Catheter
The invention deals with improvements in the technical field of electromedical catheters. As an improvement, among other things, a catheter is proposed whose catheter arms can be clamped from an initial position into at least two different clamping positions and maintained in the clamping positions.
1 . A catheter ( 1 ) for electromedical measurement of electrical activities in human heart tissue, the catheter comprising:
a plurality of catheter arms ( 2 ), the catheter arms ( 2 ) have poles ( 3 ) of electrodes arranged thereon; and
wherein the catheter ( 1 ) is configured to clamp the catheter arms ( 2 ) from an initial position into at least two different clamping positions and to keep them clamped; and
wherein distal ends ( 6 ) and/or distal sections ( 14 ) of the catheter arms ( 2 ) form an angle (a) of 0 to 90 with a longitudinal axis (L) of the catheter ( 1 ) in a first clamping position, and an angle ( 3 ) of 90 to 180 in a second clamping position;
wherein the catheter arms ( 2 ) are made at least in part of a flexible printed circuit board material forming an outer support layer; and
wherein, in the first clamping position, outer sides of the distal sections ( 14 ) of the catheter arms ( 2 ) face away from the longitudinal axis (L) of the catheter ( 1 ); and
wherein, in the second clamping position, the distal ends ( 6 ) and/or distal sections ( 14 ) of the catheter arms are arranged retracted substantially between middle sections ( 15 ) and proximal sections ( 16 ) of the catheter arms, and the outer sides of the distal sections ( 14 ) of the catheter arms ( 2 ) face the longitudinal axis (L) of the catheter ( 1 ).
2 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the at least two clamping positions of the catheter arms ( 2 ) are each at least indirectly defined by a holding position and/or a stop.
3 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the catheter ( 1 ) is configured to clamp and keep clamped the catheter arms ( 2 ) between the two different clamping positions in intermediate clamping positions.
4 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the catheter ( 1 ) further comprises a clamping device ( 5 ) for clamping and keeping the catheter arms ( 2 ) clamped.
5 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the catheter arms ( 2 ) are at least indirectly interconnected at their distal ends ( 6 ) to form a basket ( 7 ) via a holder ( 8 ).
6 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 5 , wherein the holder ( 8 ) is a retaining plate or a retaining ring.
7 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the catheter ( 1 ) includes a locking device ( 9 ) for locking the catheter arms ( 2 ) in the at least two different clamping positions.
8 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 1 wherein the clamping device ( 5 ) of the catheter ( 1 ) comprises:
a traction means ( 10 ) operatively to distal ends ( 6 ) of the catheter arms ( 2 ) and is arranged within a space delimited by the catheter arms ( 2 ).
9 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 8 wherein the traction means ( 10 ) is a traction wire or a traction cable.
10 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the catheter ( 1 ), in particular its locking device ( 9 ), has a clamping means ( 11 ) with which the traction means ( 10 ) can be fixed in at least two traction positions and/or in intermediate positions located between the at least two traction positions in order to keep the catheter arms ( 2 ) clamped in the at least two different clamping positions and/or in intermediate clamping positions located between the two clamping positions.
11 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the catheter ( 1 ) has at least one operating element ( 12 ) with which one of the clamping device ( 5 ) and/or one or the locking device ( 9 ) can be operated; and
wherein the operating element ( 12 ) is located at a proximal end and/or in or on a handle part ( 13 ) of the catheter ( 1 ).
12 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 1 wherein distal ends ( 6 ) of the catheter arms ( 2 ) form a distal end of the catheter ( 1 ) in a first clamping position and/or wherein distal sections ( 14 ) of the catheter arms ( 2 ) form an angle between 0° and 20° with a cross-sectional plane oriented at right angles to the longitudinal axis (L) of the catheter ( 1 ) in the first clamping position.
13 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 12 wherein the angle is between 0° and 5°.
14 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 12 wherein the angle is between 0° and 2°.
15 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein a higher number of poles ( 3 ) is arranged on a front side of the catheter ( 1 ) when the catheter arms ( 2 ) are in the first clamping position than on the front side of the catheter ( 1 ) when the catheter arms ( 2 ) are in the second clamping position.
16 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 1 wherein when the catheter arms ( 2 ) are in the first clamping position a front surface of the catheter ( 1 ) is flatter and/or larger than a front surface of the catheter ( 1 ) when the catheter arms ( 2 ) are in the second clamping position.
17 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein at least one catheter arm ( 2 ) has at least two sections in which different pole densities are realizable.
18 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein at least one catheter arm ( 2 ) has a higher pole density in its middle section ( 15 ) than in its distal section ( 14 ) and/or in its proximal section ( 16 ).
19 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 18 , wherein at least one catheter arm ( 2 ) has the same pole density in its distal section ( 14 ) and in its proximal section ( 15 ).
20 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein a higher pole density is formed on the front side of the catheter ( 1 ) when the catheter arms ( 2 ) are in the second clamping position than on a front side of the catheter ( 1 ) when the catheter arms ( 2 ) are in the first clamping position.
21 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein at least one catheter arm ( 2 ) has, in its middle section ( 15 ), at least one ablation pole ( 17 ) of an ablation electrode.
22 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein at least one catheter arm ( 2 ) comprises at least one joint ( 18 ).
23 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 22 , wherein the at least one joint ( 18 ) is an integral hinge and/or consists at least partially of plastic and/or of metal.
24 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 22 , wherein the at least one joint ( 18 ) of the catheter ( 1 ) has a pivot range of up to 180°.
25 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein several catheter arms ( 2 ) or all catheter arms ( 2 ) comprise at least one joint ( 18 ).
26 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein at least one catheter arm ( 2 ) has a joint ( 18 ) at its distal end ( 6 ), via which it is at least indirectly connected to at least one other catheter arm ( 2 ), or wherein several catheter arms ( 2 ) or all catheter arms ( 2 ) have joints ( 18 ) at their distal ends ( 6 ), via which they are at least indirectly connected to at least one other catheter arm ( 2 ).
27 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein at least one catheter arm ( 2 ) has a joint ( 18 ) at its proximal end ( 19 ), via which it is at least indirectly connected to at least one other catheter arm ( 2 ), or wherein several catheter arms ( 2 ) or all catheter arms ( 2 ) have joints ( 18 ) at their proximal ends ( 6 ), via which they are at least indirectly connected to at least one other catheter arm ( 2 ).
28 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein at least one catheter arm ( 2 ) has a joint ( 18 ) at its distal end ( 6 ) and at its proximal end ( 19 ), respectively, or wherein several or all catheter arms ( 2 ) have a joint ( 18 ) at their distal ends ( 6 ) and at their proximal ends ( 19 ), respectively.
29 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein at least one catheter arm ( 2 ) comprises a joint ( 18 ) arranged between a proximal end ( 6 ) and a distal end ( 19 ) of the catheter arm ( 2 ).
30 . The catheter ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein at least one catheter arm ( 2 ) is formed at least in part from a flexible printed circuit board material and/or wherein at least one catheter arm ( 2 ) comprises a metallic support layer ( 21 ).