Patent US5871443A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5871443A
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Cardiac mapping and ablation systems
Assignee: EP Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1996-11-14
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Granted: 1999-02-16
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Expires: 2016-11-14
Abstract
Abstract An electrode assembly for use in interventricular cardiac mapping includes one or more elongated splines each of which carries a plurality of spaced apart electrodes thereon. The body of each spline is formed of a plurality of alternating electrically conductive layers and the electrically non-conductive layers. A separate electrically conductive pathway is provided to connect each of the electrodes to a different one of the conductive layers. Each of the layers is electrically connected to an electrical signal processing device so that signals provided by each of the electrodes can be processed.
Inventors
- 👤 Stuart D. Edwards
- 👤 Thomas F. Kordis
- 👤 David K. Swanson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/68; A61B5/6846; A61B5/6847; A61B5/6852; A61B5/6856; A61B5/24; A61B5/25; A61B5/279; A61B5/28; A61B5/283; A61B5/287; A61B5/6853; A61B5/6858; A61B5/6859; A61L; A61L29/00; A61L29/08; A61L29/085; A61L29/14; A61L29/145; A61L31/00; A61L31/08; A61L31/10; A61L31/14; A61L31/145; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/056; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/18; A61B2562/00; A61B2562/04; A61B2562/043; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
An apparatus for performing an endocardial procedure, comprising: a flexible catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; and a mapping assembly, the mapping assembly including a plurality of flexible electrode supports, each electrode support having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the electrode supports are connected at their proximal ends to the catheter and at their distal ends to each other, wherein one of the electrode supports is pre-formed to collapse in response to an external force and to assume a single, prescribed final configuration upon the removal of the external force, the pre-formed electrode support having a generally rectangular cross-section and substantially flat surface having a plurality of substantially flat electrodes disposed thereon.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
An apparatus for performing an endocardial procedure, comprising: a flexible catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; and a mapping assembly, the mapping assembly including a plurality of flexible electrode supports, each electrode support having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the electrode supports are connected at their proximal ends to the catheter and at their distal ends to each other, wherein one of the electrode supports is pre-formed to collapse in response to an external force and to assume a single, prescribed final configuration upon the removal of the external force, the pre-formed electrode support having a generally rectangular cross-section and substantially flat surface having a plurality of substantially flat electrodes disposed thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pre-formed electrode support comprises pre-shaped memory wire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pre-shaped memory wire comprises super elastic memory material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pre-formed electrode support further comprises a plurality of electrically conductive paths.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus for performing an endocardial procedure, comprising: a flexible catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; and a mapping assembly, the mapping assembly including a plurality of flexible electrode supports, each electrode support having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the electrode supports are connected at their proximal ends to the catheter and at their distal ends to each other, wherein each electrode support is pre-formed to collapse in response to an external force and to assume a single, prescribed final configuration upon the removal of the external force, each pre-formed electrode support having a generally rectangular cross-section and a substantially flat surface having a plurality of substantially flat electrodes disposed thereon.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus for performing an endocardial procedure, comprising: a flexible catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; and a mapping assembly, the mapping assembly including a plurality of flexible electrode supports, each electrode support having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the electrode supports are connected at their proximal ends to the catheter and at their distal ends to each other, wherein each electrode support is pre-formed to collapse in response to an external force and to assume a single, prescribed final configuration upon the removal of the external force, each pre-formed electrode support having a generally rectangular cross-section and a substantially flat surface having a plurality of substantially flat electrodes disposed thereon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each electrode support further comprises a plurality of electrically conductive paths.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the plurality of flexible electrode supports comprise pre-shaped memory wire.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one of the flexible electrode supports has a longitudinal region of varying stiffness along an axis extending between its proximal and distal ends.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the respective pre-shaped memory wires each comprise a super elastic memory material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the respective pre-shaped memory wires are made of Nitinol.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for performing an endocardial procedure, comprising: a flexible catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; a steering control element attached to the proximal end of the catheter; and a mapping assembly, the mapping assembly including a plurality of flexible electrode supports, each electrode support having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the electrode supports are connected at their proximal ends to the catheter and at their distal ends to each other, and wherein one of the electrode supports is pre-formed to collapse in response to an external force and to assume a single, prescribed final configuration upon the removal of the external force, the pre-formed electrode support having a generally rectangular cross-section and a substantially flat surface having a plurality of substantially flat electrodes disposed thereon.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for performing an endocardial procedure, comprising: a flexible catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; a steering control element attached to the proximal end of the catheter; and a mapping assembly, the mapping assembly including a plurality of flexible electrode supports, each electrode support having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the electrode supports are connected at their proximal ends to the catheter and at their distal ends to each other, and wherein one of the electrode supports is pre-formed to collapse in response to an external force and to assume a single, prescribed final configuration upon the removal of the external force, the pre-formed electrode support having a generally rectangular cross-section and a substantially flat surface having a plurality of substantially flat electrodes disposed thereon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the steering control element comprises a handle having a main body with an interior channel including an annular groove, a junction tube secured within the interior channel, a generally flat base having a steering member which houses at least one control mechanism actuator, and a tip having a flanged end which is rotatably seated within the annular groove of the main body interior channel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the pre-formed electrode support comprises pre-shaped memory wire.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the pre-shaped memory wire comprises super elastic memory material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the respective one electrode support further comprises a plurality of electrically conductive paths.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
153 words
An apparatus for performing an endocardial procedure, comprising: a flexible catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; and a mapping assembly, the mapping assembly including a base member attached to the distal end of the catheter, an end cap, and a plurality of flexible electrode supports, each electrode support having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the plurality of flexible electrode supports are extended in a circumferentially spaced relationship between the base member and the end cap with their respective proximal ends attached to the base member and their respective distal ends attached to the end cap, wherein each electrode support is pre-formed to collapse in response to an external force and to assume a single, prescribed final configuration upon the removal of the external force, the pre-formed electrode support having a generally rectangular cross-section and a substantially flat surface having a plurality of substantially flat electrodes disposed thereon.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
153 words
An apparatus for performing an endocardial procedure, comprising: a flexible catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; and a mapping assembly, the mapping assembly including a base member attached to the distal end of the catheter, an end cap, and a plurality of flexible electrode supports, each electrode support having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the plurality of flexible electrode supports are extended in a circumferentially spaced relationship between the base member and the end cap with their respective proximal ends attached to the base member and their respective distal ends attached to the end cap, wherein each electrode support is pre-formed to collapse in response to an external force and to assume a single, prescribed final configuration upon the removal of the external force, the pre-formed electrode support having a generally rectangular cross-section and a substantially flat surface having a plurality of substantially flat electrodes disposed thereon.
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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) | 2002-02-15 | 2002-08-17 | 2003-02-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-15 | 2006-08-17 | 2007-02-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-15 | 2010-08-17 | 2011-02-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |