US4759378A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Flexible tip cardiac pacing catheter
Assignee: American Hospital Supply Corp
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Filing: 1986-03-18
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Granted: 1988-07-26
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Expires: 2006-03-18
Abstract
Abstract A flexible tip catheter for electrically stimulating the heart comprising an elongated body having an elongated passage therein and an elongated conductor partially in the passage. The elongated conductor has a distal end portion outside of the passage which is flexible and resilient along its length. The distal end portion includes a flexible resilient electrode exposed at the outer periphery of the catheter so that current can be passed along the conductor to the electrode to electrically stimulate the heart. The distal end portion is more flexible at distal locations than at proximal locations along its length. The flexibility of the distal end portion and of the electrode greatly reduces the risk of penetration of the heart wall.
Inventors
- 👤 David L. Swendson
- 👤 Edward E. Elson
- 👤 Clement Lieber
- 👤 Michael D. Rold
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:35
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/056; A61M25/0043; A61M2025/0063; A61M25/09; A61M2025/0915
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A flexible tip pacing catheter adapted for insertion into the heart for electrically stimulating the heart comprising: an elongated body having an elongated passage therein; an elongated wire conductor; means for fixing the elongated wire conductor to said elongated body with the conductor being partially in said passage, a first section of said wire conductor lying at least partially within said passage of said body and being straight, said elongated wire conductor having a distal end portion outside of said passage which is flexible and resilient along its length, said catheter having a distal end and an outer periphery, said distal end portion terminating substantially at the distal end of the catheter; said flexible resilient distal end portion including a flexible electrode outside said body and exposed at the outer periphery of the catheter whereby current can be passed between said electrode and the heart; said distal end portion of said wire conductor having a distal section closely adjacent the distal end of the catheter which is more flexible than a location on the distal end portion which is spaced proximally from the distal section; and a region of said wire conductor being wound into a coil to form said distal section, said location and at least a part of said flexible electrode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
A flexible tip pacing catheter adapted for insertion into the heart for electrically stimulating the heart comprising: an elongated body having an elongated passage therein; an elongated wire conductor; means for fixing the elongated wire conductor to said elongated body with the conductor being partially in said passage, a first section of said wire conductor lying at least partially within said passage of said body and being straight, said elongated wire conductor having a distal end portion outside of said passage which is flexible and resilient along its length, said catheter having a distal end and an outer periphery, said distal end portion terminating substantially at the distal end of the catheter; said flexible resilient distal end portion including a flexible electrode outside said body and exposed at the outer periphery of the catheter whereby current can be passed between said electrode and the heart; said distal end portion of said wire conductor having a distal section closely adjacent the distal end of the catheter which is more flexible than a location on the distal end portion which is spaced proximally from the distal section; and a region of said wire conductor being wound into a coil to form said distal section, said location and at least a part of said flexible electrode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said coil forms said distal end portion of said conductor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said coil forms a transition section coupling said first section to said distal section, said distal section is more flexible than said transition section, and said transition section is more flexible than said first section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A catheter as defined in claim 3 wherein the wire of said first section has a greater cross-sectional area than the wire of said transition section and the wire of said transition section has a larger cross-sectional area than the wire of said distal section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A catheter as defined in claim 4 wherein at least a region of the wire conductor of said transition section is of progressively reducing cross-sectional area as such region extends distally.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A catheter as defined in claim 3 wherein the turns of the coil of the transition section are spaced greater axially than the turns of the coil of the distal section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A catheter as defined in claim 6 wherein at least a region of the wire conductor of said transition section is of progressively reducing cross-sectional area as such region extends distally.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said body includes a conductive wire having a plurality of coils with a region of said coils being exposed to define a proximal electrode which lies proximally of said location.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A catheter as defined in claim 8 wherein the coils adjacent the distal end of said wire of said body are spaced apart axially and said catheter includes an elastomer between said spaced coils.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said catheter includes an elastomer within at least a portion of said coil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible resilient electrode extends to the distal end of the catheter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A catheter as defined in claim 1 including a proximal electrode spaced proximally of the flexible electrode and said location is between said electrodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
204 words
A flexible tip pacing catheter adapted for insertion into the heart for electrically stimulating the heart comprising: an elongated body having an elongated passage therein; an elongated wire conductor; means for fixing said elongated wire conductor to said elongated body with the conductor being partially in said passage, a first section of said wire conductor lying at least partially within said passage of said body and being straight, said elongated wire conductor having a distal end portion outside of said passage which is flexible and resilient along its length, said catheter having a distal end and an outer periphery, said distal end portion terminating substantially at the distal end of the catheter; said flexible resilient distal end portion including a flexible electrode outside said body and exposed at the outer periphery of the catheter whereby current can be passed between said electrode and the heart; said distal end portion of said wire conductor having a flexible region located adjacent to and proximally of the flexible electrode with the flexibility of such region tapering as such region extends proximally; and a length of said wire conductor being wound into a coil to form said flexible region and at least a part of said flexible electrode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
204 words
A flexible tip pacing catheter adapted for insertion into the heart for electrically stimulating the heart comprising: an elongated body having an elongated passage therein; an elongated wire conductor; means for fixing said elongated wire conductor to said elongated body with the conductor being partially in said passage, a first section of said wire conductor lying at least partially within said passage of said body and being straight, said elongated wire conductor having a distal end portion outside of said passage which is flexible and resilient along its length, said catheter having a distal end and an outer periphery, said distal end portion terminating substantially at the distal end of the catheter; said flexible resilient distal end portion including a flexible electrode outside said body and exposed at the outer periphery of the catheter whereby current can be passed between said electrode and the heart; said distal end portion of said wire conductor having a flexible region located adjacent to and proximally of the flexible electrode with the flexibility of such region tapering as such region extends proximally; and a length of said wire conductor being wound into a coil to form said flexible region and at least a part of said flexible electrode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A catheter as defined in claim 13 wherein the axial spacing between the turns of said coil at said flexible region increases as said flexible region extends proximally.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A catheter as defined in claim 13 wherein said wire is of progressively increasing cross-sectional area as the wire extends proximally in said flexible region.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A catheter as defined in claim 13 wherein said pacing catheter includes a proximal electrode spaced proximally from said flexible electrode and said region is between said electrodes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
152 words
A flexible tip pacing catheter adapted for insertion into the heart for electrically stimulating the heart comprising: an elongated body having an elongated passage th erein; an elongated conductor; means for fixing the elongated conductor to said elongated body with the conductor being partially in said passage, said elongated conductor having a distal end portion outside of said passage which is flexible and resilient along its length, said distal end portion terminating substantially at a distal end of the catheter; said flexible resilient distal end portion including a flexible electrode outside said body and exposed at the outer periphery of the catheter whereby current can be passed between said electrode and the heart; said pacing catheter including a proximal electrode spaced proximally from said flexible electrode; and said pacing catheter having a flexible region between said electrodes with said region being more flexible adjacent the flexible electrode than adjacent the proximal electrode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
152 words
A flexible tip pacing catheter adapted for insertion into the heart for electrically stimulating the heart comprising: an elongated body having an elongated passage th erein; an elongated conductor; means for fixing the elongated conductor to said elongated body with the conductor being partially in said passage, said elongated conductor having a distal end portion outside of said passage which is flexible and resilient along its length, said distal end portion terminating substantially at a distal end of the catheter; said flexible resilient distal end portion including a flexible electrode outside said body and exposed at the outer periphery of the catheter whereby current can be passed between said electrode and the heart; said pacing catheter including a proximal electrode spaced proximally from said flexible electrode; and said pacing catheter having a flexible region between said electrodes with said region being more flexible adjacent the flexible electrode than adjacent the proximal electrode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A catheter as defined in claim 17 wherein the flexibility of said flexible region progressively decreases as such region extends proximally.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A catheter as defined in claim 17 wherein said conductor is wound into a coil to form said flexible region and at least a part of said flexible electrode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
A catheter as defined in claim 19 wherein the axial spacing between the turns of said coil at said flexible region increases as said flexible region extends proximally.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
A catheter as defined in claim 19 wherein the conductor is of progressively increasing cross-sectional area as the conductor extends proximally in said flexible region.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
A catheter as defined in claim 17 wherein said body includes a conductive wire having a plurality of coils with a region of said coils being exposed to define said proximal electrode.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
71 words
A catheter as defined in claim 19 wherein said body includes a conductive wire having a plurality of coils with a region of said coils being exposed to define said proximal electrode, at least some of said coils of said conductive wire are spaced apart and said catheter includes a nonconductive elastomer filling at least some of the coils of the flexible region and the region between the spaced apart coils.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
A catheter as defined in claim 19 including a nonconductive elastomer extending between said electrodes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-07-26 | 1992-01-25 | 1992-07-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-07-26 | 1996-01-25 | 1996-07-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-07-26 | 2000-01-25 | 2000-07-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |