Electrode assembly having an atraumatic distal tip

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9585588-B2
Application number	US-201514718909-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 21, 2015
Priority date	Jun 3, 2014
Publication date	Mar 7, 2017
Grant date	Mar 7, 2017

Abstract

A catheter including expandable electrode assembly having a distal cap that mechanically engages a locking feature provided on the distal ends of each of two or more flexible splines forming a portion of the expandable electrode assembly is described. The distal cap defines an atraumatic distal tip of the catheter. The catheter may be used in a cardiac mapping and/or ablation procedure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A catheter comprising:
an elongate catheter body extending from a proximal end to a distal end;
an expandable electrode assembly disposed at the distal end of the catheter body, the electrode assembly comprising a plurality of flexible splines extending from the distal end of the catheter body to a distal cap;
wherein the distal cap comprises a plurality of slots disposed about an outer circumference of the distal cap, and a cylindrical shape defining an interior cavity;
wherein the plurality of flexible splines include a first spline comprising a distal end defining a locking feature secured within one of the plurality of slots provided in the distal cap, the locking feature comprising an aperture formed therein, the expandable electrode assembly configured to be transitioned between a collapsed configuration suitable for delivery and an expanded configuration; and
two or more electrodes located on the first spline; and
an adhesive disposed within the distal cap to further secure the locking feature.

2. The catheter according to claim 1 , wherein the distal cap comprises a rounded tip having an aperture defined therein.

3. The catheter according to claim 1 , wherein a height is greater than a width for each of the slots.

4. The catheter according to claim 1 , wherein the locking feature defined by the distal end of the first spline comprises a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width, the first width greater than the second width.

5. The catheter according to claim 1 , wherein the distal cap comprises a rounded distal end and defines an atraumatic distal tip of the catheter.

6. The catheter according to claim 1 , wherein each of the slots are spaced an equal distance from one another about the outer circumference of the distal cap.

7. The catheter according to claim 1 , further comprising an actuation member coupled to the expandable electrode assembly.

8. The catheter according to claim 1 , wherein the locking feature defined by the distal end of the first spline comprises an arrowhead shape.

9. The catheter according to claim 1 , wherein the distal cap serves as a distal tip electrode.

10. A catheter comprising:
an elongate catheter body extending from a proximal end to a distal end;
an expandable electrode assembly disposed at the distal end of the catheter body, the electrode assembly comprising a plurality of flexible splines including a first spline extending from the distal end of the catheter body to a distal cap, the distal cap comprising a cylindrical shape defining an interior cavity and a plurality of slots including a first slot disposed about an outer circumference of the distal cap, the first spline comprising a distal end defining a locking feature secured within the first slot, the locking feature comprising an aperture formed therein, the interior cavity of the distal cap containing an adhesive to further secure the locking feature, the expandable electrode assembly configured to be transitioned between a collapsed configuration suitable for delivery and an expanded configuration
two or more electrodes located on the first spline; and
an actuation member coupled to the expandable electrode assembly.

Assignees

• Boston Scient Scimed Inc

Inventors

• Marecki Andrew T
• Kozlowski Michael C
• Foster Daniel J
• Byron Mary M

Classifications

• A61B2018/0016

  Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array · CPC title

• A61B2018/00267

  having a basket shaped structure · CPC title

• Y10T29/49004

  including measuring or testing of device or component part · CPC title

• A61B2018/1467

  using more than two electrodes on a single probe · CPC title

• A61B18/1492 Primary

  having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence) · CPC title