US5833688A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sensing temperature with plurality of catheter sensors
Assignee: Boston Scientific Corp
•
Filing: 1997-02-24
•
Granted: 1998-11-10
•
Expires: 2017-02-24
Abstract
Abstract A dual temperature sensor assembly is used in an ablation catheter. The sensor assembly includes a thermistor and a thermocouple. The ablation catheter has a body with a distal end and a proximal end. An ablation member (e.g., an electrode for providing energy) is disposed at the distal end of the body for ablating tissue. The sensor assembly allows the ablation catheter to be used with any known generator/controller unit, either the thermistor-based kind or the thermocouple-based kind.
Inventors
- 👤 Wayne Sieben
- 👤 Alan Oslan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:49
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00071; A61B2018/00083; A61B2018/00089; A61B2018/00095; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00577; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00797; A61B2018/00815; A61B2018/00821
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
48 words
A catheter, comprising: a catheter body having a distal end and a proximal end; and at least two temperature sensors disposed at the distal end of the catheter body for sensing temperature, one of the temperature sensors comprising a thermistor and the other temperature sensor comprising a thermocouple.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
48 words
A catheter, comprising: a catheter body having a distal end and a proximal end; and at least two temperature sensors disposed at the distal end of the catheter body for sensing temperature, one of the temperature sensors comprising a thermistor and the other temperature sensor comprising a thermocouple.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein three conductors extend from the proximal end to the distal end of the catheter body, a first one of the conductors extending to the thermistor, a second one of the conductors extending to the thermocouple, and a third one of the conductors extending to and common to both the thermistor and the thermocouple.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein each of the at least two temperature sensors senses temperature in the range of 20° C. to 120° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the thermocouple comprises a type T thermocouple.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter of claim 2 wherein the second and third conductors comprise dissimilar metals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 5 wherein the second conductor comprises copper and the third conductor comprises constantan.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the at least two temperature sensors are disposed in a thermally conductive, electrically insulative material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The catheter of claim 7 wherein the thermally conducting insulator comprises polymide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ablation catheter of claim 1 wherein the length of the catheter body is about 110 cm to 120 cm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter of claim 1 further comprising an ablation member disposed at the distal end of the catheter body for providing energy to ablate tissue.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter of claim 10 wherein the ablation member comprises at least one electrode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The catheter of claim 11 wherein the at least one electrode comprises a tip electrode disposed at the tip of the distal end of the catheter body and wherein at least one of the at least two temperature sensors is disposed within the tip electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The catheter of claim 11 wherein the at least one electrode comprises at least two ring electrodes disposed along the distal end of the catheter body and wherein at least one of the at least two temperature sensors are disposed between the two ring electrodes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The catheter of claim 11 wherein the at least one electrode comprises at least one ring electrode and wherein at least one of the at least two temperature sensors is disposed within the catheter body near the ring electrode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The catheter of claim 11 wherein the at least one electrode has an opening leading to the exterior of the catheter body and wherein at least one of the at least two temperature sensors is disposed within the opening.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter of claim 11 wherein the at least one electrode provides radio frequency energy to ablate tissue.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter of claim 10 wherein the ablation member provides laser energy to ablate tissue.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter of claim 1 further comprising a controller and a coupler for coupling at least one of the two temperature sensors to the controller.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The catheter of claim 18 wherein the coupler comprises a handle connected to the proximal end of the catheter body, the handle including a switch configured to electrically couple one of the two temperature sensors to the controller.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
The catheter of claim 18 wherein the coupler comprises a handle connected to the proximal end of the catheter body, the handle including a connector and an adapter connected to the connector wherein the adapter is configured to couple one of the two temperature sensors to the controller.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
The catheter of claim 18 wherein the coupler comprises a handle connected to the proximal end of the catheter body, the handle including a connector and an adapter connected to the connector wherein the adapter comprises a switch configured to selectively couple one of the two temperature sensors to the controller.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
76 words
A temperature sensor assembly for use in a catheter, comprising: a thermocouple; a thermistor; a first conductor extending to the thermistor; a second conductor extending to the thermocouple; a third conductor extending to and being common to both the thermistor and the thermocouple, the second and third conductors comprising dissimilar metals; and a thermally conductive, electrically insulative material within which the thermistor and thermocouple are disposed and to which the first, second, and third conductors extend.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
76 words
A temperature sensor assembly for use in a catheter, comprising: a thermocouple; a thermistor; a first conductor extending to the thermistor; a second conductor extending to the thermocouple; a third conductor extending to and being common to both the thermistor and the thermocouple, the second and third conductors comprising dissimilar metals; and a thermally conductive, electrically insulative material within which the thermistor and thermocouple are disposed and to which the first, second, and third conductors extend.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of sensing temperature, comprising: providing a catheter comprising a catheter body having a distal end and, a proximal end and two dissimilar sensors disposed at the distal end of the catheter body for sensing temperature, one of the sensors comprising a thermistor and the other sensor comprising a thermocouple; providing a controller for providing temperature indications; coupling one of the two sensors to the controller; and sensing temperature with the sensor coupled to the controller and providing temperature indications with the controller.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of sensing temperature, comprising: providing a catheter comprising a catheter body having a distal end and, a proximal end and two dissimilar sensors disposed at the distal end of the catheter body for sensing temperature, one of the sensors comprising a thermistor and the other sensor comprising a thermocouple; providing a controller for providing temperature indications; coupling one of the two sensors to the controller; and sensing temperature with the sensor coupled to the controller and providing temperature indications with the controller.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4403296A
Cited
US4966597A
Cited
US5588438A
Cited
US5423805A
Cited
US5281212A
Cited
US5582609A
Cited
US5599345A
Cited
WO1996000039A1
Cited
WO1996034558A1
Cited
US5685878A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-11-09 | 2002-05-11 | 2002-11-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-09 | 2006-05-11 | 2006-11-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-09 | 2010-05-11 | 2010-11-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |