Magnetically guided catheters

• US 9,545,498 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2014
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: St. Jude Medical (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tegg, Troy T.
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US14/268,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20140318702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00148 with metal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00166 Multiple lumina
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/301 for introducing or steering flexible instruments inserted into the body, e.g. catheters or endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/73 Manipulators for magnetic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0127 Magnetic means; Magnetic markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0141 having flexible regions as a result of using materials with different mechanical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0158 with magnetic or electrical means, e.g. by using piezo materials, electroactive polymers, magnetic materials or by heating of shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/48 using adhesives , i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding

Abstract

A magnetically-guided catheter includes a tip positioning magnet in the distal electrode assembly configured to interact with externally applied magnetic fields for magnetically-guided movement. A magnetically-guided mapping catheter includes an electrically-conductive capsule in the form of a casing that includes a distal ablation surface and isolates the positioning magnet from bio-fluids to prevent corrosion. An open irrigation ablation catheter includes an isolated manifold that isolates the positioning magnet from contact with irrigation fluid to prevent corrosion.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a multi-segment magnet, comprising the steps of:

providing a thin-walled cylindrical retention sleeve having an inside surface with an inside diameter corresponding to an outside diameter of said multi-segment magnet;

producing a plurality of segments each comprising magnetic material;

magnetizing said plurality of segments in accordance with a predetermined magnetization strategy;

applying an adhesive to respective engagement surfaces of said plurality of segments;

inserting said segments having applied adhesive in said sleeve in a predetermined arrangement;

curing said adhesive to thereby produce said multi-segment magnet; and

after said curing said adhesive is complete, removing said multi-segment magnet from said sleeve.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said inside surface of said sleeve comprises a lubricant configured to inhibit adhesion of said adhesive to said inside surface.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said lubricant comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said magnetization strategy includes producing a uni-polar multi-segment magnet, said magnetizing step includes the sub-steps of:

magnetizing said plurality of segments in a first radially-directed magnetic orientation;

and wherein said predetermined arrangement includes arranging adjacent segments so as to have the same magnetic orientation.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said first radially-directed magnetic orientation comprises arranging said plurality of segments such that a respective North (N) poles face in a radially-inward direction.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said cylindrical retention sleeve has a an axis, and wherein said inserting said segments in a predetermined arrangement includes arranging segments such that said plurality of segments are axially-extending and circumferential segments.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein providing a plurality of segments includes providing said segments with an axial length and an outside diameter and an inside diameter.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said inserting said segments in a predetermined arrangement includes arranging segments such that said multi-segment magnet has said axial length, said outside diameter, and an inside diameter defining a central lumen.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said magnetization strategy includes producing an alternating pole multi-segment magnet, said magnetizing step including the sub-steps of:

magnetizing half of said plurality of segments in a first radially-directed magnetic orientation;

magnetizing a remaining half of said segments in a second radially-directed magnetic orientation opposite that of said first magnetic orientation;

and wherein said predetermined arrangement includes arranging adjacent segments so as to have different magnetic orientations.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said multi-segment magnet has a substantially continuous outer surface and wherein said producing said segments includes providing a plurality of axially-extending circumferential segments wherein a circumferential extent of each segment is less than 360 degrees, and wherein said inserting includes arranging said plurality of segments in said sleeve such that said plurality of segments extend through approximately 360 degrees.

7. The method of 6 wherein providing a plurality of segments includes providing said segments with an axial length such that an axial length of said multi-segment magnet is greater than said outside diameter of said multi-segment magnet.