Surgical method and apparatus for positioning a diagnostic or therapeutic element within the body

• US 6,152,920 A
• Filed: 10/10/1997
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: EP Technology (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EP Technology (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Snyder, Edward J., Fleischman, Sidney D., Whayne, James G., Jenkins, Thomas R., Thompson, Russell B.
• Primary Examiner(s): COHEN, LEE S
• Application Number:
  US08/949,117
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/46, 606/47, 606/49, 607/99, 600/374, 600/393, 604/105
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• 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 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00101 low, i.e. thermally insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00136 with polymer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0016 Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00351 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00797 measured by multiple temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0091 Handpieces of the surgical instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00916 with means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/124 switching the output to different electrodes, e.g. sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 Loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing

Abstract

A surgical device including a relatively short shaft, a bendable spline assembly associated with the distal end of the shaft and having a predetermined configuration, the spline assembly being adapted to collapse in response to an application of an external force and to expand to the predetermined configuration in response to a withdrawal of the external force, and an operative element associated with the bendable spline assembly.

Claims

1. A surgical device, comprising:

a relatively short malleable shaft defining a distal end and a proximal end;

a bendable spline assembly connected to the distal end of the shaft and having a predetermined configuration, the spline assembly being adapted to collapse in response to an application of an external force and to expand to the predetermined configuration in response to a withdrawal of the external force; and

an operative element associated with the bendable spline assembly.

2. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a substantially tubular member positioned around the shaft and slidable relative to the shaft;

wherein the spline assembly is adapted to collapse in response to movement of the substantially tubular member thereover and to expand to the predetermined configuration in response to a retraction of the substantially tubular member.

3. A surgical device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the substantially tubular member comprises a substantially cylindrical member.

4. A surgical device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the substantially tubular member comprises a sheath.

5. A surgical device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tubular member is relatively stiff.

6. A surgical device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tubular member is malleable.

7. A surgical device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tubular member is somewhat flexible.

8. A surgical device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tubular member defines a bending modulus between 3 lb.-in.² and 50 lb.-in.².

9. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bendable spline assembly includes a substantially annular portion.

10. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operative element comprises an electrode.

11. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operative element comprises a plurality of electrodes.

12. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operative element comprises an energy emitting element.

13. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a handle associated with the proximal end of the shaft.

14. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaft defines an overall length and the overall length is less than approximately 20 inches.

15. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaft defines a bending modulus between 3 lb.-in.² and 50 lb.-in.².

16. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bendable spline assembly is in the form of a loop.

17. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bendable spline assembly comprises a spring member having a cross-section defining a length and a width, and the length is different than the width.

18. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bendable spline assembly comprises a spring member is in the form of a loop, the loop defining a plane and being adapted to bend in response to an in-plane force and resist bending in response to an equal out-of-plane force.

19. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a steering element operably connected to the bendable spline assembly.

20. A surgical device, comprising:

a relatively short shaft defining a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis;

a bendable spline assembly associated with the distal end of the shaft and having a substantially annular portion that lies in a plane oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and having a predetermined configuration, the spline assembly being adapted to collapse in response to an application of an external force and to expand to the predetermined configuration in response to a withdrawal of the external force; and

a plurality of circumferentially spaced electrodes carried by the annular portion of the spline assembly.

21. A surgical device, comprising:

a relatively short shaft defining a distal end, a proximal end and an overall length less than approximately 20 inches;

a substantially triangularly-shaped spline assembly associated with the distal end of the shaft and having a predetermined configuration, the spline assembly being adapted to collapse in response to an application of an external force and to expand to the predetermined configuration in response to a withdrawal of the external force; and

a plurality of spaced electrodes carried by the bendable spline assembly.

22. A surgical device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the substantially triangularly-shaped spline assembly comprises a distal leg defining first and second ends, the distal leg being non-linear from the first end to the second end.

23. A surgical device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the distal leg comprises a first linear portion, a second linear portion and a non-linear portion therebetween.

24. A surgical device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the first linear portion defines a first length, the second linear portion defines a second length, and the first length is equal to the second length.

25. A surgical device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the substantially triangularly-shaped spline assembly comprises a distal leg, a first side leg and a second side leg, and at least one of the first and second side legs includes a guidewire.