Catheter for endovascular sympathetic denervation of spasmed intracranial arteries
An apparatus includes a catheter assembly having a catheter with a catheter body and an end effector connected with a distal end of the catheter. The catheter assembly optionally includes an outer sheath or introducer tool. The end effector includes a spine assembly having a plurality of spines. An electrode is associated with each spine of the spine assembly. The electrodes are longitudinally staggered along their respective spines. The spines extend outward from a longitudinal axis of the catheter body such that the spine define a circular arrangement. This arrangement with the longitudinally spaced electrodes defines a helical array such that an elongated circumferential ablation pattern is achieved.
1 . A catheter for use in a medical procedure comprising:
(a) a catheter body defining a longitudinal axis, the catheter body having a distal end; and
(b) a spine assembly connected with the distal end of the catheter body, the spine assembly configured to assume a pre-deployment position defining a first circumference and a first length and a deployment position defining a second circumference greater than the first circumference and a second length lesser than the first length, the spine assembly comprising:
(i) a distal tip;
(ii) a proximal base;
(iii) a plurality of spines arranged in a generally circular pattern around a longitudinal axis of the spine assembly, each spine of the plurality of spines having a proximal end extending from the proximal base, a distal end connected to the distal tip, and a joint between the proximal end and the distal end, the joint of each spine configured to deflect outwardly when the spine assembly is in the deployment position, and all of the joints on the plurality of spines being at different and unique longitudinal distances relative to each other from the proximal base such that when the spine assembly is in the deployment position all of the joints on the plurality of spines deflect outwardly at different and unique longitudinal positions relative to each other along the second length of the spine assembly, and
(iv) a plurality of electrodes configured to contact and ablate an interior wall of a tubular vessel, each electrode of the plurality of electrodes being connected with a respective spine of the plurality of spines at or near the respective joint, the plurality of electrodes being staggered from the proximal base to the distal tip such that each electrode of a different spine is at a different and unique longitudinal distance from the proximal base along its respective spine and such that the plurality of electrodes defines a generally helical electrode array around the generally circular pattern of the plurality of spines.
2 . The catheter of claim 1 , further comprising a conductor connected with at least one of the plurality of electrodes, the conductor being configured to transmit RF energy to the at least one of the plurality of electrodes.
3 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the spines are configured to bend outwardly at their respective joints when the spine assembly is moved from the pre-deployment position to the deployment position and to contract inwardly at their respective joints when the spine assembly is moved from the deployment position to the pre-deployment position.
4 . The catheter of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of temperature sensors, each temperature sensor of the plurality of temperature sensors being connected with a respective spine.
5 . The catheter of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of position sensors, each position sensor of the plurality of position sensors being connected with a respective spine.
6 . The catheter of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of force sensors, each force sensor of the plurality of force sensors being connected with a respective spine.
7 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the electrodes are evenly staggered longitudinally such that a longitudinal separation space between adjacent electrodes on their respective spines is consistent.
8 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the electrodes are irregularly staggered longitudinally such that a longitudinal separation space between adjacent electrodes on their respective spines is inconsistent.
9 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein assumption of the pre-deployment position and the deployment position by the spine assembly depends on a temperature of the spine assembly.
10 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the spine assembly assumes the deployment position when the temperature of the spine assembly is above 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
11 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the spine assembly assumes the deployment position when the temperature of the spine assembly is at about 99 degrees Fahrenheit.
12 . The catheter of claim 1 , further comprising a translatable member movable from a first position in which the spine assembly is in the pre-deployment position to a second position in which the spine assembly is in the deployment position.
13 . The catheter of claim 12 , wherein the translatable member comprises one of the spines.
14 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the spines are resiliently biased to deflect outwardly.
15 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the joints include shape-memory.
16 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the electrodes are configured to apply monopolar RF energy.
17 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the electrodes are configured to apply bipolar RF energy.
18 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the tubular vessel has a diameter from approximately or about 1.5 mm to approximately or about 1.8 mm.