Catheter with variable arcuate distal section

• US 9,220,433 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biosense Webster Israel Ltd. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Biosense Webster Israel Ltd. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Ditter, Tom Allen, Gallardo, Diana, Moaddeb, Shahram, Zirkle, Michael Olen
• Primary Examiner(s): Stoklosa, Jospeh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ram, Jocelyn D
• Application Number:
  US13/174,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20130006238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,643 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/49, 604/20, 604/530
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2017/00867 shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00351 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00357 Endocardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00375 Ostium, e.g. ostium of pulmonary vein or artery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00839 Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 Loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1435 Spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2063 Acoustic tracking systems, e.g. using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0538 invasively, e.g. using a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 : using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 : Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6857 : with a distal pigtail shape

Abstract

A catheter includes an elongated body, a distal assembly with a shape-memory member defining a generally circular form, and a control handle adapted to actuate a deflection puller wire for deflecting a portion of the elongated body, and a contraction wire for contracting the generally circular form. The generally circular form which carries at least one ring electrode has an off-edge configuration relative to the elongated body such that a longitudinal axis of the elongated body does not intersect the circumference of the circular form and the generally circular form spirals about the longitudinal axis of the elongated body. Moreover, the circular form can have an on-axis configuration such that the longitudinal axis of the elongated body is axially aligned with a central longitudinal axis of the circular form, or an off-axis configuration such that these axes are axially offset from each other. In a more detailed embodiment, the catheter has a distal assembly with a helical form or a crescent form carrying a plurality of irrigated ablation ring electrodes and a plurality of smaller ring electrodes adapted for impedance recording or PV potential recording. A support member with shape memory extends through the distal assembly to provide the helical or crescent form. The support member has a varying stiffness along its length, for example, a decreasing stiffness toward a distal end of the support member. The support member can also be hollow so that it can receive a mandrel whose stiffness is greater than that of the support member.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising:

an elongated body having a longitudinal axis;

a distal assembly distal the elongated body, the distal assembly having a shape-memory support member, a helical form and a transverse section, the transverse section connecting the helical form to the elongated body and being generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body;

at least one irrigated ablation ring electrode mounted on the helical form;

a control handle proximal the elongated body;

wherein the helical form has an off-edge configuration such that the longitudinal axis of the elongated body does not intersect a circumference of the helical form, and an off-axis configuration such that a longitudinal axis of the helical form is axially offset from the longitudinal axis of the elongated body, and wherein the generally transverse section of the distal assembly lies on a nondiametrical chord of the helical form.

2. A catheter of claim 1, further comprising a contraction wire extending through the elongated body and the distal assembly, wherein the control handle includes a first control member configured to actuate the contraction wire to contract the helical form.

3. A catheter of claim 1, further comprising a deflection wire extending through the elongated body, wherein the control handle includes a second control member configured to actuate the deflection wire to deflect a portion of the elongated body.

4. A catheter of claim 1, wherein the shape-memory support member is hollow.

5. A catheter of claim 4, further comprising a mandrel adapted for insertion through the shape-memory support member, wherein the mandrel has a different form from the helical form.

6. A catheter of claim 1, wherein the irrigated ablation ring electrode has at least one aperture configured to pass fluid from inside the ring electrode to outside the ring electrode in a radial direction.

7. A catheter of claim 1, wherein the irrigated ablation ring electrode has at least one aperture configured to pass fluid from inside the ring electrode to outside the ring electrode in an axial direction.

8. A catheter of claim 1, further comprising at least one ring electrode adapted to measure impedance.

9. A catheter of claim 1, further comprising at least one ring electrode adapted to measure PV potentials.

10. A catheter comprising:

an elongated body having a longitudinal axis;

a distal assembly distal the elongated body, the distal assembly having a hollow support member, a first predetermined form comprising a helical form, and a transverse section, the transverse section connecting the helical form to the elongated body and being generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body, wherein the helical form has an off-edge configuration such that the longitudinal axis of the elongated body does not intersect a circumference of the helical form, and an off-set configuration such that a longitudinal axis of the helical form is axially offset from the longitudinal axis of the elongated body, and wherein the generally transverse section of the distal assembly lies on a nondiametrical chord of the helical form;

at least one electrode mounted on the distal assembly;

a control handle proximal the elongated body; and

a mandrel defining a second predetermined form, the mandrel being adapted for insertion into the hollow support member.

11. A catheter of claim 10, wherein the first predetermined form of the distal assembly has a curvature and the second predetermined form of the mandrel has a curvature, and wherein the curvature of the distal assembly is greater than the curvature of the mandrel.

12. A catheter of claim 10, wherein the support member comprises a hollow support member that includes a hollow strand tubing.

13. A catheter of claim 10, wherein the support member comprises a hollow support member that includes a tubular member with a spiral cut along its length.

14. A catheter of claim 13, wherein the spiral cut includes an interlocking pattern.