Coupler assembly for catheters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11628286-B2
Application number	US-201514948645-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 23, 2015
Priority date	May 1, 2007
Publication date	Apr 18, 2023
Grant date	Apr 18, 2023

Abstract

Coupler assemblies and methods are disclosed as the coupler assemblies may be used with a catheter. An exemplary coupler assembly includes a spherical linkage coupler for a catheter. The coupler comprises a first cylinder portion for connecting to a structure, and a second cylinder portion for connecting to a distal end of a body of the catheter. The coupler also comprises a spherical linkage including at least two link arms. Each of the two link arms are connected on one end to the first cylinder portion and on the other end to the second cylinder portion. The two link arms connect a portion of the structure to the distal end of the catheter and enable the structure to move relative to the distal end of the catheter in response to an external force exerted on the structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A catheter shaft coupler, comprising:
a first rigid segment;
a second rigid segment;
an optical sensor connected with a distal end of the second rigid segment, wherein the optical sensor comprises an emitter and a receiver, the emitter configured to emit an optical signal between a distal portion and a proximal portion of the catheter shaft;
a plurality of link arms extending between the first rigid segment and the second rigid segment, wherein each of the plurality of link arms are connected to the first rigid segment and the second rigid segment by compliant joints, wherein the compliant joints include a plurality of indentations defined along each one of the plurality of link arms, wherein the plurality of indentations comprise at least one first indentation defined in a proximal facing surface of a link arm of the plurality of link arms and at least one second indentation defined in a distal facing surface of the link arm of the plurality of link arms, wherein the at least one first indentation and the at least one second indentation are distinct, wherein the plurality of link arms are configured to:
connect the first rigid segment and the second rigid segment;
flex at the indentations; and
allow the second rigid segment to deflect with respect to the first rigid segment.

2. The catheter shaft coupler of claim 1 , wherein the first rigid segment is connected to the proximal portion of the catheter shaft and the second rigid segment is connected to the distal portion of the catheter shaft.

3. The catheter shaft coupler of claim 2 , wherein the catheter shaft coupler is configured to allow the distal portion of the catheter shaft to deflect with respect to the proximal portion of the catheter shaft.

4. The catheter shaft coupler of claim 1 , wherein a first end of each of the plurality of link arms is connected to the first rigid segment and a second end of each of the plurality of link arms is connected to the second rigid segment.

5. The catheter shaft coupler of claim 4 , wherein:
the first end of each of the plurality of link arms includes a proximal end that is connected to a distal end of the first rigid segment; and
the second end of each of the plurality of link arms includes a distal end that is connected to a proximal end of the second rigid segment.

6. The catheter shaft coupler of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of link arms are configured to allow the second rigid segment to move proximally with respect to the first rigid segment in response to a compressive force being applied to the second rigid segment.

7. The catheter shaft coupler of claim 1 , wherein an angle of each of the plurality of link arms with respect to at least one of the first rigid segment and the second rigid segment changes in response to a force being applied to the second rigid segment.

8. The catheter shaft coupler of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of bump stops disposed on at least one of a distal surface of the first rigid segment and a proximal surface of the second rigid segment, wherein the plurality of bump stops are configured to limit a proximal movement of the second rigid segment with respect to the first rigid segment.

9. The catheter shaft coupler of claim 8 , wherein an electrode is connected to a distal end of the second rigid segment.

10. A catheter shaft, comprising:
an elongate shaft extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising a proximal shaft portion and a distal shaft portion;
a coupler comprising a proximal rigid segment and a distal rigid segment, a distal end of the distal rigid segment connected to the distal shaft portion and a proximal end of the proximal rigid segment connected to the proximal shaft portion, wherein the coupler includes:
a plurality of link arms extending between the proximal rigid segment and the distal rigid segment, wherein each of the plurality of link arms includes a plurality of indentations defined in each of the plurality of link arms configured to allow each of the plurality of link arms to flex at the plurality of indentations, wherein the plurality of indentations comprise at least one first indentation defined in a proximal facing surface of each of the plurality of link arms and at least one second indentation defined in a distal facing surface of each of the plurality of link arms, wherein the at least one first indentation and the at least one second indentation are distinct, wherein the plurality of link arms:
provide an increase in flexibility over the proximal rigid segment and the distal rigid segment;
extend circumferentially around less than an entire circumference of at least one of the proximal rigid segment or the distal rigid segment; and
are configured to allow the distal shaft portion and the distal rigid segment to deflect with respect to the proximal shaft portion and the proximal rigid segment.

11. The catheter shaft of claim 10 , wherein:
a plurality of variable gaps is defined by the proximal rigid segment, the distal rigid segment, and the plurality of link arms; and
a size of each of the plurality of variable gaps changes in response to the distal rigid segment being deflected with respect to the proximal rigid segment.

12. The catheter shaft of claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of bump stops disposed on a distal surface of the proximal rigid segment, wherein the plurality of bump stops is configured to limit a size of the variable gaps.

13. The catheter shaft of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of link arms is configured to allow circumferential rotation of the distal rigid segment relative to the proximal rigid segment.

14. A catheter shaft coupler, comprising:
a first cylindrical rigid segment;
a second cylindrical rigid segment; and
a plurality of link arms, each connected on one end to the first cylindrical rigid segment and on the other end to the second cylindrical rigid segment, the plurality of link arms providing an increase in flexibility over the first cylindrical rigid segment and the second cylindrical rigid segment, wherein each of the plurality of link arms are connected to the first cylindrical rigid segment and the second cylindrical rigid segment by compliant joints, wherein each of the compliant joints are defined by a first indentation defined in a proximal facing surface of each of the plurality of link arms and a second indentation defined in a distal facing surface of each of the plurality link arms, wherein the first indentation and the second indentation are distinct, wherein:
each of the plurality of link arms extend circumferentially around less than an entire circumference of at least one of the first and second cylindrical rigid segments;
each of the plurality of link arms is configured to flex at the indentation; and
the plurality of link arms is configured to allow the second cylindrical rigid segment to deflect with respect to the first cylindrical rigid segment.

15. The catheter shaft coupler of claim 14 , wherein the first cylindrical rigid segment is located proximally with respect to the second cylindrical rigid segment; and the first cylindrical rigid segment is connected to an elongate flexible body.

16. The catheter shaft coupler of claim 14 , wherein the catheter shaft coupler is configured to enable circumferential rotation of the second cylindrical rigid segment with respect to the first cylindrical rigid segment.

Assignees

• St Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Div Inc

Inventors

• Erdman Arthur G
• Paul Saurav
• Tegg Troy T

Classifications

• A61B18/24

  with a catheter (A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B5/0084

  for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters (A61B5/1459 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B5/6885

  Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure · CPC title

• F16C11/12 Primary

  incorporating flexible connections, e.g. leaf springs · CPC title

• A61M25/0071

  Multiple separate lumens (multiple separate lumens throughout the catheter A61M25/0026) · CPC title