Catheter with coaxial thermocouple

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016338768-A1
Application number	US-201514714904-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 18, 2015
Priority date	May 18, 2015
Publication date	Nov 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An improved thermocouple includes a drawn coaxial thermocouple wire pair having a more precise “hot” junction at which a first and second metallic material electrically connect with each other for measuring temperature. Adapted for use with an electrophysiologic catheter, the improved thermocouple comprising an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end. The body includes a core of a first metallic material, a first coaxial layer of ceramic material, and a second coaxial layer of a second metallic material. The thermocouple further includes a solder cap on the distal end, the solder cap electrically connecting the core and the second layer at the distal end. A method of manufacturing includes drawing the body through a die, and applying solder on a distal end of the body to electrically connect the two metallic materials at the distal end.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A temperature sensing tensile member for use with a medical device, comprising:
an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, the body comprising:
a core of a first metallic material, the core defining a longitudinal axis, a first coaxial layer of ceramic material circumferentially surrounding the core, and a second coaxial layer of a second metallic material circumferentially surrounding the first layer, the second metallic material being different from the first metallic material, the first layer electrically insulating the core and second layer from each other along the length of the body, and
a solder cap on the distal end, the solder cap electrically connecting the core and the second layer at the distal end.

2 . The temperature sensing tensile member of claim 1 , wherein the core includes constantan and the second layer includes copper.

3 . The temperature sensing tensile member of claim 1 , wherein the core includes copper and the second layer includes constantan.

4 . The temperature sensing tensile member of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic material is crushable.

5 . The temperature sensing tensile member of claim 1 , further comprising an outer protective sheath.

6 . The temperature sensing tensile member of claim 5 , wherein the outer protective sheath is electrically nonconductive.

7 . The temperature sensing tensile member of claim 1 , wherein the body has been drawn through a die.

8 . A medical device comprising:
an elongated catheter body; a distal electrode member; a temperature sensor having a tensile body, the tensile body extending through the catheter body and having at least a distal end received in the distal electrode member, the temperature sensor comprising:
a core of a first metallic material defining a longitudinal axis;
a coaxial insulating material circumferentially surrounding the core along its length; and
a coaxial layer of a second metallic material circumferentially surrounding the insulating material along its length; and
a solder cap on the distal end of the tensile body, the solder cap electrically connecting the core and the layer.

9 . The medical device of claim 8 , wherein the core includes constantan and the second layer includes copper.

10 . The medical device of claim 8 , wherein the core includes copper and the second layer includes constantan.

11 . The medical device of claim 8 , wherein the coaxial insulating material includes ceramic particulates.

12 . The medical device of claim 8 , further comprising an outer protective sheath.

13 . The medical device of claim 12 , wherein the outer protective sheath is electrically nonconductive.

14 . The temperature sensing tensile member of claim 1 , wherein the body has been drawn through a die.

15 . A method of manufacturing a coaxial thermocouple wire pair member adapted for use with an electrophysiologic catheter, comprising:
providing a core of a first metallic material defining a longitudinal axis; coaxially surrounding the core with an insulating ceramic material; coaxially surrounding the insulating material with a second metallic material different from the first metallic material; drawing the member through a die; and applying solder on a distal end of the member to electrically connect the core and the metallic layer at the distal end.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
Forming an electrically non-conductive layer on the outside of the drawn thermocouple wire pair member by a film cast method.

17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
trimming the distal end to expose the core and the layer after drawing the member through a die and before applying solder on the distal end.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein drawing the member through a die crushes the insulating ceramic material.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein drawing the member through a die generally crushes the insulating ceramic material into particulates.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein drawing the member through a die generally crushes the insulating ceramic material into powder.

21 . The method of claim 15 , where one of the first metallic material and the second metallic material is copper and the other of the first metallic material and the second metallic material is constantan.

Assignees

• Biosense Webster Israel Ltd

Inventors

• Beeckler Christopher Thomas

Classifications

• B21C1/00

  Manufacture of metal sheets, wire, rods, tubes or like semi-manufactured products by drawing · CPC title

• A61B2018/00577

  Ablation · CPC title

• H01B7/17

  Protection against damage caused by external factors, e.g. sheaths or armouring · CPC title

• A61B2018/00351

  Heart · CPC title

• A61B2018/00077

  high, i.e. electrically conducting · CPC title