US5876399A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Catheter system and methods thereof
Assignee: Irvine Biomedical Inc
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Filing: 1997-05-28
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Granted: 1999-03-02
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Expires: 2017-05-28
Abstract
Abstract This invention discloses an ablation catheter system with fixation means for use in treatment of cardiac tissues and in other medical applications, such as ablating tumors in a natural body conduit or cavity by applying RF energy, and an inner catheter having alternate energy sources for enhanced ablation. The catheter system passes through a natural body opening to reach the target tissue, where the catheter system stays in a desired position via its fixation means and delivers therapeutic energy selected from the group of laser energy, microwave, inductive radiofrequency and ultrasonic energy to the target tissue for improved treatment.
Inventors
- 👤 Weng-Kwen Raymond Chia
- 👤 Hosheng Tu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0067; A61M25/0074; A61M25/0075; A61M2025/0076; A61M25/01; A61M2025/0175; A61M25/0082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A catheter system comprising: (a) a catheter assembly with a tip section, a distal end, a proximal end, a surface, and at least one lumen extending therebetween, wherein the tip section has at least one electrode; (b) a handle attached to the proximal end of said catheter assembly; (c) a catheter sheath having a retractable fixation deployment means secured at a securing point on the surface of the catheter assembly, wherein the securing point is located proximal to the tip section of the catheter assembly, and wherein said retractable fixation deployment means includes a plurality of spaced apart expandable members, comprising a non-deployed state for said retractable fixation means when said catheter system is advanced into the body of a patient and/or removed from the body, and further comprising a distended deployed state for said retractable fixation deployment means when said catheter system is inside the body of a patient; (d) an inner catheter, which is located inside the at least one lumen of the catheter assembly, comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having a distal section, and proximal and distal extremities, wherein said proximal extremity of the inner catheter is attached to the handle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
A catheter system comprising: (a) a catheter assembly with a tip section, a distal end, a proximal end, a surface, and at least one lumen extending therebetween, wherein the tip section has at least one electrode; (b) a handle attached to the proximal end of said catheter assembly; (c) a catheter sheath having a retractable fixation deployment means secured at a securing point on the surface of the catheter assembly, wherein the securing point is located proximal to the tip section of the catheter assembly, and wherein said retractable fixation deployment means includes a plurality of spaced apart expandable members, comprising a non-deployed state for said retractable fixation means when said catheter system is advanced into the body of a patient and/or removed from the body, and further comprising a distended deployed state for said retractable fixation deployment means when said catheter system is inside the body of a patient; (d) an inner catheter, which is located inside the at least one lumen of the catheter assembly, comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having a distal section, and proximal and distal extremities, wherein said proximal extremity of the inner catheter is attached to the handle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the inner catheter is an ablation catheter which is connected to deliver alternate energy for enhanced ablation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter system of claim 2, wherein the alternate energy is selected from the group of laser energy, microwave, inductive radiofrequency and ultrasonic energy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter system as in claim 3 further comprising means for supplying a fluid the distal section of the inner catheter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter system of claim 4, wherein the fluid conveyed is selected from the group of saline, antibiotics, heparin, chemotherapy fluids, and therapeutic fluids.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter system as in claim 3 further comprising at least one electrode mounted on the distal section of the inner catheter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter system as in claim 6 further comprising ultrasonic visible markers being disposed on the tip section of the catheter assembly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The catheter system as in claim 3 further comprising a steering mechanism at the handle for controlling the deflection of the tip section of the catheter assembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter system of claim 8, wherein said steering mechanism provides a plurality of deflectable curves on the tip section of the catheter assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The catheter system of claim 8, wherein said expandable members of said retractable fixation deployment means have a preshaped memory, and extend at an angle of less than 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the catheter assembly when the deployment means is deployed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The catheter system of claim 8, wherein said expandable members of said retractable fixation deployment means have a preshaped memory, and extend with a curved fashion at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the catheter assembly when the deployment means is deployed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The catheter system as in claim 8 further comprising a temperature sensor at the tip section of the catheter assembly and a close-loop temperature control mechanism for the catheter system.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
299 words
A method for operating a catheter system, the catheter assembly having a tip section, a distal end, a proximal end, a surface, and at least one lumen extending therebetween, wherein the tip section has at least one electrode; a handle attached to the proximal end of said catheter assembly; a catheter sheath having a retractable fixation deployment means secured at a securing point on the surface of the catheter assembly, wherein the securing point is located proximal to the tip section of the catheter assembly, and wherein said retractable fixation deployment means includes a plurality of spaced apart expandable members, comprising a non-deployed state for said retractable fixation means when said catheter system is advanced into the body of a patient and/or removed from the body, and further comprising a distended deployed state for said retractable fixation deployment means when said catheter system is inside the body of a patient; an inner catheter, which is located inside the lumen of the catheter assembly, comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having a distal section, and proximal and distal extremities, wherein said proximal extremity of the inner catheter is attached to the handle, and wherein at least one electrode is mounted on the tip section of the inner catheter; the method comprising: introducing the catheter system having an inner catheter, a catheter assembly and an outer catheter sheath with a retractable fixation deployment means under a non-deployed state, into the body through a natural body opening; once approaching the target tissue, deploying the retractable fixation deployment means of said catheter sheath by a deployment mechanism located at the handle; measuring the endocardial electricity from or applying alternate energy to the at least one electrode on the distal section of the inner catheter; and applying the alternate energy source for enhanced ablation.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
299 words
A method for operating a catheter system, the catheter assembly having a tip section, a distal end, a proximal end, a surface, and at least one lumen extending therebetween, wherein the tip section has at least one electrode; a handle attached to the proximal end of said catheter assembly; a catheter sheath having a retractable fixation deployment means secured at a securing point on the surface of the catheter assembly, wherein the securing point is located proximal to the tip section of the catheter assembly, and wherein said retractable fixation deployment means includes a plurality of spaced apart expandable members, comprising a non-deployed state for said retractable fixation means when said catheter system is advanced into the body of a patient and/or removed from the body, and further comprising a distended deployed state for said retractable fixation deployment means when said catheter system is inside the body of a patient; an inner catheter, which is located inside the lumen of the catheter assembly, comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having a distal section, and proximal and distal extremities, wherein said proximal extremity of the inner catheter is attached to the handle, and wherein at least one electrode is mounted on the tip section of the inner catheter; the method comprising: introducing the catheter system having an inner catheter, a catheter assembly and an outer catheter sheath with a retractable fixation deployment means under a non-deployed state, into the body through a natural body opening; once approaching the target tissue, deploying the retractable fixation deployment means of said catheter sheath by a deployment mechanism located at the handle; measuring the endocardial electricity from or applying alternate energy to the at least one electrode on the distal section of the inner catheter; and applying the alternate energy source for enhanced ablation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method for operating a catheter system of claim 13, wherein the alternate energy is selected from the group of laser energy, microwave, inductive radiofrequency and ultrasonic energy.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method for operating a catheter system as in claim 13 further comprising moving the electrode into position by using at least one ultrasonically visible marker.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method for operating a catheter system as in claim 13, further comprising a steering mechanism at the handle for controlling the deflection of the tip section of the catheter assembly.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method for operating a catheter system of claim 14, wherein said expandable members of said retractable fixation deployment means have a preshaped memory, and extend with a curved fashion at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the catheter assembly when the deployment means is deployed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
189 words
A tissue ablation catheter system comprising: a catheter assembly with a distal section, a distal end, a proximal end, an exterior surface, and at least one lumen extending therebetween; a handle attached to the proximal end of said catheter assembly; a catheter sheath having a retractable fixation deployment means secured at a securing point on the exterior surface of the catheter assembly, wherein the securing point is located proximal to the tip section of the catheter assembly, and wherein said retractable fixation deployment means including a plurality of spaced apart expandable members, comprising a non-deployed state for said retractable fixation means when said catheter system being advanced into the body of a patient and/or being removed from the body, and further comprising a distended deployed state for said retractable fixation deployment means when said catheter system is positioned inside the body of a patient; and an inner catheter, which is located inside the at least one lumen of the catheter assembly, comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having a distal section, and proximal and distal extremities, wherein said proximal extremity of the inner catheter is attached to the handle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
189 words
A tissue ablation catheter system comprising: a catheter assembly with a distal section, a distal end, a proximal end, an exterior surface, and at least one lumen extending therebetween; a handle attached to the proximal end of said catheter assembly; a catheter sheath having a retractable fixation deployment means secured at a securing point on the exterior surface of the catheter assembly, wherein the securing point is located proximal to the tip section of the catheter assembly, and wherein said retractable fixation deployment means including a plurality of spaced apart expandable members, comprising a non-deployed state for said retractable fixation means when said catheter system being advanced into the body of a patient and/or being removed from the body, and further comprising a distended deployed state for said retractable fixation deployment means when said catheter system is positioned inside the body of a patient; and an inner catheter, which is located inside the at least one lumen of the catheter assembly, comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having a distal section, and proximal and distal extremities, wherein said proximal extremity of the inner catheter is attached to the handle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The tissue ablation catheter system of claim 18, wherein said inner catheter is an ablation catheter which is adapted to deliver alternate energy selected from the group of laser energy, microwave, inductive radiofrequency and ultrasonic energy.
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) | 2002-03-01 | 2002-08-31 | 2003-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-01 | 2006-08-31 | 2007-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-01 | 2010-08-31 | 2011-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |