Bendable catheter arms having varied flexibility

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9408663-B2
Application number	US-201314081666-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2013
Priority date	May 9, 2007
Publication date	Aug 9, 2016
Grant date	Aug 9, 2016

Abstract

In various embodiments, a catheter comprising an expandable electrode assembly or basket is provided. In specific embodiments, the basket is particularly useful for mapping electrical activity at one or more locations within the heart. The basket can comprise a plurality of bendable or deflectable arms. At least one of the arms may have varied flexibility over its length in the form of one or more discontinuities of stiffness or flexibility at an elbow region or other variances in flexibility over the arm's length. Such variance in flexibility may allow the arm to assume a different bent configuration or respond to external factors more positively than possible with an arm having a static or near static flexibility or stiffness over its length.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An arm for an expandable catheter basket, the arm comprising:
a bendable support member defining a distal portion, a proximal portion, and an intermediate portion therebetween;
means for enhancing flexibility of the distal and proximal portions relative to the intermediate portion, wherein the means for enhancing flexibility of the distal and proximal portions relative to the intermediate portion comprises the distal and proximal portions being tapered on a top side; and
at least one electrode positioned along the support member.

2. The arm of claim 1 , wherein the distal and proximal portions are each tapered on the top side and an opposing bottom sides of the bendable support member.

3. The arm of claim 1 , wherein the means for enhancing flexibility of the distal and proximal portions relative to the intermediate portion further comprises openings located in the distal and proximal portions.

4. The arm of claim 1 , wherein the means for enhancing flexibility of the distal and proximal portions relative to the intermediate portion further comprises the distal and proximal portions each comprising a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer comprises a first material and the second layer comprises a second material, and wherein the first material is different from the second material.

5. A catheter, the catheter comprising:
an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end; and
an electrode assembly at the distal end of the elongated body, the electrode assembly comprising a plurality of arms, each of the arms having a proximal end connected to the distal end of the elongated body and a distal end, the distal ends of the arms being connected at a tip junction, wherein the electrode assembly is collapsible to a collapsed arrangement and is expandable to an expanded arrangement;
wherein each of the plurality of arms comprises:
at least one electrode; and
a bendable support member defining a distal portion, a proximal portion, and an intermediate portion therebetween, wherein one of the distal and proximal portions comprises an enhanced flexible portion that is more flexible than the intermediate portion, wherein the enhanced flexible portion comprises the bendable support member being tapered on one of a top side and a bottom side.

6. The catheter of claim 5 , wherein the distal portion comprises the enhanced flexible portion.

7. The catheter of claim 5 , wherein the proximal portion comprises the enhanced flexible portion.

8. The catheter of claim 5 , wherein the distal portion and the proximal portion are more flexible than the intermediate portion.

9. The catheter of claim 5 , wherein the enhanced flexible portion is further tapered on an opposing side of the bendable support member.

10. The catheter of claim 5 , wherein the enhanced flexible portion further includes openings therein.

11. The catheter of claim 5 , wherein the enhanced flexible portion further includes a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer comprises a first material and the second layer comprises a second material, and wherein the first material is different from the second material.

12. The catheter of claim 5 , wherein the bendable support members are integrally connected to a proximal end ring.

13. The catheter of claim 5 , wherein the bendable support members are integrally connected to a distal end ring.

14. A catheter, the catheter comprising:
an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end; and
an electrode assembly at the distal end of the elongated body, the electrode assembly comprising a plurality of arms, each of the arms having a proximal end connected to the distal end of the elongated body and a distal end, the distal ends of the arms being connected at a tip junction, wherein the electrode assembly is collapsible to a collapsed arrangement and is expandable to an expanded arrangement;
wherein at least one arm of the plurality of arms comprises:
at least one electrode; and
a bendable support member defining a distal portion, a proximal portion, and an intermediate portion therebetween, wherein the distal and proximal portions each comprise an enhanced flexible portion that is more flexible than the intermediate portion, wherein the enhanced flexible portion comprises the bendable support member being tapered on one of a top side and a bottom side.

15. The catheter of claim 14 , wherein the enhanced flexible portions each are tapered on opposing sides of the bendable support member.

16. The catheter of claim 14 , wherein the enhanced flexible portions each further include openings therein.

17. The catheter of claim 14 , wherein the enhanced flexible portions each further include a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer comprises a first material and the second layer comprises a second material, and wherein the first material is different from the second material.

Assignees

• St Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Div Inc

Inventors

• Hall Sacha C
• Just Dale E
• De La Rama Alan
• Hata Cary

Classifications

• A61B5/0036 Primary

  including treatment, e.g., using an implantable medical device, ablating, ventilating · CPC title

• A61B2018/00267

  having a basket shaped structure · CPC title

• A61B2018/00839

  Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG · CPC title

• A61B2018/00577

  Ablation · CPC title

• A61B2018/00351

  Heart · CPC title