Patent · US Expired

Heart wall ablation/mapping catheter and method

US6926669B1 · kind B1 · utility

240Cited by
60References
32Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 10, 2000
Grant dateAug 9, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 12, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61M2025/0161
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Steerable electrophysiology catheters for use in mapping and/or ablation of accessory pathways in myocardial tissue of the heart wall and methods of use thereof are disclosed. The catheter comprises a catheter body and handle, the catheter body having a proximal section and a distal section and manipulators that enable the deflection of a distal segment of the distal tip section with respect to the independently formed curvature of a proximal segment of the distal tip section through a bending or knuckle motion of an intermediate segment between the proximal and distal segments. A wide angular range of deflection within a very small curve or bend radius in the intermediate segment is obtained. At least one distal tip electrode is preferably confined to the distal segment which can have a straight axis extending distally from the intermediate segment. The curvature of the proximal segment and the bending angle of the intermediate segment are independently selectable. The axial alignment of the distal segment with respect to the nominal axis of the proximal shaft section of the catheter body can be varied between substantially axially aligned (0° curvature) in an abrupt knuckle bend …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.