses the curvilinearly shaped portion of the elongate element into a substantially rectilinear configuration and exposes the bend-enhancing region proximally of the sleeve, and a retracted position in which the curvilinearly shaped portion of the elongate element adopts a curvilinear shape and the sleeve exposes the bend-enhancing region distally of the sleeve to facilitate steering of the curvilinearly shaped portion of the elongate element;

an electrode sheath carried on the distal end of the handle with the elongate element being received within a lumen of the electrode sheath, the electrode sheath covering the distal end of the elongate element in the retracted position; and

a control mechanism carried on the handle for effecting control of the axial displacement of the sleeve.

8. The catheter assembly of claim 7, wherein the control mechanism comprises a slider arrangement that is axially slidably arranged on the handle to facilitate displacement of the sleeve from the extended position to the retracted position and vice versa.

9. The catheter assembly of claim 7, wherein the electrode sheath has a distal end preformed into a predetermined shape.

10. The catheter assembly of claim 9, wherein the preformed distal end of the electrode sheath has a shape corresponding to, and imparted by, the curvilinearly shaped portion of the distal part of the elongate element.