US6582429B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ablation catheter with covered electrodes allowing electrical conduction therethrough
Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Inc
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Filing: 2001-07-10
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Granted: 2003-06-24
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Expires: 2021-07-10
Abstract
Abstract A surface covering including a primary layer of a porous polymer structure and a secondary surface covering one or both of a metallic element layer and a hydrophilic layer is positioned over the surface of an ablation electrode. The pores of the surface covering are sized such that blood platelets are prevented from contacting the surface of the electrode while physiological fluid is allowed to pass through and contact the electrode surface to hereby provide a conduction path for current from the electrodes. The surface covering may further include an electrically non-conductive and thermally conductive portion positioned over another portion of the electrode to prevent alternate or non-intended site ablations.
Inventors
- 👤 Mohan Krishnan
- 👤 Wade A. Bowe
- 👤 David S. Wood
- 👤 Jeffrey A. Hall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:22
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00065; A61B2018/00071; A61B2018/00083; A61B2018/00107; A61B2018/00113; A61B2018/00136; A61B2018/1467
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A catheter for applying energy to biological tissue having biological fluid flowing thereby, said catheter comprising: a shaft having at least one electrode; a layer of a bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive porous structure covering at least a portion of the surface of the electrode; and a layer of secondary surface covering the interior walls of the pores of the bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive porous structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
A catheter for applying energy to biological tissue having biological fluid flowing thereby, said catheter comprising: a shaft having at least one electrode; a layer of a bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive porous structure covering at least a portion of the surface of the electrode; and a layer of secondary surface covering the interior walls of the pores of the bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive porous structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive porous structure comprises a polymer structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 2 wherein the porous polymer structure comprises at least one of a porous homopolymer and a porous copolymer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter of claim 3 wherein the porous homopolymer and the porous copolymer is based on anyone of polyurethanes, polyesters, polyolefins, polyamides, ionomers and fluoropolymers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter of claim 2 wherein the porous polymer structure comprises expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The catheter of claim 1 further comprising a layer of a metallic element covering the interior walls of the pores of the bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive porous structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter of claim 6 wherein metallic element consists of one of platinum, palladium, silver, gold and platinum-10% iridium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 6 further comprising a layer of a wetting agent covering the metallic element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the secondary surface comprises a hydrophilic material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The catheter of claim 9 wherein the hydrophilic material consists of one of polyethylene oxide, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, gelatin, polymethacrylic acid, polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate, polyacrylamide and ionic and non-ionic surfacants based on fatty acid esters.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the secondary surface comprises a plasma modified material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein: the at least one electrode comprises a first surface portion and a second surface portion; the shaft is adapted to position the electrode adjacent the biological tissue such that the first surface portion contacts the tissue and the second surface portion remains in the fluid; and the layer of a bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive porous structure covers the first surface portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter of claim 12 further comprising a layer of bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive structure covering the second surface portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter of claim 13 wherein the bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive structure comprises a non-porous polymer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter of claim 14 wherein the non-porous polymer consists of one of polyester, polyimide, parylene, or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the biological fluid comprises blood having platelets and the size of the pores of the bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive porous structure are smaller than the size of the platelets.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
85 words
A catheter for applying energy to biological tissue having biological fluid flowing thereby, said catheter comprising: a shaft having a curved distal-end region with an inner surface and an outer surface; a plurality of band electrodes positioned at the distal-end region of the shaft; a surface covering including a first portion comprising a bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive porous structure covering a portion of each of the band electrodes; and a secondary surface covering the interior walls of the pores of the bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive porous structure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
85 words
A catheter for applying energy to biological tissue having biological fluid flowing thereby, said catheter comprising: a shaft having a curved distal-end region with an inner surface and an outer surface; a plurality of band electrodes positioned at the distal-end region of the shaft; a surface covering including a first portion comprising a bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive porous structure covering a portion of each of the band electrodes; and a secondary surface covering the interior walls of the pores of the bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive porous structure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 17 wherein the bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive porous structure comprises a porous polymer structure.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter of claim 18 wherein the porous polymer structure comprises expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter of claim 17 wherein the surface covering further covers a portion of the shaft between band electrodes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
71 words
The catheter of claim 17 , wherein: each of the band electrodes comprises a first surface portion that lies on the outer surface and a second surface portion that lies on the inner surface; the shaft is adapted to position the outer surface adjacent the biological tissue and the inner surface in the fluid; and the first portion of the surface covering covers the first surface portion of each band electrode.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The catheter of claim 21 , wherein the surface covering further comprises a second portion comprising a bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive non-porous structure that covers the second surface portion of each band electrode.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 22 wherein the bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive non-porous structure comprises a non-porous polymer structure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter of claim 23 , wherein the non-porous polymer structure comprises dense (non-expanded) polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
90 words
A catheter for applying energy to biological tissue having biological fluid flowing thereby, said catheter comprising: a shaft having a distal-end region defining a tissue-contacting surface and a fluid-contacting surface; a plurality of band electrodes positioned at the distal-end region of the shaft; a surface covering including a first portion comprising a bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive porous structure that covers the portion of each of the band electrodes coincident with the tissue-contacting surface; and a secondary surface covering the interior walls of the pores of the bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive porous structure.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
90 words
A catheter for applying energy to biological tissue having biological fluid flowing thereby, said catheter comprising: a shaft having a distal-end region defining a tissue-contacting surface and a fluid-contacting surface; a plurality of band electrodes positioned at the distal-end region of the shaft; a surface covering including a first portion comprising a bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive porous structure that covers the portion of each of the band electrodes coincident with the tissue-contacting surface; and a secondary surface covering the interior walls of the pores of the bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive porous structure.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 25 wherein the bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive porous structure comprises a porous polymer structure.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
36 words
The catheter of claim 25 wherein the surface covering further comprises a second portion comprising a bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive non-porous structure that covers the portion of each of the band electrodes coincident with the fluid-contacting surface.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 27 wherein the bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive non-porous structure comprises a non-porous polymer structure.
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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) | 2006-06-23 | 2006-12-23 | 2007-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-06-23 | 2010-12-23 | 2011-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-06-23 | 2014-12-23 | 2015-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |