Deflectable catheter with hinge

• US 20040181136A1
• Filed: 03/12/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biosense Webster Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Biosense Webster Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: McDaniel, Benjamin D., Lee, James K., OʼSullivan, Martin F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,276,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00351 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 Loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/015 Details of the distal fixation of the movable mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/125 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/005 with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0138 having flexible regions as a result of weakened outer material, e.g. slots, slits, cuts, joints or coils
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires

Abstract

A deflectable device, such as a catheter, is provided that includes a hinge that enhances the ability of the device to deflect or bend within a predetermined plane. The catheter comprises an elongated tubular catheter body having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen extending therethrough. A distal segment is provided distal to the distal end of the catheter body. A tubular hinge is provided between the distal end of the catheter body and the proximal end of the distal segment. The hinge has an axis and at least one lumen extending therethrough. The tube includes at least one slot, and preferably a plurality of slots, extending part of the way through the hinge generally transverse to the axis of the hinge.

Claims

1. A deflectable device comprising an elongated tubing having proximal and distal ends, an axis, at least one lumen extending therethrough and a distal region at or near the distal end of the deflectable device, wherein the tubing includes at least one slot extending part of the way through the tubing in the distal region, the at least one slot being generally transverse to the axis of the tubing;

and

means for deflecting the distal region of the tubing in a plane that passes through the at least one slot.

2. A deflectable device having proximal and distal ends comprising:

a proximal region near the proximal end of the device;

a distal region near the distal end of the device;

a hinge between the proximal and distal regions, the hinge comprising a tubing having an axis and at least one lumen extending therethrough, wherein the tubing includes at least one slot extending part of the way through the tubing.

3. A deflectable catheter comprising:

an elongated tubular catheter body having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen extending therethrough;

a distal segment distal to the distal end of the catheter body, the distal segment having proximal and distal ends; and

a tubular hinge between the distal end of the catheter body and the proximal end of the distal segment, the hinge having an axis and at least one lumen extending therethrough, wherein the hinge includes at least one slot extending part of the way through the hinge generally transverse to the axis of the hinge.

4. The catheter according to claim 3, wherein the at least one slot is generally perpendicular to the axis of the hinge.

5. The catheter according to claim 3, wherein the hinge comprises Nitinol.

6. The catheter according to claim 3, wherein the hinge is mounted over a flexible plastic tubing that has a proximal end attached to the distal end of the catheter body and a distal end attached to the proximal end of the distal segment.

7. The catheter according to claim 3, further comprising a flexible hinge cover that completely covers the hinge.

8. The catheter according to claim 3, wherein the hinge includes a number of slots ranging from about 10 to about 20.

9. The catheter according to claim 3, wherein the hinge includes a plurality of slots, each slot having a depth such that the slot does not pass through the axis of the hinge.

10. The catheter according to claim 3, wherein the hinge includes a plurality of slots of equal depth.

11. The catheter according to claim 3, wherein the hinge has a compressible side and an expandible side opposite the compressible side, and further wherein the hinge includes one or more slots along the compressible side.

12. The catheter according to claim 11, wherein each slot along the compressible side comprises an elongated opening having a center width and two ends having widths less than the center width.

13. The catheter according to claim 12, wherein each end of each elongated opening terminates in a circular opening, the circular openings having a diameters greater than the widths of the ends of the elongated openings.

14. The catheter according to claim 11, wherein the hinge further includes one or more slots along the expandible side.

15. The catheter according to claim 14, wherein the one or more slots along the expandible side are aligned with the one or more slots along the compressible side.

16. The catheter according to claim 14, wherein each slot along the expandible side terminates in a circular opening.

17. The catheter according to claim 3, wherein the distal shaft carries one or more electrodes.

18. The catheter according to claim 3, wherein the distal shaft includes at least one lumen extending therethrough and carries a porous electrode.

19. The catheter according to claim 18, wherein the porous electrode comprises a coil electrode mounted around the distal shaft and a porous plastic cover mounted over the coil electrode.

20. The catheter according to claim 19, wherein the porous electrode further comprises means for introducing a fluid into a space between the coil electrode and the porous plastic cover.

21. The catheter according to claim 20, wherein the introducing means comprises an infusion tube extending through the catheter body that is in fluid communication with

22. The catheter according to claim 3, wherein the catheter body has a length of at least about 90 cm.

23. The catheter according to claim 3, further comprising a control handle mounted at the proximal end of the catheter body and means for deflecting at least one of a distal region of the catheter body and the distal shaft by manipulation of the control handle.

24. The catheter according to claim 23, wherein the deflecting means comprises a puller wire.