US6071282A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Structures for deploying electrode elements
Assignee: EP Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1998-12-03
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Granted: 2000-06-06
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Expires: 2018-12-03
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
2026-10-25 17:29
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: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
An apparatus, comprising: a carrier defining a longitudinal axis; a basket structure including a plurality of resilient shape memory splines having a normally curved configuration carried by the carrier, the resilient shape memory splines being arranged relative to one another such that the basket is asymmetric about the longitudinal axis defined by the carrier; and at least one electrode on at least one of the resilient shape memory splines.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
69 words
An apparatus, comprising: a carrier defining a longitudinal axis; a basket structure including a plurality of resilient shape memory splines having a normally curved configuration carried by the carrier, the resilient shape memory splines being arranged relative to one another such that the basket is asymmetric about the longitudinal axis defined by the carrier; and at least one electrode on at least one of the resilient shape memory splines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises a catheter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of resilient shape memory splines comprises two shape memory splines.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resilient shape memory splines define distal portions, the apparatus further comprising: a center stiffener associated with the distal portions of the plurality of resilient shape memory splines.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode comprises a plurality of electrodes on each resilient shape memory spline.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of resilient shape memory splines comprises at least three resilient shape memory splines, the at least one electrode comprises a plurality of electrodes on at least two of the resilient shape memory splines, and there are no electrodes on at least one resilient shape memory spline.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of resilient shape memory splines comprises at least four resilient shape memory splines.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
141 words
An apparatus, comprising: a carrier defining a longitudinal axis; a basket structure including a plurality of resilient shape memory splines having a normally curved configuration carried by the carrier, each spline in the basket structure passing through a common plane oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis defined by the carrier, the resilient shape memory splines being arranged relative to one another such that when the common plane is divided into a number of equal sectors equal to the number of splines, each sector having a corner that intersects the longitudinal axis defined by the carrier, the basket structure can be oriented such that at least one of the sectors will have more resilient shape memory splines passing therethrough than at least one of the other sectors; and at least one electrode on at least one of the resilient shape memory splines.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
141 words
An apparatus, comprising: a carrier defining a longitudinal axis; a basket structure including a plurality of resilient shape memory splines having a normally curved configuration carried by the carrier, each spline in the basket structure passing through a common plane oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis defined by the carrier, the resilient shape memory splines being arranged relative to one another such that when the common plane is divided into a number of equal sectors equal to the number of splines, each sector having a corner that intersects the longitudinal axis defined by the carrier, the basket structure can be oriented such that at least one of the sectors will have more resilient shape memory splines passing therethrough than at least one of the other sectors; and at least one electrode on at least one of the resilient shape memory splines.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the carrier comprises a catheter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the plurality of resilient shape memory splines comprises two shape memory splines.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the resilient shape memory splines define distal portions, the apparatus further comprising: a center stiffener associated with the distal portions of the plurality of resilient shape memory splines.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one electrode comprises a plurality of electrodes on each resilient shape memory spline.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the plurality of resilient shape memory splines comprises at least four resilient shape memory splines.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
142 words
An apparatus, comprising: a carrier defining a longitudinal axis; a basket structure including a plurality of resilient shape memory splines having a normally curved configuration carried by the carrier, each spline in the basket structure passing through a common plane oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis defined by the carrier, the resilient shape memory splines being arranged relative to one another such that when the common plane is divided into four equal quadrants, each quadrant having a corner that intersects the longitudinal axis defined by the carrier, at least one of the quadrants will have more resilient shape memory splines passing therethrough than at least one of the other quadrants and there will be no resilient shape memory splines located in at least two of the quadrants; and at least one electrode on at least one of the resilient shape memory splines.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
142 words
An apparatus, comprising: a carrier defining a longitudinal axis; a basket structure including a plurality of resilient shape memory splines having a normally curved configuration carried by the carrier, each spline in the basket structure passing through a common plane oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis defined by the carrier, the resilient shape memory splines being arranged relative to one another such that when the common plane is divided into four equal quadrants, each quadrant having a corner that intersects the longitudinal axis defined by the carrier, at least one of the quadrants will have more resilient shape memory splines passing therethrough than at least one of the other quadrants and there will be no resilient shape memory splines located in at least two of the quadrants; and at least one electrode on at least one of the resilient shape memory splines.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
136 words
An apparatus, comprising: a carrier defining a longitudinal axis; a basket structure including at least three resilient shape memory splines having a normally curved configuration carried by the carrier, each spline in the basket structure passing through a common plane oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis defined by the carrier, the resilient shape memory splines being arranged relative to one another such that when the common plane is divided into four equal quadrants, each quadrant having a corner that intersects the longitudinal axis defined by the carrier, at least one of the quadrants will have more resilient shape memory splines passing therethrough than at least one of the other quadrants; and a plurality of electrodes on at least two of the resilient shape memory splines and no electrodes on at least one resilient shape memory spline.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
136 words
An apparatus, comprising: a carrier defining a longitudinal axis; a basket structure including at least three resilient shape memory splines having a normally curved configuration carried by the carrier, each spline in the basket structure passing through a common plane oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis defined by the carrier, the resilient shape memory splines being arranged relative to one another such that when the common plane is divided into four equal quadrants, each quadrant having a corner that intersects the longitudinal axis defined by the carrier, at least one of the quadrants will have more resilient shape memory splines passing therethrough than at least one of the other quadrants; and a plurality of electrodes on at least two of the resilient shape memory splines and no electrodes on at least one resilient shape memory spline.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus, comprising: a carrier defining a longitudinal axis; a basket structure including a plurality of resilient shape memory splines having a normally curved configuration carried by the carrier, the resilient shape memory splines being arranged relative to one another such that the radial spacing between one of the resilient shape memory splines and an adjacent spline on one side thereof is different than the radial spacing between the one resilient shape memory splines and an adjacent spline on the other side thereof; and at least one electrode on at least one of the resilient shape memory splines.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus, comprising: a carrier defining a longitudinal axis; a basket structure including a plurality of resilient shape memory splines having a normally curved configuration carried by the carrier, the resilient shape memory splines being arranged relative to one another such that the radial spacing between one of the resilient shape memory splines and an adjacent spline on one side thereof is different than the radial spacing between the one resilient shape memory splines and an adjacent spline on the other side thereof; and at least one electrode on at least one of the resilient shape memory splines.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the carrier comprises a catheter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the plurality of resilient shape memory splines comprises two shape memory splines.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the resilient shape memory splines define distal portions, the apparatus further comprising: a center stiffener associated with the distal portions of the plurality of resilient shape memory splines.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the at least one electrode comprises a plurality of electrodes on each resilient shape memory spline.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the plurality of resilient shape memory splines comprises at least three resilient shape memory splines, the at least one electrode comprises a plurality of electrodes on at least two of the resilient shape memory splines, and there are no electrodes on at least one resilient shape memory spline.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the plurality of resilient shape memory splines comprises at least four resilient shape memory splines.
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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) | 2003-06-06 | 2003-12-06 | 2004-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-06-06 | 2007-12-06 | 2008-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-06-06 | 2011-12-06 | 2012-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |