US6083170A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-aligning catheter
Assignee: Biosense Webster Inc
•
Filing: 1997-05-15
•
Granted: 2000-07-04
•
Expires: 2017-05-15
Abstract
Abstract A flexible, elongate probe having a distal end for insertion through physiological tissue, preferably through a lumen in the tissue. The probe includes a sensor, which generates signals indicative of a characteristic of the tissue in a vicinity of the probe, and an alignment mechanism, which deflects the distal end of the probe in response to the signals. The signals may be indicative of obstructions or of the direction of a clear channel in the lumen. The sensor preferably comprises one or more ultrasound transducers.
Inventors
- 👤 Shlomo Ben-Haim
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:30
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/005; A61B1/0051; A61B1/0055; A61B1/0056; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B17/22004; A61B17/22012; A61B5/00; A61B5/06; A61B5/061; A61B5/24; A61B5/25; A61B5/279; A61B5/28; A61B5/283; A61B5/287; A61B5/68; A61B5/6846; A61B5/6885; A61B8/00; A61B8/06; A61B8/08; A61B8/0833; A61B8/0841; A61B8/12; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61M25/0147; A61M25/0158; A61B10/00; A61B10/02; A61B17/34; A61B17/3403; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00106; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2017/00247; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/003; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/00867; A61B2017/22005; A61B2017/22007; A61B2017/22008; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00392; A61B2018/2255; A61B2018/2272; A61B34/00; A61B34/20; A61B2034/2046; A61B2034/2051; A61B90/00; A61B90/36; A61B90/37; A61B2090/378; A61B2090/3782; A61B2090/3784; A61B90/39; A61B2090/3954; A61B2090/3958; A61M2025/0166; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A flexible, elongate probe having a distal end for insertion through physiological tissue, comprising: a sensor, which generates sensor signals indicative of a characteristic of the tissue in a vicinity of the probe; signal processing circuitry for receiving the sensor signals; alignment circuitry operatively connected to the signal processing circuitry for transmitting a steering signal in response to the signal processing circuitry; and an alignment mechanism, which deflects the distal end of the probe in response to the steering signal from the alignment circuitry.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A flexible, elongate probe having a distal end for insertion through physiological tissue, comprising: a sensor, which generates sensor signals indicative of a characteristic of the tissue in a vicinity of the probe; signal processing circuitry for receiving the sensor signals; alignment circuitry operatively connected to the signal processing circuitry for transmitting a steering signal in response to the signal processing circuitry; and an alignment mechanism, which deflects the distal end of the probe in response to the steering signal from the alignment circuitry.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A probe according to claim 1, wherein the probe comprises a catheter for insertion through a physiological lumen, and wherein the sensor generates the signals responsive to a characteristic of the lumen ahead of the catheter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A probe according to claim 2, wherein the signals are indicative of of a pressure in the tissue.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A probe according to claim 3, wherein the signals are indicative of a gradient of the pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A probe according to claim 4, wherein the alignment mechanism drives the probe toward the leading edge of a pressure wave in the tissue.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A probe according to claim 5, wherein the signals are indicative of a gradient of the flow.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A probe according to claim 6, wherein the signals are indicative of turbulence of the flow.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A probe according to claim 7, wherein the alignment mechanism drives the probe toward an area of high flow velocity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A probe in accordance with claim 2, wherein the sensor comprises at least one ultrasound transducer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A probe according to claim 9, wherein the signals are indicative of a gradient of the pressure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A probe in accordance with claim 10, wherein the signal processing circuitry detects a Doppler shift in the ultrasound waves received by the sensor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A probe in accordance with claim 2, wherein the alignment mechanism comprises a plurality of deflection elements, each of which deflects the prove in one of a plurality of respective directions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A probe in accordance with claim 12, wherein the alignment mechanism comprises one or more deflection elementss that deflects the distal end of the probe and a rotation element that rotates the probe about its long axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A probe in accordance with claim 13, wherein at least one of the deflection elements comprises a bendable element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A probe in accordance with claim 14, wherein the bendable element comprises superlastic material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A probe in accordance with claim 14, wherein the bendable element comprises a bimetal element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A probe in accordance with claim 14, wherein the bendable element bends or straightens in response to an electrical drive signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A probe in accordance with claim 17, wherein the electrical drive signal causes a change in the temperature of the bendable element
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A probe in accordance with claim 18, and comprising a heating element, associated with the bendable element, which receives the electrical drive signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A probe in accordance with claim 19, and comprising a cooler, associated with the bendable element, which receives the electrical drive signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A probe in accordance with claim 14, and comprising at least one mechanical pull-wire coupled to the bendable element.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
A probe in accordance with claim 21, wherein the bendable element bends in response to tension in the pull-wire.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A probe in accordance with claim 13, wherein at least one of the deflection elements comprises at least one piezoelectric stack.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A probe in accordance with claim 23, wherein the stack comprises a plurality of piezoelectric crystals, coupled by a plurality of bendable joints.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
A probe in accordance with claim 24, wherein the stack bends in response to an electrical signal applied thereto.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
A probe in accordance with claim 2, wherein the signals are indicative of obstructions in the lumen.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
A probe in accordance with claim 26, wherein te signals are indicative of the direction of a clear channel in the lumen.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
A probe according to claim 26, wherein the signals are indicative of a fluid flow in the tissue.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
A probe according to claim 28, wherein the signals are indicative of a gradient of the flow.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
A probe according to claim 29, wherein the signals are indicative turbulence of the flow.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
A probe according to claim 30, wherein the alignment mechanism drives the probe toward an area of high flow velocity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US34502A
Cited
US3726269A
Cited
US4535757A
Cited
US4576177A
Cited
US4554928A
Cited
US4570354A
Cited
US5588432A
Cited
US4960134A
Cited
USRE34502E
Cited
US4921482A
Cited
US5295486A
Cited
US5195968A
Cited
US5078714A
Cited
US5267960A
Cited
US5057092A
Cited
US5558093A
Cited
US5383923A
Cited
US5569220A
Cited
US5217484A
Cited
US5423882A
Cited
US5522873A
Cited
WO1995005773A1
Cited
US5555883A
Cited
US5368592A
Cited
US5295484A
Cited
US5628313A
Cited
WO1994000050A1
Cited
US5411025A
Cited
US5782239A
Cited
US5772590A
Cited
US5368564A
Cited
US5450846A
Cited
US5373849A
Cited
US5423321A
Cited
US5626136A
Cited
US5386741A
Cited
US5391199A
Cited
US5385148A
Cited
US5431168A
Cited
WO1995010226A1
Cited
US5596989A
Cited
WO1995019738A1
Cited
WO1996005768A1
Cited
US5797870A
Cited
US5662116A
Cited
WO1997024983A2
Cited
WO1997029684A1
Cited
WO1997029701A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-07-04 | 2004-01-03 | 2004-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-04 | 2008-01-03 | 2008-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-04 | 2012-01-03 | 2012-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |