Balloon-in-basket ablation catheter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12357364-B2
Application number	US-202318477461-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2023
Priority date	Jun 5, 2017
Publication date	Jul 15, 2025
Grant date	Jul 15, 2025

Abstract

A catheter comprises a catheter shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the catheter shaft defining a lumen, the lumen configured for at least one of fluid delivery and inflation, a balloon configured to be coupled to the distal end portion of the catheter shaft, wherein the balloon defines a volume in flow communication with the lumen, and a plurality of energy transfer elements disposed on a flexible circuit along at least a portion of the balloon.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A catheter comprising:
a catheter shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the catheter shaft defining a lumen, the lumen configured for at least one of fluid delivery and inflation;
a balloon configured to be coupled to the distal end portion of the catheter shaft, wherein the balloon defines a volume in flow communication with the lumen; and
a plurality of energy transfer elements disposed on a flexible circuit along at least a portion of the balloon, wherein the flexible circuit has a preformed radius of curvature that biases the flexible circuit to bend towards or away from the balloon.

2. The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of energy transfer elements comprises at least one ablation electrode.

3. The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of energy transfer elements comprises at least one of a sensing electrode, a flexible electrode, a mapping electrode, and a pacing electrode.

4. The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of energy transfer elements are configured for one or more of contact-free mapping and contact mapping.

5. The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the flexible circuit comprises a radial-facing portion and a forward-facing portion.

6. The catheter of claim 5 , wherein the energy transfer elements within the radial-facing portion of the flexible circuit are oriented in a first direction and the energy transfer elements within the forward-facing portion of the flexible circuit are oriented in a second direction, the second direction being distinct from the first direction.

7. The catheter of claim 5 , wherein the radial-facing portion of the flexible circuit-is arranged axially.

8. The catheter of claim 5 , wherein the forward-facing portion of the flexible circuit is arranged annularly.

9. The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the flexible circuit comprises a spring element that facilitates the preformed radius of curvature.

10. The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the flexible circuit defines a thru-hole, and wherein a thermocouple is mounted in the thru-hole.

11. The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the flexible circuit comprises a plurality of legs, the plurality of energy transfer elements being disposed along the plurality of legs.

12. An ablation catheter assembly comprising:
a catheter shaft defining a lumen configured for at least one of fluid delivery and inflation;
a balloon attached to the catheter shaft and the lumen, wherein the balloon is transformable between a delivery state and an expanded state, and wherein the balloon, in the expanded state, spans an area greater than a cross sectional area of the catheter shaft to which the balloon is attached; and
a plurality of ablation electrodes disposed on a flexible circuit along at least a portion of the balloon, wherein the flexible circuit has a preformed radius of curvature that biases the flexible circuit to bend towards or away from the balloon.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of ablation electrodes are positioned along an outer surface of the balloon when the balloon is in the expanded state.

14. The assembly of claim 12 , further comprising at least one sensing electrode positioned along an outer surface of the balloon when the balloon is in the expanded state.

15. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the flexible circuit comprises a radial-facing portion and a forward-facing portion.

16. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the ablation electrodes within the radial-facing portion of the flexible circuit are oriented in a first direction and the ablation electrodes within the forward-facing portion of the flexible circuit are oriented in a second direction, the second direction being distinct from the first direction.

17. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the radial-facing portion of the flexible circuit is arranged axially.

18. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the forward-facing portion of the flexible circuit is arranged annularly.

19. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the balloon is configured to compress the flexible circuit toward a tissue.

20. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the flexible circuit comprises a plurality of legs, the plurality of ablation electrodes being disposed along the plurality of legs.

Assignees

• St Jude Medical Cardiology Div Inc

Inventors

• Sliwa John W
• Morse Stephen A

Classifications

• A61B2218/002

  Irrigation · CPC title

• A61B2018/0212

  using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter · CPC title

• A61B2018/00821

  measured by a thermocouple · CPC title

• A61B2018/00577

  Ablation · CPC title

• A61B2018/00375

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