Elongated conductors and methods of making and using the same

• US 10,485,484 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2019
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autonomix Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autonomix Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Toth, Landy, Schwartz, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Timothy J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Amol H
• Application Number:
  US16/274,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20190175112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 286 Days
• 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 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/125 characterised by the manufacture of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/222 Electrical cables or leads therefor, e.g. coaxial cables or ribbon cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6876 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0488 Details about the lead
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 13/06 Insulating conductors or cables H01B13/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/02 Disposition of insulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/0846 Parallel wires, fixed upon a support layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/0892 incorporated in a cable of non-flat configuration

Abstract

Elongated conductors are provided. Aspects of the elongated conductors include: an elongated structure having a proximal region and a distal region, where the elongated conductor includes two or more insulated conducting members that are in fixed relative position along at least a portion of the elongated structure and extend from the proximal region to the distal region. A pattern of insulation openings among the insulated conducting members is present at one or both of the proximal and distal regions. Aspects of the invention further include methods of making the elongated conductors, as well as devices that include the elongated conductors.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

(a) an elongated conductor comprising;

(i) an elongated structure having a proximal region and a distal region and comprising two or more insulated conducting members that are in fixed relative position along at least a portion of the elongated structure and extend from the proximal region to the distal region; and

(ii) a pattern of insulation openings among the insulated conducting members at one or both of the proximal and distal regions;

(b) a connector positioned at the proximal end of the elongated conductor; and

(c) an effector positioned at the distal end of the elongated conductor.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the effector comprises a sensor.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the sensor is electrically coupled to the insulated conductors by an integrated circuit.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of distinct sensing elements.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the effector comprises an actuator.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the elongated structure comprises a first pattern of insulation openings among the insulated conducting members at the proximal region and a second pattern of insulation openings among the insulated conducting members at the distal region.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the elongated conductor comprises a transversely aligned pattern of insulation openings.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the elongated conductor comprises an axially aligned pattern of insulation openings.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the elongated conductor comprises both a transversely aligned pattern of insulation openings and an axially aligned pattern of insulation openings.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the elongated conductor is cylindrical.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the elongated conductor controlled impedance.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the insulated conducting members are configured to define a lumen along at least a portion of the elongated structure.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the elongated conductor is dimensioned to be positioned in mammalian vasculature.

14. A method of making a device, the method comprising:

providing an elongated conductor comprising;

an elongated structure having a proximal region and a distal region and comprising two or more insulated conducting members that are in fixed relative position along at least a portion of the elongated structure and extend from the proximal region to the distal region; and

a pattern of insulation openings among the insulated conducting members at one or both of the proximal and distal regions; and

operatively coupling a connector to the proximal end of the elongated conductor and an effector to the distal end of the elongated conductor.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the effector comprises a sensor.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the sensor is electrically coupled to the insulated conductors by an integrated circuit.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of distinct sensing elements.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the effector comprises an actuator.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method comprises producing the elongated conductor.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the elongated conductor is produced by a method comprising:

aligning two or more insulated conducting members in an elongated configuration having a proximal region and a distal region; and

producing a pattern of insulation openings among the insulated conducting members at one or both of the proximal and distal regions.