Patent · US Active

Catheter having a force sensing distal tip

US8359082B2 · kind B2 · utility

11Cited by
6References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 17, 2012
Grant dateJan 22, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 17, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2562/0261
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A catheter for contact force sensing includes a catheter body, a deflectable section, and a distal section having a tip electrode and a contact force sensor for sensing a 3D contact force vector applied to the tip electrode. The contact force sensor has a body and at least one sensor with an electrical characteristic responsive to deformation of the body resulting from the force vector. The sensor receives an electrical current and outputs an electrical signal indicative of a change in the electrical characteristic. The sensor may be a strain gage responsive to tension and compression of at least a portion of the body of the force sensor, and the electrical characteristic may be electrical resistivity of the strain gage. Alternatively, the sensor may be responsive to strain and stress of at least a portion of the body, and the electrical characteristic is inductance or hysteresis loss.

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