EP0788808A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Single preformed catheter configuration for a dual-chamber pacemaker system
Assignee: Cardiac Control Systems Inc
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Filing: 1997-02-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-02-10
Abstract
Abstract A single preformed catheter (70) configuration for a dual-chamber pacemaker system is provided. The catheter is formed of a heat-settable biocompatible material such as, for example, polyether polyurethane, and is formed in a predetermined shape to enhance and stabilize atrial electrode contact on the inner wall of the atrium, while also providing stress relief to absorb stresses occasioned by cardiac depolarization and respiration and modulation of the bulk cardiac complex. To this end, the catheter of the present invention includes a first section (64, 66) disposed in the superior vena cava (18) to provide substantially stable support to the catheter, a second section (46) disposed in the atrium and being preformed to substantially conform to the inner wall of the atrium, and a third section (30) having a pliancy greater than that of the first two sections and being disposed distally of the second section (46). The first section (64, 66) disposed in the superior vena cava (18) may have one of a variety of geometries, including, but not limited to, a plurality of curves, a spiral or helical configuration and a single reverse bend or lobe.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert R. Brownlee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:09
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/056; A61N1/0563
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A single catheter for pacing and sensing atrial and ventricular chambers of the heart, said catheter comprising: a first catheter section having a preformed shape and being substantially disposed in the superior vena cava, said preformed shape providing substantially stable support to said catheter; a second catheter section disposable in the atrium below the first catheter section, said second catheter section having at least one atrial electrode disposed thereon, said second catheter section being preformed to substantially conform to an inner wall of the atrium and arranged to be held in proximity to said inner wall by said first catheter section; a third catheter section disposed between said at least one atrial electrode and a distal end of said catheter arranged to terminate in a ventricular chamber of the heart, said third catheter section having a pliancy greater than a pliancy of said first and second catheter sections, said third catheter section providing stress release to said catheter; and a first ventricular electrode disposed at the distal end of the catheter, said ventricular electrode providing pacing and sensing of the ventricular chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
35 words
The catheter of claim 1, wherein said catheter includes a catheter body comprising two insulated space-wound coaxial coils, said coils providing electrical conduction for pacing and sensing the atrial and ventricular chambers of the heart.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The catheter of claim 1, further comprising an indicator disposed at a proximal end thereof above the first catheter section, said indicator indicating an angular position of said catheter during implant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter of claim 1, wherein at least one atrial electrode substantially faces the atrial wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The catheter of claim 1, adapted to receive a straightening stylet, said straightening stylet being disposed within said catheter to facilitate insertion of said catheter into the venous system during implant.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The catheter of claim 1, further comprising a passive fixation device disposed at the distal end thereof for securing a position of said ventricular electrode against the ventricle, said device optionally comprising passive fixation tines.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The catheter of claim 1 or claim 6, further comprising an active fixation device controllable by a stylet inserted in said catheter, said active fixation device being disposed at the distal end of said catheter for securing a position of said first ventricular electrode against the ventricle, said active fixation device optionally comprising an active fixation screw.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The catheter of claim 1, wherein said third catheter section includes a preshaped bend disposed between said at least one atrial electrode and the tricuspid valve, said preshaped bend absorbing and mitigating heart motion forces on said second catheter section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter of claim 1, comprising at least two atrial electrodes for sensing and stimulating the atrial chamber of the heart.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The catheter of claim 9, wherein at least two atrial electrodes substantially face said inner wall of the atrium and optionally protrude from said catheter principally on a side of the catheter facing the inner wall of the atrium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The catheter of claim 9, wherein at least two electrodes surround a circumference of said catheter e.g. over an entire circumference of said catheter and optionally protrude from said catheter in an area principally facing the inner wall of the atrium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The catheter of claim 4, wherein said catheter includes a projection formed therein at a location of said at least one atrial electrode, wherein said projection extends in a direction of the inner wall of the atrium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The catheter of claim 10, wherein said catheter includes a rigid section disposed between said at least two atrial electrodes for projecting at least two atrial electrodes in a direction of the inner wall of the atrium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The catheter of claim 1, wherein said first catheter section comprises a plurality of preformed curved sections and/or spiral loops disposed substantially in the superior vena cava.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
139 words
The catheter of claim 1, wherein said first catheter section comprises a single preformed lobe section disposed substantially in the superior vena cava and preformed lever arm section disposed above said lobe section, said lever arm section providing stabilization for said catheter and said lobe section acting as a fulcrum, and optionally wherein: said preformed lever arm section is disposed above a lobe point where said lobe section contacts the superior vena cava, said lever arm section providing stabilization for said second catheter section adjacent the inner wall of the atrium, said lobe section providing a lever fulcrum for said second catheter section and said lobe point providing a lever arm restraint with a wall of the superior vena cava, wherein said preformed lobe section is located substantially at an exit of the superior vena cava into the atrium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
The catheter of claim 1, wherein said first catheter section includes at least one splayed projection arm extending from said first catheter section in a portion of said first catheter section disposed inside the superior vena cava, said at least one splayed projection stabilizing the second section to conform to the inner wall of the atrium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
73 words
The catheter of claim 16, comprising at least two splayed projections extending from the first catheter section in a portion of said first catheter section disposed inside the superior vena cava, said at least two splayed projections being radially positioned about the catheter, said at least two splayed projections preferably being positioned to angularly extend approximately 120° from each other and are also preferably positioned to angularly extend approximately 120° from the catheter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
82 words
The catheter of claim 17, wherein said splayed projections are foldable against the catheter and are held in a folded position by (i) a biocompatible dissolvable material during implant, said projections extending from said catheter when said dissolvable material is dissolved (said material preferably being dissolvable by contact with the blood pool); or (ii) by a string knot retainer during implant, said projections extending from said catheter when the string knot retainer is released by extension of a string of the retainer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter of claim 18, wherein said splayed projections are oriented to face distally toward the exit of the superior vena cava to facilitate removal of the catheter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
The catheter of any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein said electrodes have surface areas in the range of 3 to 15 mm 2 and/or a length in the direction parallel to longitudinal axis of the catheter body in the range of 1 to 6 mm.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 2, wherein said catheter body is made of a material comprising a biocompatible heat-settable material, e.g. polyether polyurethane.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The catheter of claim 1, wherein said catheter includes a catheter body comprising three insulated space-wound coaxial coils, said coils providing electrical conduction for pacing and sensing the atrial and ventricular chambers of the heart.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The catheter of claim 1, wherein said catheter includes a catheter body comprising four insulated space-wound coaxial coils, said coils providing electrical conduction for pacing and sensing the atrial and ventricular chambers of the heart.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
The catheter or claim 22 or claim 23, further comprising a second ventricular electrode disposed proximally of said first ventricular electrode and in a ventricular chamber of the heart, said second ventricular electrode preferably being a ring electrode.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
44 words
The catheter of claim 22, wherein two of the three spaced-wound coaxial coils terminate in the atrial chamber of the heart and connect to two separated atrial electrodes, and a third space-wound coaxial coil terminates in the ventricle and connects to a ventricular electrode.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
52 words
The catheter of claim 23, wherein two of the four space-wound coils terminate in the atrial chamber of the heart and connect to two separated atrial electrodes, and two of the four spaced-wound coaxial coils terminate in the ventricle and connect separately to said first ventricular electrode and said second ventricular electrode.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter of claim 25, wherein two separated atrial electrodes are electronically switchable to sense bipolar and pace unipolar parallel.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter of claim 27, wherein said atrial electrodes, alone or in parallel combination, function as the atrial pacing electrode.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
40 words
The catheter of claim 5, wherein said straightening stylet comprises a plurality of longitudinal markers that appear sequentially at a proximal end of said catheter during removal of the stylet to indicate advance of the catheter into the venous system.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
58 words
A device for sensing and pacing a heart, comprising a catheter for deployment in the heart, said catheter having at least two electrodes positioned thereon for sensing and pacing the heart, and control means connected with said catheter for causing said two electrodes to switch between bipolar sensing of the heart and parallel unipolar pacing of the heart.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 30, wherein said control means includes a pacemaker having switchable electronics operable to switch the operation of said electrodes from said bipolar sensing to said parallel unipolar pacing.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
60 words
A device for sensing and pacing a heart, comprising a catheter for deployment in the heart, said catheter having at least two electrodes positioned thereon for sensing and pacing the heart, said catheter and said electrodes being constructed and arranged to cause said electrodes to be positioned along an anterior atrial wall of the heart when deployed in the heart.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 32, wherein said catheter is a single catheter operable to perform dual chamber pacing.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
56 words
A device for sensing and pacing a heart, comprising a catheter for deployment in the heart, said catheter having at least two electrodes positioned thereon for sensing and pacing the heart, and control means connected with said catheter for causing said two electrodes to sense bipolar and to pace bipolar with sequential alternate polarity stimulation pulses.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 34, wherein said control means includes a pacemaker having electronics operable to provide said sequential alternate polarity stimulation pulses.
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