Stem elements for securing tubing and electrical wires to expandable-collapsible electrode structures
US5891135A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 8, 1996 |
| Grant date | Apr 6, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 8, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2018/00839
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A collapsible electrode body is assembled to an end of a catheter tube. A generally rigid stem element having an exterior diameter is connected to the catheter tube. A flexible tube, which has an initial interior diameter smaller than the exterior diameter of the stem element, is deformed into a desired geometry for the electrode body, including a neck region with an enlarged interior diameter greater than the exterior diameter of the stem element. The neck region is slipped about the stem element. Heat is applied to shrink the neck region about the stem element and form a first interference fit junction therebetween. A sleeve is fitted about the first interference fit junction, and heat is applied to shrink the sleeve about the interference fit junction and form a second interference fit junction therebetween. Preferably, after the first interference fit junction is formed, additional heat is applied to thermally fuse the neck region to the stem region.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.