Catheter with flow balancing valve

• US 9,662,169 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2011
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biosense Webster Israel Ltd. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Biosense Webster Israel Ltd. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Schultz, Jeffrey W., Zirkle, Michael Olen
• Primary Examiner(s): Hupczey, Jr., Ronald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ekrami, Yasamin
• Application Number:
  US13/194,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20130030385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,131 Days
• Field of Search: 606 32- 50
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• 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 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00357 Endocardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0066 without feedback, i.e. open loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00744 Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00779 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/124 switching the output to different electrodes, e.g. sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/242 designed to open when a predetermined pressure or flow rate has been reached, e.g. check valve actuated by fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0202 with electronic control means or interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0258 by means of electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0279 Cannula; Nozzles; Tips; their connection means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/24 Check- or non-return valves

Abstract

A catheter has at least two irrigated ablation electrodes and a coaxial irrigation tubing to transport fluid to the electrodes by separate and dedicated flow paths. A valve is used to control flow of fluid into the coaxial irrigation tubing by means of a plunger assembly that allows fluid to flow through one lumen of the coaxial irrigation tubing while regulating the flow into the other lumen of the coaxial irrigation tubing in response to the fluid flow rate and pressure applied to the plunger assembly.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising:

an elongated body;

a distal section having at least a first electrode and a second electrode, each electrode adapted for irrigation;

a control handle proximal the elongated body;

a coaxial irrigation tubing having at least an inner lumen and an outer lumen, the inner lumen dedicated to transporting fluid to the first electrode, and the outer lumen dedicated to transporting fluid to the second electrode; and

a common valve comprising a moveable member, an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the outlet opening being fluidly connected to both the inner lumen and the outer lumen of the coaxial irrigation tubing, the common valve having first and second separate fluid flow pathways between the inlet opening and the outlet opening, the second fluid flow pathway extending around an exterior surface of the moveable member and into the outer lumen, the first fluid pathway extending through the moveable member and in the inner lumen, and the moveable member being configured to automatically move in response to a threshold fluid force to thereby enlarge or expand the second fluid flow pathway.

2. A catheter of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is a tip electrode and the second electrode is a ring electrode.

3. A catheter of claim 2, wherein the second electrode comprises at least two ring electrodes and the outer lumen of the coaxial irrigation tubing is configured to transport fluid to the at least two ring electrodes.

4. A catheter of claim 1, wherein the first and second separate fluid flow pathways are isolated from each other within the catheter.