US5843152A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Catheter system having a ball electrode
Assignee: Irvine Biomedical Inc
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Filing: 1997-06-02
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Granted: 1998-12-01
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Expires: 2017-06-02
Abstract
Abstract An improved catheter system having at least one electrode at its tip section, can be used in ablating the arrhythmogenic point of a patient. A catheter suitable for radiofrequency ablation of cardiac tissues comprises a catheter shaft having a distal section, a distal end, a proximal end and at least one lumen extending therebetween, wherein a rotatable ball electrode is disposed at the tip section of said catheter. In one embodiment, the ablation catheter has a temperature sensor and a close-loop temperature control mechanism. In another embodiment, the ablation catheter has fluid infusion and irrigation means at its distal tip section for creating a deep and large lesion by applying radiofrequency energy and cooled fluid to said electrode.
Inventors
- 👤 Hosheng Tu
- 👤 Weng-Kwen Raymond Chia
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:31
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/40; A61N1/403; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/06; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/003; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00029; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00357; A61B2018/00559; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00577; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00815; A61B2018/00821; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1417
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for operating a catheter system having a distal tip section with a ball electrode inside a hollow pocket, within a heart chamber, comprising: (a) percutaneously introducing the catheter system through a blood vessel to the heart chamber, wherein the distal tip section comprises a ball electrode; (b) deflecting the distal tip section of the catheter shaft about a transverse axis to position the electrode near a target on an interior wall of the heart chamber; (c) intimately contacting the electrode with the intracardiac tissue; and (d) applying RF energy to the ball electrode for ablation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for operating a catheter system having a distal tip section with a ball electrode inside a hollow pocket, within a heart chamber, comprising: (a) percutaneously introducing the catheter system through a blood vessel to the heart chamber, wherein the distal tip section comprises a ball electrode; (b) deflecting the distal tip section of the catheter shaft about a transverse axis to position the electrode near a target on an interior wall of the heart chamber; (c) intimately contacting the electrode with the intracardiac tissue; and (d) applying RF energy to the ball electrode for ablation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method for operating an ablation catheter as in claim 1, further comprising fluid being supplied to the distal tip section of the catheter shaft and disposed out of the hollow pocket having a ball electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method for operating an ablation catheter as in claim 1, further comprising a steering mechanism at the handle for controlling the deflection of the distal tip section of said catheter system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A catheter system comprising: a catheter shaft having a distal tip section, a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one lumen extending therebetween, wherein the distal tip section has a hollow pocket; a handle attached to the proximal end of the catheter shaft; and a ball disposed inside the pocket, wherein the ball is free to float, roll, or rotate within the pocket.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
A catheter system comprising: a catheter shaft having a distal tip section, a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one lumen extending therebetween, wherein the distal tip section has a hollow pocket; a handle attached to the proximal end of the catheter shaft; and a ball disposed inside the pocket, wherein the ball is free to float, roll, or rotate within the pocket.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The catheter system as in claim 4, further comprising a conducting wire disposed inside the lumen, wherein the said conducting wire is to contact the ball.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The catheter system as in claim 5, further comprising fluid being supplied to the distal tip section of the catheter shaft and disposed out of the hollow pocket having a ball electrode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter system as in claim 6, further comprising fluid being selected from the group of saline, heparin, antibiotics, chemotherapy and therapeutic fluids.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The catheter system as in claim 7, wherein the fluid is supplied by a controlling means for controlling the flow rate of fluid through the lumen to optimize the cooling of the electrode of the catheter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter system as in claim 8, further comprising at least one ultrasonic visible marker being disposed at the distal tip section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter system as in claim 5, further comprising RF energy is delivered to said ball electrode disposed at the distal tip section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The catheter system as in claim 10, further comprising at least one temperature sensing means at the distal tip section, and a close-loop temperature control mechanism for the catheter system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter system as in claim 5, further comprising at least one additional electrode disposed at the distal tip section of said catheter shaft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ablation catheter as in claim 12, further comprising the material of the electrode being selected from the group of platinum, iridium, gold, silver, stainless steel, and Nitinol.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter system as in claim 5, further comprising the ball electrode being disposed at the distal end of the catheter shaft.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The catheter system as in claim 5, further comprising the ball electrode being disposed at the side of the distal tip section of the catheter shaft.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter system as in claim 4, further comprising a steering mechanism at the handle for controlling the deflection of the distal tip section of said catheter system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The catheter system as in claim 16, further comprising a steering mechanism at the handle, wherein said steering mechanism provides a plurality of deflectable curves on the distal tip section of the catheter system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
68 words
A tissue ablation catheter system comprising: a catheter shaft having a distal tip section, a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one lumen extending therebetween, wherein the distal tip section has a hollow pocket; a handle attached to the proximal end of the catheter shaft; and a ball electrode disposed inside the pocket, wherein the ball is free to float, roll, or rotate within the pocket.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
68 words
A tissue ablation catheter system comprising: a catheter shaft having a distal tip section, a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one lumen extending therebetween, wherein the distal tip section has a hollow pocket; a handle attached to the proximal end of the catheter shaft; and a ball electrode disposed inside the pocket, wherein the ball is free to float, roll, or rotate within the pocket.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The tissue ablation catheter system as in claim 18, further comprising a RF energy generating means, wherein the RE energy is applied to the ball electrode disposed at the distal tip section.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The tissue ablation application as in claim 19, further comprising fluid being supplied to the distal tip section of the catheter shaft and disposed out of the hollow pocket having a ball electrode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-11-30 | 2002-06-01 | 2002-12-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-30 | 2006-06-01 | 2006-12-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-30 | 2010-06-01 | 2010-12-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |