Flexible multi-arm catheter with diametrically opposed sensing electrodes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12329448-B2
Application number	US-202418641666-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2024
Priority date	Apr 11, 2018
Publication date	Jun 17, 2025
Grant date	Jun 17, 2025

Abstract

A medical instrument includes a shaft, multiple flexible spines and multiple electrodes. The shaft is configured for insertion into a body of a patient. The multiple flexible spines have respective first ends that are connected to a distal end of the shaft and respective second ends that are free-standing and unanchored. The spines are bent proximally such that the second ends are more proximal than the first ends. Each of the flexible spines includes a tensile layer configured to cause the flexible spine to bend proximally. The multiple electrodes are disposed over the flexible spines.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A medical instrument, comprising:
a shaft for insertion into a body of a patient;
a first spine connected to the shaft, the spine comprising:
a first end that is connected to a distal end of the shaft; and
a circuit board substrate folded along a folding line; and

multiple electrodes disposed over the first spine, the multiple electrodes comprising a first electrode and a second electrode,
the first electrode and the second electrode being (i) disposed over diametrically opposing facets of the circuit board substrate, (ii) separated electrically and physically along the folding line, and (iii) electrically connected to one another by a via extending through the circuit board substrate.

2. The medical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the first spine comprises:
a second end that is free-standing and unanchored, the first spine being bent proximally such that the second end is more proximal than the first end, the first spine comprising a tensile layer configured to cause the first spine to bend proximally.

3. The medical instrument according to claim 2 , wherein the tensile layer comprises one or more tensile fibers configured to cause the first spine to bend proximally.

4. The medical instrument according to claim 2 , wherein a tensile strength of the tensile layer is greater than that of a Nitinol alloy layer of same dimensions.

5. The medical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising multiple spines, the multiple spines comprising the first spine, and each spine comprising a respective circuit board substrate that is folded,
the multiple electrodes comprising a first plurality of electrodes and a second plurality of electrodes, the first plurality of electrodes comprising the first electrode and the second plurality of electrodes comprising the second electrode, and the first plurality of electrodes and the second plurality of electrodes being disposed over diametrically opposing facets of the respective circuit board substrates and separated physically.

6. The medical instrument of claim 5 , wherein the first plurality of electrodes and the second plurality of electrodes are separated physically and electrically along a folding line of each respective circuit board substrate.

7. The medical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a layer of tensile material laminated between the diametrically opposing facets of the circuit board substrate.

8. A manufacturing method, comprising:
Producing a first spine having a circuit board substrate;
disposing multiple electrodes on the circuit board substrate, the multiple electrodes comprising a first electrode and a second electrode;
folding the circuit board substrate along a folding line so that the first electrode and the second electrode are (1) disposed over diametrically opposing facets of the circuit board substrate, (ii) separated electrically and physically along the folding line, and (iii) electrically connected to one another by a via extending through the circuit board substrate; and mounting the first spine at a distal end of a shaft, the first spine having a first end that is connected to the distal end of the shaft.

9. The manufacturing method of claim 8 , wherein the first spine comprises:
a second end that is free-standing and unanchored, the first spine being bent proximally such that the second end is more proximal than the first end, the first spine comprising a tensile layer configured to cause the first spine to bend proximally.

10. The manufacturing method of claim 8 , wherein producing the first spine comprises fitting one or more tensile fibers in the first spine, so as to cause the first spine to bend proximally.

11. The manufacturing method of claim 8 , wherein producing the first spine comprises including a tensile layer with tensile strength that is greater than that of a Nitinol alloy layer of same dimensions.

12. The manufacturing method of claim 8 , further comprising:
producing multiple spines, the multiple spines comprising the first spine, and each spine comprising a respective circuit board substrate that is folded; and
disposing, on the respective circuit board substrates, the multiple electrodes,
the multiple electrodes comprising a first plurality of electrodes and a second plurality of electrodes, the first plurality of electrodes comprising the first electrode and the second plurality of electrodes comprising the second electrode, and the first plurality of electrodes and the second plurality of electrodes being disposed over diametrically opposing facets of the respective circuit board substrates and separated physically.

13. The manufacturing method of claim 12 , wherein the first plurality of electrodes and the second plurality of electrodes are separated physically and electrically along a folding line of each respective circuit board substrate.

14. The manufacturing method of claim 8 , wherein the via is formed by etching or drilling.

15. A medical instrument, comprising:
a catheter shaft extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end;
a first spine extending out of the catheter shaft from the distal end, the first spine comprising a circuit board folded along a folding line and including a first end that is connected to the distal end of the catheter shaft;
a first plurality of electrodes disposed on a first facet of the circuit board, the first plurality of electrodes facing the longitudinal axis; and
a second plurality of electrodes disposed on a second facet of the circuit board that is diametrically opposed to the first facet, the second plurality of electrodes facing away from the longitudinal axis, the second plurality of electrodes being separated electrically and physically from the first plurality of electrodes along the folding line, and each electrode of the second plurality of electrodes being electrically connected to a respective electrode of the first plurality of electrodes by a via extending through the circuit board; and
a tensile member disposed between the circuit board having tensile strength greater than 895 MPa.

Assignees

• Biosense Webster Israel Ltd

Inventors

• Herrera Kevin Justin
• Beeckler Christopher Thomas
• Keyes Joseph Thomas
• Govari Assaf

Classifications

• A61B2018/1467

  using more than two electrodes on a single probe · CPC title

• A61B2018/00577

  Ablation · CPC title

• A61B2018/00375

  Ostium, e.g. ostium of pulmonary vein or artery · CPC title

• A61B5/6858

  with a distal basket, e.g. expandable basket · CPC title

• A61B2562/164

  the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier · CPC title