LEADLESS DELIVERY CATHETER WITH CONDUCTIVE PATHWAY

• US 20180177979A1
• Filed: 12/22/2017
• Published: 06/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: SOLTIS, BRIAN, KOOP, BRENDAN E., HAASL, BENJAMIN J., KOUBAL, KURT G., GOODMAN, JAMES P., HACKENMUELLER, VINCENT P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,722,684 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0004 having two or more concentrically arranged tubes for forming a concentric catheter system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0175 having telescopic features, interengaging nestable members movable in relations to one another
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0014 Connecting a tube to a hub
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0082 Catheter tip comprising a tool
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0097 characterised by the hub connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0573 chacterised by means penetrating the heart tissue, e.g. helix needle or hook
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0587 Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/368 comprising more than one electrode co-operating with different heart regions A61N1/3622, A61N1/3627 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37288 Communication to several implantable medical devices within one patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37518 Anchoring of the implants, e.g. fixation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/058 Fixing tools

Abstract

Catheter and implantable leadless pacing devices, systems, and methods utilizing catheters and implantable leadless pacing devices are disclosed. An example catheter system may include a holding structure extending distally from a tubular member. An implantable device, such as a leadless pacing device, may be located within a cavity of the holding structure. The holding structure may include one or more electrical ports adjacent the proximal end of the holding structure and adjacent or proximal of the proximal end of the implantable device. The electrical ports may provide a conductive pathway extending through the distal structure to allow electrical signals to pass through the distal structure to and/or from the implantable device.

Claims

1. A catheter system for carrying an implantable leadless pacing device, the catheter system comprising:

a tubular member including a lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof;

a tubular distal holding structure extending distally of the distal end of the tubular member, the tubular distal holding structure defining a cavity;

a leadless pacing device located at least partially within the cavity, the leadless pacing device having a proximal electrode and a distal electrode; and

an electrical port extending through the tubular distal holding structure at a location proximal of the proximal electrode of the leadless pacing device; and

wherein the electrical port provides a conductive pathway for an electrical signal traveling through the tubular distal holding structure to and/or from the leadless pacing device.

2. The catheter system of claim 1, further comprising:

an electrically conductive insert carried by the tubular distal holding structure; and

wherein the electrically conductive insert forms at least part of the electrical port and the conductive pathway.

3. The catheter system of claim 2, wherein the electrically conductive insert is a ring insert carried by the tubular distal holding structure.

4. The catheter system of claim 3, wherein:

the ring insert has an opening about a central axis;

the opening has a constant diameter at all circumferential locations; and

the ring insert has a first outer diameter at a first circumferential location and a second outer diameter at a second circumferential location, the first outer diameter is different than the second outer diameter.

5. The catheter system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of electrically conductive segments carried by the tubular distal holding structure; and

wherein the plurality of electrically conductive segments are circumferentially spaced around a central axis of the tubular distal holding structure and form at least part of the electrical port and the conductive pathway.

6. The catheter system of claim 5, wherein:

each of the plurality of electrically conductive segments are spaced a same radial distance from the central axis of the tubular distal holding structure; and

each of the plurality of electrically conductive segments are located at a same axial location along the longitudinal axis of the tubular distal holding structure.

7. The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the electrical port is formed from an electrically conductive material of the tubular distal holding structure.

8. The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the tubular distal holding structure comprises:

a hub secured to the tubular member; and

a body portion secured to the hub and extending distally from the hub; and

wherein the body portion at least partially defines the cavity.

9. The catheter system of claim 8, wherein the electrical port is located in the hub.

10. The catheter system of claim 8, wherein:

the hub includes an electrically conductive insert forming the electrical port; and

the electrically conductive insert extends through the hub to provide the conductive pathway between an interior of the tubular distal holding structure and an exterior of the tubular distal holding structure.

11. The catheter system of claim 10, wherein the electrically conductive insert is a ring insert.

12. The catheter system of claim 10, wherein the electrically conductive insert comprises one or more electrically conductive segments.

13. The catheter system of claim 12, wherein the hub comprises one or more pockets and each of the one or more pockets is configured to expose at least one of the electrically conductive segments.

14. The catheter system of claim 8, wherein the electrical port is located in the body portion.

15. A catheter for carrying an implantable leadless pacing device, the catheter comprising:

a tubular member including a lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof;

a tubular distal holding structure extending distally of the distal end of the tubular member, the tubular distal holding structure defining a cavity;

an electrical port extending through a proximal portion of the tubular distal holding structure; and

wherein the electrical port provides a conductive pathway between an interior of the distal holding structure and an exterior of the distal holding structure.

16. The catheter of claim 15, further comprising:

an electrically conductive insert carried by the tubular distal holding structure; and

wherein the electrically conductive insert forms at least part of the electrical port and the conductive pathway.

17. The catheter of claim 15, wherein the tubular distal holding structure comprises:

a hub attached to and extending distally from the tubular member; and

a body portion attached to and extending distally from the hub, and

wherein the electrical port comprises one or more electrically conductive inserts extending through the hub to form the conductive pathway.

18. A method of forming a catheter for carrying an implantable leadless pacing device, the method comprising:

attaching a body portion to a hub structure to form a distal holding structure defining a cavity, the body portion extending distally from the hub structure;

forming an electrical port in the hub structure, the formed electrical port having a conductive pathway extending between interior the tubular distal holding structure and exterior the tubular distal holding structure.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein forming the electrical port in the hub structure comprises molding an electrically conductive insert into the hub structure.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein forming the electrical port in the hub structure comprises:

forming one or more pockets in the hub structure; and

exposing an electrically conductive segment in each of the one or more pockets.