Catheter with helical end section for vessel ablation

US9717555B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd. · IL

Inventors

• Tina Chan · El Monte, US
• Tom Allen Ditter · Chino Hills, US
• Kristine B. Fuimaono · Brooks Road, US
• Debby Grunewald · Los Angeles, US
• Eduardo Jimenez · Manalapan, US
• Robert W. Pike · Corsicana, US
• Michael Olen Zirkle · Carlsbad, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 14, 2013
• Grant date: Aug 1, 2017
• Expiry date: Mar 14, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2018/1497
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A catheter includes an elongated body, a distal assembly with a shape-memory member defining a generally helical form, and a control handle. The control handle may be adapted to actuate a deflection puller wire for deflecting a portion of the elongated body and a contraction wire for contracting the generally helical form. The generally helical form carries irrigated ablation ring electrodes. A nitinol support member with shape memory extends through the distal assembly and into the elongated body to provide the helical form. The support member may have a varying stiffness along its length, for example, a decreasing stiffness toward a distal end of the support member. The support member can also be hollow so that it can receive a mandrel whose stiffness is greater than that of the support member.