MEDICAL DEVICES INCLUDING ABLATION ELECTRODES

• US 20130090652A1
• Filed: 10/10/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: JENSON, MARK L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,186,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• 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 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00273 Anchoring means for temporary attachment of a device to tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00434 Neural system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00511 Kidney
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6858 with a distal basket, e.g. expandable basket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 Contact or terminal manufacturing

Abstract

Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may be a renal nerve modulation catheter. The catheter may include an elongate catheter shaft. The catheter shaft may have a plurality of cuts formed therein define a plurality of electrode assemblies. The electrode assemblies may each include a main strut, one or more branched spacer struts extending from the main strut, and an electrode extending from the main strut and positioned radially inward from the spacer struts.

Claims

1. A renal nerve modulation catheter, comprising:

an elongate catheter shaft;

wherein the catheter shaft has a plurality of cuts formed therein that define a plurality of electrode assemblies; and

wherein the electrode assemblies each include a main strut, one or more branched spacer struts extending from the main strut, and an electrode extending from the main strut and positioned radially inward from the one or more spacer struts.

2. The renal nerve modulation catheter of claim 1, wherein the catheter shaft includes three or more electrode assemblies.

3. The renal nerve modulation catheter of claim 1, wherein the catheter shaft includes four or more electrode assemblies.

4. The renal nerve modulation catheter of claim 1, wherein the catheter shaft includes five or more electrode assemblies.

5. The renal nerve modulation catheter of claim 1, wherein at least some of the electrode assemblies are longitudinally-spaced from one another.

6. The renal nerve modulation catheter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrode assemblies form a circumferential array.

7. The renal nerve modulation catheter of claim 1, wherein for each electrode assembly the one or more spacer struts are deflected radially outward relative to the main strut.

8. The renal nerve modulation catheter of claim 1, wherein for each electrode assembly the electrode is deflected radially inward relative to the main strut.

9. The renal nerve modulation catheter of claim 1, wherein the catheter shaft includes a distal region having a plurality of slots formed therein.

10. The renal nerve modulation catheter of claim 1, wherein the catheter shaft includes a proximal region having a plurality of slots formed therein.

11. A method for manufacturing a renal nerve modulation catheter, the method comprising:

providing a tubular member;

laser cutting the tubular member, wherein laser cutting the tubular member defines a plurality of electrode assemblies in the tubular member; and

wherein the electrode assemblies each include a main strut, one or more branched spacer struts extending from the main strut, and an electrode extending from the main strut and positioned radially inward from the one or more spacer struts.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least some of the electrode assemblies are longitudinally-spaced from one another.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of electrode assemblies form a circumferential array.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein for each electrode assembly the one or more spacer struts are deflected radially outward relative to the main strut.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein for each electrode assembly the electrode is deflected radially inward relative to the main strut.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the tubular member includes a distal region having a plurality of slots formed therein, a proximal region having a plurality of slots formed therein, or both.

17. A renal nerve modulation catheter, comprising:

an elongate tubular member having an electrode array portion;

wherein the electrode array portion has a plurality of cuts formed therein that define a plurality of longitudinally-spaced electrode assemblies; and

wherein the electrode assemblies each include a main strut, one or more branched spacer struts extending from the main strut, and an electrode extending from the main strut and positioned radially inward from the one or more spacer struts.

18. The renal nerve modulation catheter of claim 17, wherein for each electrode assembly the one or more spacer struts are deflected radially outward relative to the main strut.

19. The renal nerve modulation catheter of claim 17, wherein for each electrode assembly the electrode is deflected radially inward relative to the main strut.

20. The renal nerve modulation catheter of claim 17, wherein the tubular member includes a distal region having a plurality of slots formed therein, a proximal region having a plurality of slots formed therein, or both.