Catheter with multiple electrode assemblies for use at or near tubular regions of the heart

• US 8,712,550 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2008
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biosense Webster Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Biosense Webster Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Grunewald, Debby Esther
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANTISKAY, BRIAN MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US12/346,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20100168737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,946 Days
• Field of Search: 600372- 37, 600/377, 600/381, 606/32, 606 37- 41, 607/119, 607/122, 607/124
• US Class Current: 607/122
• 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 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• 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 2018/00375 Ostium, e.g. ostium of pulmonary vein or artery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00839 Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 Loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/141 Snare
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1465 Deformable electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2201/12 Shape memory

Abstract

A catheter with ablation and potential sensing capabilities is adapted for outer circumferential contact with an opening of a tubular region and inner circumferential contact within the tubular region. The catheter has a proximal electrode assembly and a distal electrode assembly for ablation of an ostium and potential sensing inside the pulmonary vein so that it is possible to obtain ECG signals inside a pulmonary vein when ablating around the ostium. The distal electrode assembly has an elongated member defining a longitudinal axis and a plurality of spines surrounding the member and converging at their proximal and distal ends, where each spine has at least one electrode and a curvature so that the spine bows radially outwardly from the member. The proximal electrode assembly has a proximal electrode assembly has an elongated member configured with a generally radial portion and a generally circular portion generally transverse to the catheter axis, where the generally circular portion comprising a plurality of electrodes. The control handle advantageously allows a user to manipulate a tensile member for changing the curvature of the spine.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising:

an elongated catheter body generally defining a catheter axis;

a distal electrode assembly mounted on a distal end of the catheter body, the distal electrode assembly being non-retractable within the catheter body, the distal electrode assembly having a first elongated member defining a longitudinal axis and a plurality of spines surrounding the first elongated member and converging at their proximal and distal ends, each spine comprising at least one electrode and having a curvature so that the spine bows radially outwardly from the first elongated member;

a proximal electrode assembly mounted on the distal end of the catheter body proximal of the non-retractable distal electrode assembly and having a second elongated member configured with a generally radial portion and a generally circular portion generally transverse to the catheter axis, the generally circular portion comprising a plurality of electrodes;

a control handle at a proximal end of the catheter body; and

a tensile member extending between the control handle and the distal electrode assembly,

wherein the control handle is configured for user manipulation of the tensile member to change the curvature of the spines.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the electrodes on the distal electrode assembly are adapted for sensing electrical activity in the heart and the electrodes on the proximal electrode assembly are adapted for ablation.

3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the spines have shape-memory.

4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the second elongated member of the proximal electrode assembly has shape-memory.

5. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the distal electrode assembly is adapted to contact an inner circumferential surface of a tubular region of the heart and the proximal electrode assembly is adapted to contact an opening of the tubular region.

6. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the distal electrode assembly is adapted to contact an inner circumferential surface of a pulmonary vein and the proximal electrode assembly is adapted to contact an ostium of the pulmonary vein.

7. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the control handle comprises:

a handle body;

a core mounted within the handle body, the core having a longitudinal passage extending therethrough;

a piston having a proximal end mounted in the handle body and a distal end extending outside the handle body, the piston being longitudinally moveable relative to the core and handle body;

a first anchor fixedly mounted to the core;

a cam receiver mounted within the handle body so that the cam receiver is longitudinally slidable relative to the piston and core;

a second anchor fixedly mounted to the cam receiver; and

a generally cylindrical cam mounted distal to the cam receiver in surrounding relation to the piston, wherein rotation of the cam relative to the piston causes longitudinal movement of the cam receiver and second anchor,

wherein a proximal end of the tensile member is connected to one of said first and second anchors for user direct or indirect manipulation of one of the piston and the cam receiver to change the curvature of the spines.

8. The catheter of claim 7, wherein the one anchor is adapted to draw the tensile member proximally to increase the curvature of the spines.

9. The catheter of claim 7, further comprising:

an intermediate section between the catheter body and the proximal electrode assembly; and

a second tensile member,

wherein a proximal end of the second tensile member is connected to the other anchor for user manipulation of the other anchor for deflecting the intermediate section.

10. The catheter of claim 9, wherein a distal end of the second tensile member is anchored at or near a distal end of the distal electrode assembly.

11. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the first elongated member of the distal electrode assembly is a tube through which a distal portion of the tensile member extends.

12. The catheter of claim 1, wherein each spine has a non-conductive outer surface on which one or more ring electrodes are mounted.

13. The catheter of claim 9, wherein each spine has a support member.

14. The catheter of claim 13, wherein the support member is a nitinol wire.

15. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the distal electrode assembly comprises at least three spines.

16. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the distal electrode assembly comprises at least five spines.

17. The catheter of claim 8, wherein the proximal end of the tensile member is fixedly attached, directly or indirectly, to the first anchor so that longitudinal movement of the piston relative to the handle housing results in longitudinal movement of the tensile member relative to the catheter body to thereby expand the distal electrode assembly.