EP0609182A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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An electrode catheter for mapping and operating on cardiac cavities
Assignee: Bard SRL
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Filing: 1994-01-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-01-12
Abstract
Abstract An electrode catheter designed for intravenous insertion into a cavity of the heart comprises a tubular sheath (1) encasing a first spiral wound wire (2) of conductive biocompatible material, which affords an insulated operative portion (2a) exposed from the sheath (1) and capped distally by a domed ring (4), and a mapping electrode (5) of conductive biocompatible material for sensing the electrical activity in the cardiac muscle, carried coaxially by the first spiral wound wire (2) and capable of movement along the operative portion (2a) transmitted by means of a second spiral wound wire (6) extending coaxially through the first (2) and connected to an external control handset (7). The operative portion (2a) of the first wire (2) is arched by means of a tension wire (9) designed to establish a restraint between the domed ring (4) and the distal end of the sheath (1), of which the length can be increased or reduced to alter the radius of the arched profile as expedient for the shape of the cavity explored.
Inventors
- 👤 Enzo Borghi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/68; A61B5/6846; A61B5/6847; A61B5/6852; A61B5/6855; A61B1/00; A61B1/005; A61B1/0051; A61B1/0055; A61B1/0056; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B5/24; A61B5/25; A61B5/279; A61B5/28; A61B5/283; A61B5/287; A61B5/6856; A61B18/18; A61B18/1815; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00184; A61B2018/00202; A61B2018/00208; A61B2018/0091; A61B2018/00916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
330 words
1) An electrode catheter for mapping and operating on cardiac cavities, in particular the right and left atria, the mitral valve and the ventricle, composed of at least one tubular sheath (1) fashioned from a biocompatible material, and at least one spiral wound wire of electrically conductive material accommodated internally of the tubular sheath and insertable intravenously into the cavities of the cardiac muscle, characterized, in that it comprises: - a first spiral wound wire (2) of biocompatible material accommodated internally of the tubular sheath (1) and affording an electrically insulated operative portion (2a) exposed from the sheath; - a first ring (3) occupying a fixed position near to the distal end of the sheath (1); - a second ring (4), permanently associated with and capping the distal extremity of the operative portion (2a); - a third ring (5) fashioned from an electrically conductive and biocompatible material, constituting a medial electrode and acting as a sensor by means of which to measure electrical cardiac activity, associated coaxially with the first spiral wound wire (2) and capable of translatory movement along the operative portion (2a) through the agency of means consisting in a second spiral wound wire (6), disposed coaxially to the first wire (2), of which one end is permanently associated with the ring (5) and the remaining end is connected to externally operated means (7) for inducing and controlling the translatory movement; - means (8) by which to alter the configuration of the operative portion (2a) of the first wire (2), embodied as a flexible tension element (9) interconnecting the second ring (4) and the distal end of the sheath (1) and invested with axial movement in relation to the first wire so as to increase or reduce the length of the interconnection according to the morphology of the cavity, in such a manner that the operative portion (2a) can be brought into contact with the entire surface of the cavity by rotating the first wire (2) through 360°.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
330 words
1) An electrode catheter for mapping and operating on cardiac cavities, in particular the right and left atria, the mitral valve and the ventricle, composed of at least one tubular sheath (1) fashioned from a biocompatible material, and at least one spiral wound wire of electrically conductive material accommodated internally of the tubular sheath and insertable intravenously into the cavities of the cardiac muscle, characterized, in that it comprises: - a first spiral wound wire (2) of biocompatible material accommodated internally of the tubular sheath (1) and affording an electrically insulated operative portion (2a) exposed from the sheath; - a first ring (3) occupying a fixed position near to the distal end of the sheath (1); - a second ring (4), permanently associated with and capping the distal extremity of the operative portion (2a); - a third ring (5) fashioned from an electrically conductive and biocompatible material, constituting a medial electrode and acting as a sensor by means of which to measure electrical cardiac activity, associated coaxially with the first spiral wound wire (2) and capable of translatory movement along the operative portion (2a) through the agency of means consisting in a second spiral wound wire (6), disposed coaxially to the first wire (2), of which one end is permanently associated with the ring (5) and the remaining end is connected to externally operated means (7) for inducing and controlling the translatory movement; - means (8) by which to alter the configuration of the operative portion (2a) of the first wire (2), embodied as a flexible tension element (9) interconnecting the second ring (4) and the distal end of the sheath (1) and invested with axial movement in relation to the first wire so as to increase or reduce the length of the interconnection according to the morphology of the cavity, in such a manner that the operative portion (2a) can be brought into contact with the entire surface of the cavity by rotating the first wire (2) through 360°.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
126 words
2) An electrode catheter as in claim 1, wherein the means (8) by which to alter the configuration of the operative portion (2a) of the first spiral wound wire (2) consist in a flexible tension wire (9) anchored at one end by means of a cylindrical retaining element (10) lodged within a cylindrical cavity afforded by the second ring (4), passing through a hole (11) afforded by a domed cap forming an integral part of the second ring (4), directed back into and along the sheath (1) substantially parallel with the first spiral wound wire (2) and accommodated within a third spiral wound wire (23) affording protection and stability in the radial direction, and connected by the remaining end to the externally operated control means (7).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
3) An electrode catheter as in claim 1, wherein the first spiral wound wire (2) is anchored permanently to the tubular sheath (1), and the sheath (1), the first wire (2), the second ring (4) and the tension element (9) are connected as a composite assembly to the externally located control means (7) in such a way as to allow their rotation together as one.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
4) An electrode catheter as in claim 1, wherein the second spiral wound wire (6) is accommodated slidably and coaxially within the first spiral wound wire (2), enveloped in a second sheath (6g) and anchored permanently to a worm (12) rigidly associated with the internal surface of the medial electrode (5), of which the thread is coupled with the first wire (2), such that an angular movement of the second wire (6) in either direction produces a distal or proximal translatory movement of the electrode along the operative portion (2a) of the first wire (2).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
5) An electrode catheter as in claim 4, wherein the second spiral wound wire (6) terminates distally with an ogival head (13) of spherical profile seated coaxially in the distal end of the wire (6) and serving to favour sliding movement internally of the first spiral wound wire (2) whenever the configuration of the operative portion (2a) is altered.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
6) An electrode catheter as in claim 1, wherein the operative portion (2a) of the first spiral wound wire (2) is fitted over a cylindrical shank (4c) afforded by the second ring (4), and secured by means of a fourth ring (20) crimped over the wire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
7) An electrode catheter as in claim 1, wherein the movement of the first spiral wound wire (2), of the tension wire (9) and of the second spiral wound wire (6) is induced and controlled by means (7) incorporated into a single unit (14) operated from outside the body of the cardiac patient.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
8) An electrode catheter as in claim 1, wherein the medial electrode (5) appears cylindrical in section and is embodied with flat external surfaces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
9) An electrode catheter as in claim 1, wherein the medial electrode (5) appears cylindrical in section and is embodied with spherical external surfaces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
10) An electrode catheter as in claim 1, wherein the second ring (4) is rendered electrically active in such a way as to function as a distal electrode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
11) An electrode catheter as in claim 1, wherein the first ring (3) is rendered electrically active in such a way as to function as a proximal electrode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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