Bi-modal linear and loop ablation catheter, and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9439721-B2
Application number	US-54675009-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2009
Priority date	Aug 25, 2009
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

Medical devices, systems, and methods for treating patients with tissue ablation include catheter systems having bi-modal steering mechanisms, which are capable of both linear and loop ablation. In other words, the catheter system may have two different steering modes: two-dimensional and three-dimensional. In the first and second steering modes, the steering actuator may cause one or more portions of the catheter shaft to bend in different planes. A steerable ablation catheter may include treatment elements such as electrodes at its distal end and along the catheter shaft, each of which may map, pace, and ablate. Optional features include a series of thermocouples for monitoring local temperatures.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A medical device, comprising:
a catheter body having a first portion with a first plane of preferential bending, and a second portion with a second plane of preferential bending, the first portion being distal of the second portion;
a single steering actuator coupled to the catheter body;
a guide plate within the catheter body, the guide plate having a first outer edge, a second outer edge, a longitudinal axis, a width that extends directly from the first outer edge directly to the second outer edge and that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a length that is located along the longitudinal axis, a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a transition portion, the guide plate proximal portion being configured to cause the second plane of preferential bending and the distal portion of the guide plate being configured to cause the first plane of preferential bending, the proximal portion having a distal section, a proximal section, and a middle section located directly between the distal section and the proximal section, the middle section having a width that extends directly from the first outer edge of the guide plate directly to the second outer edge of the guide plate, the distal section and the proximal section being linear and located along the guide plate longitudinal axis and an entirety of the middle section having an arc of curvature when the catheter body is in an at least substantially linear configuration; and
a first steering member and a second steering member, each of the first and second steering members having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of each of the first and second steering members being coupled with the single steering actuator, and the distal end of each of the first and second steering members being directly affixed to the catheter body,
the medical device having a first and second mode of steering:
in the first mode of steering, movement of the single steering actuator from an initial position is configured to cause the first portion to bend from an initial shape to a first arc shape along the first plane of preferential bending; and
in the second mode of steering, movement of the single steering actuator from the initial position is configured to cause the first portion to bend from the initial shape to a second arc shape along the second plane of preferential bending.

2. The medical device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of electrodes affixed to the first portion of the catheter body.

3. The medical device of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of electrodes is capable of mapping, pacing and ablating.

4. The medical device of claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of temperature sensors, wherein a quantity of the plurality of temperature sensors is at least equal to a quantity of the plurality of electrodes, and is at most twice the quantity of the plurality of electrodes.

5. The medical device of claim 4 , wherein the quantity of the plurality of electrodes is at least eight, and the quantity of the plurality of temperature sensors is at most twelve.

6. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second planes of preferential bending are approximately perpendicular.

7. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion of the guide plate and the distal portion of the guide plate are substantially coextensive with the first and second portions of the catheter body, respectively; wherein the guide plate proximal portion and the guide plate distal portion are generally planar, and are connected by the transition portion.

8. The medical device of claim 7 , wherein the catheter body has at least four portions of alternating higher and lower flexibility; the transition portion of the guide plate being positioned within a distal portion of higher flexibility of the at least four portions of alternating higher and lower flexibility.

9. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the first mode of steering is configured to be selected by moving the single steering actuator from the initial position in a first direction, and the second mode of steering is configured to be selected by moving the single steering actuator from the initial position in a second direction.

10. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the distal ends of the first and second steering members are affixed to radially opposite sides of the catheter body at one longitudinal position.

11. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the distal ends of the first and second steering members are directly affixed to radially opposite sides of the catheter body at different longitudinal positions.

12. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second steering members both extend to a catheter body distal end.

Assignees

• Werneth Randell
• Roman Ricardo
• Corvi Timothy J
• Hu Betty
• Medtronic Ablation Frontiers

Inventors

• Werneth Randell
• Roman Ricardo
• Corvi Timothy J
• Hu Betty

Classifications

• A61B2017/00318

  Steering mechanisms · CPC title

• A61B2017/00336

  with a protective sleeve, e.g. retractable or slidable · CPC title

• A61B2017/003

  Steerable · CPC title

• A61B2018/00797

  measured by multiple temperature sensors · CPC title

• A61B2018/00821

  measured by a thermocouple · CPC title