US6454766B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microporous electrode structure and method of making the same
Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
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Filing: 2000-05-05
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Granted: 2002-09-24
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Expires: 2020-05-05
Abstract
Abstract An electrode assembly adapted to transmit electrical energy for ablating body tissue includes an expandable and collapsible non-compliant body made of a durable material and defining an interior adapted to receive a medium containing ions. The body includes a porous region, an electrode adapted to transmit electrical energy located in the interior of the body, a microporous membrane located on the porous region of the non-compliant body, and the microporous membrane is sized to pass ions contained in the medium without substantial medium perfusion therethrough, to thereby enable ionic transport of electrical energy from the ion-containing medium to the exterior of the electrode assembly to ablate body tissue.
Inventors
- 👤 David K. Swanson
- 👤 Huy D. Phan
- 👤 Anant V. Hegde
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; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00065; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/0022; A61B2018/00238; A61B2018/1472
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
An electrode assembly adapted to transmit electrical energy for ablating body tissue, comprising: an expandable and collapsible non-compliant body made of a durable material and defining an interior adapted to receive a medium containing ions, the body including a porous region; an electrode adapted to transmit electrical energy located in the interior of the body; a microporous membrane located on the porous region of the non-compliant body, the microporous membrane sized to pass ions contained in the medium without substantial medium perfusion therethrough, to thereby enable ionic transport of electrical energy from the ion-containing medium to the exterior of the electrode assembly to ablate body tissue.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
An electrode assembly adapted to transmit electrical energy for ablating body tissue, comprising: an expandable and collapsible non-compliant body made of a durable material and defining an interior adapted to receive a medium containing ions, the body including a porous region; an electrode adapted to transmit electrical energy located in the interior of the body; a microporous membrane located on the porous region of the non-compliant body, the microporous membrane sized to pass ions contained in the medium without substantial medium perfusion therethrough, to thereby enable ionic transport of electrical energy from the ion-containing medium to the exterior of the electrode assembly to ablate body tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the non-compliant body is made of a material from the group consisting of Nylon, PET, PeBax, IEBA and any of the polymers used in making an angioplasty balloon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the non-compliant body is an angioplasty balloon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is made of a material from the group consisting of regenerated cellulose, nylon, nylon 6, nylon 6/6, polycarbonate, poly(vinylidene fluoride), a poly(vinylidene fluoride) and poly(NSD-vinylpyrrolidone) combination, polyethersulfone, modified acylic copolymers, and cellulose acetate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the porous region of the non-compliant body includes pores having a pore size in the range of 5 to 1,000 microns.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the microporous membrane includes pores having a pore size in the range of 0.001 to 0.100 microns.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the non-compliant body includes an exterior surface and the microporous membrane is located on the exterior surface of the body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the non-compliant body includes an interior surface and the microporous membrane is located on the interior surface of the body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
123 words
An electrode assembly adapted to transmit electrical energy for ablating body tissue, comprising: an expandable and collapsible non-compliant body made of a durable material and defining an interior adapted to receive a medium containing ions, the body including a porous region having a plurality of pores; an electrode adapted to transmit electrical energy located in the interior of the body; a microporous coating located on the porous region of the non-compliant body and including microporous plugs located in the pores of said porous region, the microporous coating sized to pass ions contained in the medium without substantial medium perfusion therethrough, to thereby enable ionic transport of electrical energy from the ion-containing medium to the exterior of the electrode assembly to ablate body tissue.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
123 words
An electrode assembly adapted to transmit electrical energy for ablating body tissue, comprising: an expandable and collapsible non-compliant body made of a durable material and defining an interior adapted to receive a medium containing ions, the body including a porous region having a plurality of pores; an electrode adapted to transmit electrical energy located in the interior of the body; a microporous coating located on the porous region of the non-compliant body and including microporous plugs located in the pores of said porous region, the microporous coating sized to pass ions contained in the medium without substantial medium perfusion therethrough, to thereby enable ionic transport of electrical energy from the ion-containing medium to the exterior of the electrode assembly to ablate body tissue.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The electrode assembly of claim 9 , wherein the non-compliant body is made of a material from the group consisting of Nylon, PET, PeBax, IEBA and any of the polymers used in making an angioplasty balloon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrode assembly of claim 9 , wherein the non-compliant body is an angioplasty balloon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The electrode assembly of claim 9 , wherein the coating is made of a material from the group consisting of regenerated cellulose, nylon, nylon 6, nylon 6/6, polycarbonate, poly(vinylidene fluoride), a poly(vinylidene fluoride) and poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) combination, polyethersulfone, modified acylic copolymers, and cellulose acetate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrode assembly of claim 9 , wherein the pores of the porous region of the non-compliant body have a pore size in the range of 5 to 100 microns.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrode assembly of claim 9 , wherein the microporous coating includes pores having a pore size in the range of 0.001 to 0.100 microns.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
113 words
An electrode assembly adapted to transmit electrical energy for ablating body tissue, comprising: an expandable and collapsible electrode body including a pair of non-compliant body ends and a microporous intermediate section joining the ends, the ends and intermediate section defining an interior adapted to receive a medium containing ions, an electrode adapted to transmit electrical energy located in the interior of the body, and the microporous intermediate section sized to pass ions contained in the medium without substantial medium perfusion therethrough, to thereby enable ionic transport of electrical energy from the ion-containing medium to the exterior of the electrode assembly to ablate body tissue; wherein the non-compliant body ends are angioplasty balloon ends.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
113 words
An electrode assembly adapted to transmit electrical energy for ablating body tissue, comprising: an expandable and collapsible electrode body including a pair of non-compliant body ends and a microporous intermediate section joining the ends, the ends and intermediate section defining an interior adapted to receive a medium containing ions, an electrode adapted to transmit electrical energy located in the interior of the body, and the microporous intermediate section sized to pass ions contained in the medium without substantial medium perfusion therethrough, to thereby enable ionic transport of electrical energy from the ion-containing medium to the exterior of the electrode assembly to ablate body tissue; wherein the non-compliant body ends are angioplasty balloon ends.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
119 words
An electrode assembly adapted to transmit electrical energy for ablating body tissue, comprising: an expandable and collapsible electrode body including a pair of non-compliant body ends and a microporous intermediate section joining the ends, the ends and intermediate section defining an interior adapted to receive a medium containing ions, an electrode adapted to transmit electrical energy located in the interior of the body, and the microporous intermediate section sized to pass ions contained in the medium without substantial medium perfusion therethrough, to thereby enable ionic transport of electrical energy from the ion-containing medium to the exterior of the electrode assembly to ablate body tissue; wherein the body ends are substantially funnel-shaped and the microporous intermediate section is substantially tubular.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
119 words
An electrode assembly adapted to transmit electrical energy for ablating body tissue, comprising: an expandable and collapsible electrode body including a pair of non-compliant body ends and a microporous intermediate section joining the ends, the ends and intermediate section defining an interior adapted to receive a medium containing ions, an electrode adapted to transmit electrical energy located in the interior of the body, and the microporous intermediate section sized to pass ions contained in the medium without substantial medium perfusion therethrough, to thereby enable ionic transport of electrical energy from the ion-containing medium to the exterior of the electrode assembly to ablate body tissue; wherein the body ends are substantially funnel-shaped and the microporous intermediate section is substantially tubular.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
123 words
An electrode assembly adapted to transmit electrical energy for ablating body tissue, comprising: an expandable and collapsible non-compliant body made of a durable material and defining an interior adapted to receive a medium containing ions, the body having a step-shaped configuration formed by a first-diameter portion and a second-diameter portion with a diameter greater than the first-diameter portion; an electrode adapted to transmit electrical energy located in the interior of the body; a microporous structure located in the first-diameter portion of the non-compliant body, the microporous structure sized to pass ions contained in the medium without substantial medium perfusion therethrough, to thereby enable ionic transport of electrical energy from the ion-containing medium to the exterior of the electrode assembly to ablate body tissue.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
123 words
An electrode assembly adapted to transmit electrical energy for ablating body tissue, comprising: an expandable and collapsible non-compliant body made of a durable material and defining an interior adapted to receive a medium containing ions, the body having a step-shaped configuration formed by a first-diameter portion and a second-diameter portion with a diameter greater than the first-diameter portion; an electrode adapted to transmit electrical energy located in the interior of the body; a microporous structure located in the first-diameter portion of the non-compliant body, the microporous structure sized to pass ions contained in the medium without substantial medium perfusion therethrough, to thereby enable ionic transport of electrical energy from the ion-containing medium to the exterior of the electrode assembly to ablate body tissue.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electrode assembly of claim 17 , wherein the first diameter portion of the body includes a porous region and the microporous structure includes a microporous membrane adhered to the porous region of the body.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrode assembly of claim 18 , wherein the body includes an inside surface and the microporous membrane is adhered to the inside surface of the body.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrode assembly of claim 18 , wherein the body includes an outside surface and the microporous membrane is adhered to the outside surface of the body.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
57 words
The electrode assembly of claim 17 , wherein the first diameter portion of the body includes a porous region having a plurality of pores and the microporous structure includes a microporous coating adhered to the porous region of the body, the microporous coating including microporous plugs located in the pores of said porous region of the 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) | 2005-09-23 | 2006-03-25 | 2006-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-23 | 2010-03-25 | 2010-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-09-23 | 2014-03-25 | 2014-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |