Printed electrode catheter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016129223-A1
Application number	US-201514879575-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 9, 2015
Priority date	Feb 11, 2013
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An elongate medical device may comprise an elongate tubular body, an electrode, and a trace. The elongate tubular body may comprise a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, the body defining a longitudinal axis. The electrode may comprise electrically-conductive ink extending circumferentially about a portion of the distal end portion. The trace may comprise electrically-conductive ink, electrically coupled with the electrode, extending proximally from the electrode.

First claim

1 . (canceled)

2 . An elongate medical device comprising:
an elongate tubular body defining a longitudinal axis; an electrode comprising an electrically-conductive ink extending circumferentially about an exterior portion of the elongate tubular body; a trace comprising electrically-conductive ink electrically coupled with the electrode, the trace extending longitudinally from the electrode; and a force sensor comprising a semiconductive layer radially disposed between a first electrically-conductive layer and a second electrically-conductive layer, the force sensor extending along a portion of the elongate tubular body.

3 . The elongate medical device of claim 2 , wherein the force sensor further comprises a first electrically insulative layer radially disposed outward of the first conductive layer.

4 . The elongate medical device of claim 2 , wherein a distal end portion of the elongate tubular body comprises a circular shape configured to curl about the longitudinal axis.

5 . The elongate medical device of claim 2 , further comprising:
a plurality of electrodes, each electrode comprising electrically-conductive ink extending circumferentially about an exterior portion of the elongate tubular body; a plurality of traces, each comprising electrically-conductive ink, each trace electrically coupled with a respective one of the plurality of electrodes, each trace extending longitudinally from the respective one of the plurality of electrodes; and a plurality of force sensors, each force sensor comprising a semiconductive layer disposed radially between a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer extending along a portion of the elongate tubular body.

6 . The elongate medical device of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of force sensors and the plurality of electrodes are disposed in an alternating pattern along the length of the elongate tubular body.

7 . The elongate medical device of claim 2 , wherein the semiconductive layer further comprises semiconductive layer grid lines.

8 . The elongate medical device of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first electrically-conductive layer and the second electrically-conductive layer comprise conductive grid lines corresponding to the semiconductive layer grid lines.

9 . A force sensor for an elongate medical device comprising:
a first electrically-conductive grid layer and a second electrically-conductive grid layer, wherein the first electrically-conductive grid layer and the second electrically-conductive grid layer includes grid lines, wherein one or more of the first electrically-conductive layer and the second electrically-conductive layer comprise conductive grid lines corresponding to the semiconductive layer grid lines; a semiconductive grid layer disposed radially between the first electrically-conductive layer and the second electrically-conductive layer, wherein the semiconductive grid layer includes grid lines; and a first electrically insulative layer disposed radially outward of the first electrically-conductive grid layer.

10 . The force sensor of claim 9 , further comprising a junction point where a grid line from the first conductive grid layer crosses a grid line from the second conductive grid layer forming a piezoelectric force sensor.

11 . The force sensor of claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of force sensors.

12 . The force sensor of claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of junction points arranged in at least one of a plurality of rows and columns.

13 . A method for determining force from a plurality of force sensors disposed on an elongate medical device, comprising:
evaluating at least one of a resistance at, a conductance at, or a test voltage through a first plurality of force sensor junctions, wherein the force sensor junctions of the first plurality of force sensor junctions are arranged in a grid comprising at least one row of force sensor junctions, at least one column of force sensor junctions, or at least one row and one column of force sensor junctions; connecting a second plurality of force sensor junctions in the grid of force junctions to ground, wherein the second plurality of force sensors comprises a subset of the first plurality of force sensor junctions; and using the results of the evaluating step to determine a force from the plurality of force sensors on an elongate medical device.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising displaying the determined force on a display.

15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising communicating the determined force to a mapping and navigation system.

16 . A method for assessing contact force from a plurality of force sensors disposed on an elongate medical device, comprising:
measuring one of a resistance and a conductance at a plurality of force sensor junctions comprising a first plurality of force sensor junctions and a second plurality of force sensor junctions, wherein the first plurality of force sensor junctions are arranged in a first row of a grid, and wherein the second plurality of force sensor junctions are arranged in a second row of the grid, and wherein the measuring step further comprises:
driving a first test voltage through the first plurality of force sensor junctions, and
grounding the second plurality of force sensor junctions; and
assessing the contact force from the plurality of force sensors based on the measured resistance or conductance from the first plurality of force sensor junctions.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the measuring step further comprises driving a second test voltage through the second plurality of force sensor junctions, and grounding the first plurality of force sensor junctions, and wherein the assessing step further comprise assessing the contact force from the plurality of force sensors based on the measured resistance or conductance from the second plurality of force sensor junctions.

Assignees

• St Jude Medical Atrial Fibrill

Inventors

• Kirschenman Mark B

Classifications

• A61B2018/00642

  with feedback, i.e. closed loop control · CPC title

• A61M2205/332

  Force measuring means · CPC title

• G01L1/16

  using properties of piezoelectric devices · CPC title

• G01L1/005

  by electrical means and not provided for in G01L1/06 - G01L1/22 · CPC title

• G01L5/00

  Apparatus for, or methods of, measuring force, work, mechanical power, or torque, specially adapted for specific purposes · CPC title