Pressure-sensitive flexible polymer bipolar electrode
First Claim
1. A catheter, comprising:
- a catheter shaft comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion; and
an electrode assembly coupled to the distal portion,the electrode assembly comprisingan exterior configured to engage target tissue and configured to bend and conform to a compliant tissue wall of the target tissue;
first and second electrodes on the exterior;
first and second pressure-sensitive conductive composite layers; and
a pair of electrical wires in electrical contact with the first and second pressure-sensitive conductive composite layers;
wherein the first pressure-sensitive conductive composite layer is disposed radially inward of and in electrical communication with said first electrode and the second pressure-sensitive conductive composite layer is disposed radially inward of and in electrical communication with said second electrode;
wherein the electrode assembly is configured to channel ablative energy to a first portion of the exterior of the electrode assembly while not channeling ablative energy to a second portion of the exterior of the electrode assembly when the first portion—
is in contact with the target tissue and the second portion is not in contact with the target tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to bipolar ablation systems. A bipolar electrode system for ablation therapy is disclosed, including a pressure-sensitive conducting composite layer and a pair of electrodes in electrical conductive contact or communication with the pressure-sensitive conducting composite layer. Energy (e.g., ablation energy) is delivered via the pressure-sensitive conductive composition when sufficient pressure is applied to transform the pressure-sensitive conductive composite to an electrical conductor. An electrically insulative flexible layer, which may include a passageway for a fill material is also disclosed. In some embodiments, the systems can also be used for targeted delivery of compounds, such as drugs, using a bipolar electrode.
135 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A catheter, comprising:
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a catheter shaft comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion; and an electrode assembly coupled to the distal portion, the electrode assembly comprising an exterior configured to engage target tissue and configured to bend and conform to a compliant tissue wall of the target tissue; first and second electrodes on the exterior; first and second pressure-sensitive conductive composite layers; and a pair of electrical wires in electrical contact with the first and second pressure-sensitive conductive composite layers; wherein the first pressure-sensitive conductive composite layer is disposed radially inward of and in electrical communication with said first electrode and the second pressure-sensitive conductive composite layer is disposed radially inward of and in electrical communication with said second electrode; wherein the electrode assembly is configured to channel ablative energy to a first portion of the exterior of the electrode assembly while not channeling ablative energy to a second portion of the exterior of the electrode assembly when the first portion—
is in contact with the target tissue and the second portion is not in contact with the target tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A catheter, comprising:
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a catheter shaft comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion; and an electrode assembly coupled to the distal portion including; first and second electrodes whose outside surfaces are configured to engage target tissue; first and second pressure-sensitive conductive composite layers disposed radially inward of said first and second electrodes, respectively, and configured as electrical insulators in an absence of a predetermined applied pressure and further configured as electrical conductors in a presence of the predetermined applied pressure; and pair of electrical conducting wires in contact with the first and second pressure-sensitive conductive composite layers and coupled to an ablative energy source; said electrode assembly includes (i) a conductive zone corresponding to a portion of said outside surfaces of said first and second electrodes that are subject to said predetermined applied pressure when in contact with said target tissue and in which ablative energy is delivered and (ii) a complementary insulative zone where none of the ablative energy is delivered when said complementary insulative zone is not subject to said predetermined applied pressure when it is not in contact with said target tissue; wherein the ablative energy from the ablative energy source is channeled to the conductive zone via a corresponding first portion of said first and second pressure-sensitive conductive composite layers when the predetermined pressure is applied thereto to transform the corresponding first portion of said first and second pressure-sensitive conductive composite layers into electrical conductors. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A catheter, comprising:
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a catheter shaft comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion; and an electrode assembly coupled to the distal portion including; first and second electrodes having respective outside surfaces configured to engage target tissue; first and second pressure-sensitive conductive composite layers being arranged relative to said first and second electrodes, respectively; and first and second electrical conducting wires extending to a proximal end of said catheter and are configured for connection to an electrical apparatus, wherein the first and second electrical wires are in contact with the first and second pressure-sensitive conductive composite layers, respectively; said first pressure-sensitive conductive composite layer being configured to selectively couple said first electrical conducting wire to said first electrode when said outside surface of said first electrode experiences a predetermined pressure applied thereto and configured to not selectively couple said first electrical conducting wire to said first electrode when said outside surface of said first electrode does not experience said predetermined pressure applied thereto, said second pressure-sensitive conductive composite layer being configured to selectively couple said second electrical conducting wire to said second electrode when said outside surface of said second electrode experiences said predetermined pressure applied thereto and configured to not selectively couple said second electrical conducting wire to said second electrode when said outside surface of said second electrode does not experience said predetermined pressure applied thereto. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification