US5885278A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Structures for deploying movable electrode elements
Assignee: EP Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1994-10-11
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Granted: 1999-03-23
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Expires: 2014-10-11
Abstract
Abstract An electrode support structure comprises a guide body having at its distal end a flexible spline leg. The spline leg is flexed to define an arcuate shape to facilitate intimate contact against tissue. An electrode element is carried by the spline leg for movement along its axis. The structure includes a control element coupled to the electrode element. The control element remotely imparts force to move the electrode element along the axis of the spline leg. Therefore, in use, the physician can cause the electrode element to travel along a path that the spline leg defines, without otherwise changing the location of the guide body.
Inventors
- 👤 Sidney D. Fleischman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:34
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/056; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B18/18; A61B18/1815; A61B17/00; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B17/2909; A61B2017/2911; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00071; A61B2018/00083; A61B2018/00107; A61B2018/00148; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/0091; A61B2018/00916; A61B2018/0094; A61B2018/00946; A61B2018/00952; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1407; A61B2018/142
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
An electrode support structure comprising a guide body having a distal end, a flexible spline leg having an axis attached to the distal end of the guide body, the spline leg being flexed to define an arcuate shape, an electrode element carried by the spline leg for movement along its axis, and a control element coupled to the electrode element for remotely imparting force to move the electrode element along the axis of the spline leg without rotation of the guide body, the control element including a first control wire to impart force to move the electrode element in a direction along the spline leg toward the guide body and a second control wire to impart force to move the electrode element in a direction along the spline leg away from the guide body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
An electrode support structure comprising a guide body having a distal end, a flexible spline leg having an axis attached to the distal end of the guide body, the spline leg being flexed to define an arcuate shape, an electrode element carried by the spline leg for movement along its axis, and a control element coupled to the electrode element for remotely imparting force to move the electrode element along the axis of the spline leg without rotation of the guide body, the control element including a first control wire to impart force to move the electrode element in a direction along the spline leg toward the guide body and a second control wire to impart force to move the electrode element in a direction along the spline leg away from the guide body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
175 words
An electrode support structure comprising a guide body having a distal end, first and second flexible spline legs, each having a near end and a far end, the near ends being attached to the distal end of the guide body and positioned in a circumferentially spaced relationship with the far ends joined at a junction to define an arcuate shape between the near ends of the first and second spline legs, an electrode element carried by at least one of the spline legs for movement along it, and a control element coupled to the electrode element for remotely imparting force to move the electrode element along the at least one spline leg without rotation of the guide body, the control element including a first control wire to impart force to move the electrode element in a direction toward the near end of the at least one spline leg and a second control wire to impart force to move the electrode element in a direction toward the far end of the at least one spline leg.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
175 words
An electrode support structure comprising a guide body having a distal end, first and second flexible spline legs, each having a near end and a far end, the near ends being attached to the distal end of the guide body and positioned in a circumferentially spaced relationship with the far ends joined at a junction to define an arcuate shape between the near ends of the first and second spline legs, an electrode element carried by at least one of the spline legs for movement along it, and a control element coupled to the electrode element for remotely imparting force to move the electrode element along the at least one spline leg without rotation of the guide body, the control element including a first control wire to impart force to move the electrode element in a direction toward the near end of the at least one spline leg and a second control wire to impart force to move the electrode element in a direction toward the far end of the at least one spline leg.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
197 words
An electrode support structure comprising a guide body having a distal end, a stiffener extending along an axis outside the distal end of the guide body, at least one flexible spline leg having a near end attached to the distal end of the guide body and a far end extending beyond the distal end of the guide body and attached to the stiffener, the spline leg being normally flexed between the distal guide body end and the stiffener in an arcuate shape that extends along and radially outward of the axis of the stiffener, an electrode element carried by the at least one spline leg for movement along it, and a control element coupled to the electrode element for remotely imparting force to move the electrode element along the at least one spline leg without rotation of the guide body, the control element including a first control wire to impart force to move the electrode element in a direction toward the near end of the at least one spline leg and a second control wire to impart force to move the electrode element in a direction toward the far end of the at least one spline leg.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
197 words
An electrode support structure comprising a guide body having a distal end, a stiffener extending along an axis outside the distal end of the guide body, at least one flexible spline leg having a near end attached to the distal end of the guide body and a far end extending beyond the distal end of the guide body and attached to the stiffener, the spline leg being normally flexed between the distal guide body end and the stiffener in an arcuate shape that extends along and radially outward of the axis of the stiffener, an electrode element carried by the at least one spline leg for movement along it, and a control element coupled to the electrode element for remotely imparting force to move the electrode element along the at least one spline leg without rotation of the guide body, the control element including a first control wire to impart force to move the electrode element in a direction toward the near end of the at least one spline leg and a second control wire to impart force to move the electrode element in a direction toward the far end of the at least one spline leg.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A support structure according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 wherein the guide body includes a proximal end, and wherein the control element is located at the proximal end of the guide body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A support structure according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 wherein the electrode element comprises at least two bi-polar electrodes separated by an electrically insulating material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A support structure according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 wherein the electrode element comprises at least one unipolar electrode mounted on a core body of electrically insulating material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A support structure according to claim 6 wherein the electrode comprises a coil wound about the core body.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
161 words
A device for ablating tissue comprising a guide body having a distal end and a proximal end, a flexible spline leg having an axis, the spline leg including a near end attached to the distal end of the guide body, the spline leg being flexed to define all arcuate shape, an ablation electrode element carried by the spline leg for movement along its axis, and a control element on the proximal end of the guide body and being coupled to the ablation electrode element for remotely imparting force to move the ablation electrode element along the axis of the spline leg without rotation of the guide body, the control element including a first control wire to impart force to move the ablation electrode element in a direction toward the near end of the spline leg and a second control wire to impart force to move the ablation electrode element in a direction away from the near end of the spline leg.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
161 words
A device for ablating tissue comprising a guide body having a distal end and a proximal end, a flexible spline leg having an axis, the spline leg including a near end attached to the distal end of the guide body, the spline leg being flexed to define all arcuate shape, an ablation electrode element carried by the spline leg for movement along its axis, and a control element on the proximal end of the guide body and being coupled to the ablation electrode element for remotely imparting force to move the ablation electrode element along the axis of the spline leg without rotation of the guide body, the control element including a first control wire to impart force to move the ablation electrode element in a direction toward the near end of the spline leg and a second control wire to impart force to move the ablation electrode element in a direction away from the near end of the spline leg.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A support structure according to claim 8 wherein the ablation electrode element comprises at least two bi-polar electrodes separated by an electrically insulating material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A support structure according to claim 8 wherein the ablation electrode element comprises at least one unipolar electrode mounted on a core body of electrically insulating material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A support structure according to claim 10 wherein the electrode comprises a coil wound about the core body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
151 words
An electrode support structure comprising first and second flexible spline legs, each having a near end and a far end, the near ends positioned in a circumferentially spaced relationship with the far ends joined at a junction to define an arcuate shape between the near ends of the first and second spline legs, an electrode element carried by at least one of the spline legs for movement along it, and a control element coupled to the electrode element for remotely imparting force to move the electrode element along the at least one spline leg, the control element including a first control wire to impart force to move the electrode element in a direction toward the near end of the at least one spline leg and a second control wire to impart force to move the electrode element in a direction toward the far end of the at least one spline leg.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
151 words
An electrode support structure comprising first and second flexible spline legs, each having a near end and a far end, the near ends positioned in a circumferentially spaced relationship with the far ends joined at a junction to define an arcuate shape between the near ends of the first and second spline legs, an electrode element carried by at least one of the spline legs for movement along it, and a control element coupled to the electrode element for remotely imparting force to move the electrode element along the at least one spline leg, the control element including a first control wire to impart force to move the electrode element in a direction toward the near end of the at least one spline leg and a second control wire to impart force to move the electrode element in a direction toward the far end of the at least one spline leg.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
A support structure according to claim 12 and further including a guide body having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the near ends of the first and second flexible spline legs are attached to the distal end of the guide body, and wherein the control element is located at the proximal end of the guide body.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
191 words
An electrode support structure comprising a guide body having a distal end, a stiffener extending along an axis outside the distal end of the guide body, at least one flexible spline leg having a near end attached to the distal end of the guide body and a far end extending beyond the distal end of the guide body and attached to the stiffener, the spline leg being normally flexed between the distal guide body end and the stiffener in an arcuate shape that extends along and radially outward of the axis of the stiffener, an electrode element carried by the at least one spline leg for movement along it, and a control element coupled to the electrode element for remotely imparting force to move the electrode element along the at least one spline leg, the control element including a first control wire to impart force to move the electrode element in a direction toward the near end of the at least one spline leg and a second control wire to impart force to move the electrode element in a direction toward the far end of the at least one spline leg.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
191 words
An electrode support structure comprising a guide body having a distal end, a stiffener extending along an axis outside the distal end of the guide body, at least one flexible spline leg having a near end attached to the distal end of the guide body and a far end extending beyond the distal end of the guide body and attached to the stiffener, the spline leg being normally flexed between the distal guide body end and the stiffener in an arcuate shape that extends along and radially outward of the axis of the stiffener, an electrode element carried by the at least one spline leg for movement along it, and a control element coupled to the electrode element for remotely imparting force to move the electrode element along the at least one spline leg, the control element including a first control wire to impart force to move the electrode element in a direction toward the near end of the at least one spline leg and a second control wire to impart force to move the electrode element in a direction toward the far end of the at least one spline leg.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
A support structure according to claim 14 wherein the guide body includes a proximal end, and wherein the control element is located at the proximal end of the guide body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A support structure according to claim 12 or 14 wherein the electrode element comprises at least two bi-polar electrodes separated by an electrically insulating material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
A support structure according to claim 12 or 14 wherein the electrode element comprises at least one unipolar electrode mounted on a core body of electrically insulating material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
A support structure according to claim 17 wherein the electrode comprises a coil wound about the core body.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
145 words
A device for ablating tissue comprising a guide body having a distal end and a proximal end, a flexible spline leg having an axis attached to the distal end of the guide body, the spline leg being flexed to define an arcuate shape, an ablation electrode element carried by the spline leg for movement along its axis, and a control element on the proximal end of the guide body and being coupled to the ablation electrode element for remotely imparting force to move the ablation electrode element along the axis of the spline leg, the control element including a first control wire to impart force to move the ablation electrode element in a direction toward one end of the spline leg and a second control wire to impart force to move the ablation electrode element in a direction toward another end of the spline leg.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
145 words
A device for ablating tissue comprising a guide body having a distal end and a proximal end, a flexible spline leg having an axis attached to the distal end of the guide body, the spline leg being flexed to define an arcuate shape, an ablation electrode element carried by the spline leg for movement along its axis, and a control element on the proximal end of the guide body and being coupled to the ablation electrode element for remotely imparting force to move the ablation electrode element along the axis of the spline leg, the control element including a first control wire to impart force to move the ablation electrode element in a direction toward one end of the spline leg and a second control wire to impart force to move the ablation electrode element in a direction toward another end of the spline leg.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
A support structure according to claim 19 wherein the ablation electrode element comprises at least two bi-polar electrodes separated by an electrically insulating material.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
A support structure according to claim 19 wherein the ablation electrode element comprises at least one unipolar electrode mounted on a core body of electrically insulating material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
A support structure according to claim 21 wherein the electrode comprises a coil wound about the core body.
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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) | 2002-03-22 | 2002-09-21 | 2003-03-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-22 | 2006-09-21 | 2007-03-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-22 | 2010-09-21 | 2011-03-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |