Patent US5674271A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5674271A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Catheter with steerable stylet
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1996-11-14
•
Granted: 1997-10-07
•
Expires: 2016-11-14
Abstract
Abstract An electrode lead for intracorporeal stimulation of body tissue includes a tubular electrode cable and a removable stylet therein for guiding the cable during insertion through a blood vessel and heart chambers. The electrode cable has a flexible conductor extending through an insulating sheath which has a tubular shape forming a lumen. An exposed electrode, to which the conductor connects, closes a distal end of the electrode cable, while the proximate end of the electrode cable is grasped by an operator. The stylet extends from the distal cable end to the proximate end and engages the operator. The stylet has an outer tube forming a stylet lumen with a longitudinal axis and an inner wire which extends through the stylet lumen. The inner wire and outer tube are attached on one side of the longitudinal axis adjacent their distal ends, so that movement of the inner wire with respect to the outer tube causes curvature of the outer tube which in turn bends the electrode cable for steering through the blood vessel. After the electrode cable has been positioned at the desired location for stimulation, the stylet is removed.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen Denker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:06
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/056; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61M25/0152
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A steerable electrode lead for intracorporeal stimulation of body tissue, the electrode lead comprising: an electrode cable with a flexible conductor and having a tubular shape forming a lumen, the electrode cable possessing a first end with an exposed terminal for contacting the body tissue and having an open second end; and a stylet removably inserted into the lumen through the open second end of the electrode cable, and having an outer tube forming a stylet lumen with a longitudinal axis, the stylet including an inner wire which extends through the stylet lumen and is fastened to the outer tube so that movement of the inner wire along the longitudinal axis with respect to the outer tube causes curvature of the outer tube and the electrode cable.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A steerable electrode lead for intracorporeal stimulation of body tissue, the electrode lead comprising: an electrode cable with a flexible conductor and having a tubular shape forming a lumen, the electrode cable possessing a first end with an exposed terminal for contacting the body tissue and having an open second end; and a stylet removably inserted into the lumen through the open second end of the electrode cable, and having an outer tube forming a stylet lumen with a longitudinal axis, the stylet including an inner wire which extends through the stylet lumen and is fastened to the outer tube so that movement of the inner wire along the longitudinal axis with respect to the outer tube causes curvature of the outer tube and the electrode cable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
The steerable electrode lead as recited in claim 1 wherein the outer tube has one end projecting from the second end of the electrode cable, and the inner wire has a proximate end projecting from the one end of the outer tube; and further comprising an operator with a grip engaging the one end of the outer tube and a handle engaging the proximate end of the inner wire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The steerable electrode lead as recited in claim 2 wherein the grip includes a mechanism to grasp the electrode cable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The steerable electrode lead as recited in claim 3 wherein the a mechanism comprises a collet within a chuck.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The steerable electrode lead as recited in claim 1 wherein said inner wire is fastened to the outer tube on only one side of the longitudinal axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The steerable electrode lead as recited in claim 1 wherein the electrode cable comprises a tubular sheath with the flexible conductor located within the tubular sheath.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The steerable electrode lead as recited in claim 6 wherein the flexible conductor extends in a helix along the tubular sheath.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
180 words
A steerable electrode lead for intracorporeal stimulation of body tissue, the electrode lead comprising: an electrode cable having a flexible conductor extending through an insulating sheath which has a tubular shape forming a lumen, the insulating sheath having a first end with an exposed terminal for contacting the body tissue and having an open second end; a stylet removably inserted into the lumen through the open second end of the electrode cable, and having an outer tube forming a stylet lumen having a longitudinal axis and a distal end, the stylet including an inner wire which extends through the stylet lumen and is fastened to the outer tube on only one side of the longitudinal axis proximate to the distal end, wherein movement of the inner wire along the longitudinal axis with respect to the outer tube causes curvature of the outer tube; and an operator having grip a engaging the outer tube of the stylet and the second end of the electrode cable, and having a handle attached to the inner wire and movable with respect to the grip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
180 words
A steerable electrode lead for intracorporeal stimulation of body tissue, the electrode lead comprising: an electrode cable having a flexible conductor extending through an insulating sheath which has a tubular shape forming a lumen, the insulating sheath having a first end with an exposed terminal for contacting the body tissue and having an open second end; a stylet removably inserted into the lumen through the open second end of the electrode cable, and having an outer tube forming a stylet lumen having a longitudinal axis and a distal end, the stylet including an inner wire which extends through the stylet lumen and is fastened to the outer tube on only one side of the longitudinal axis proximate to the distal end, wherein movement of the inner wire along the longitudinal axis with respect to the outer tube causes curvature of the outer tube; and an operator having grip a engaging the outer tube of the stylet and the second end of the electrode cable, and having a handle attached to the inner wire and movable with respect to the grip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The steerable electrode lead as recited in claim 8 wherein the electrode cable comprises an outer sheath with the flexible conductor located within the outer sheath.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The steerable electrode lead as recited in claim 9 wherein the flexible conductor extends in a helix within the outer sheath.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4026303A
Cited
US4136703A
Cited
US4498482A
Cited
US4357947A
Cited
US4401127A
Cited
US4905666A
Cited
US5168864A
Cited
US5242441A
Cited
US5318525A
Cited
US5423879A
Cited
US5360441A
Cited
US5480421A
Cited
US5397321A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-10-06 | 2001-04-07 | 2001-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-10-06 | 2005-04-07 | 2005-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-10-06 | 2009-04-07 | 2009-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |