IP Library › Granted Patent US 12697168
Granted Patent B2
US 12697168 · App. 17/697,523 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Pulsed field ablation catheters with enhanced field smart electrodes

Inventors: Brian T. Howard (Minneapolis, MN); Timothy G. Laske (Shoreview, MN); Kenneth C. Gardeski (Inverness, FL); Gonzalo Martinez (Mendota Heights, MN); Mark T. Stewart (Lino Lakes, MN); Lars M. Mattison (St. Anthony, MN)
Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
A61B18/1492A61B18/16A61B2018/00083A61B2018/00136A61B2018/0022A61B2018/00577A61B2018/162
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12697168
App. No.
17/697,523
Granted
Aug 4, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A medical device including an elongate body having a proximal portion and a distal portion. A plurality of active electrodes is coupled to the distal portion of the elongate body and being configured to electrically couple to a source of pulsed electric field energy. At least one passive electrode is coupled to the elongate body and is not configured to electrically couple to the source of pulsed electric field energy, the at least one passive electrode being configured to passively extend or focus an electric field generated by the plurality of active electrodes.

Claims (28)

1 . A medical device, comprising:

an elongated body having a proximal portion and a distal portion;

a plurality of active electrodes coupled to the distal portion of the elongate body and being configured to electrically couple to a source of pulsed electric field energy and receive a pulse train including low voltage pulses and high voltage pulses;

an insulator disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of active electrodes, the insulator being composed of tantalum pentoxide and being configured to prevent delivery of the low voltage pulses and allow delivery of the high voltage pulses; and

at least one passive electrode coupled to the elongate body and disposed on the insulator, the at least one passive electrode to the source of pulsed electric field energy during delivery of the pulse train, the at least one passive electrode composed of a conductive material and configured to passively extend or focus an electric field generated by the plurality of active electrodes.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one passive electrode is axially aligned with the plurality of active electrodes.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of active electrodes is separated by the insulator disposed on the elongate body.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of active electrodes is composed of tantalum or a tantalum alloy.

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of active electrodes includes at least a portion of a surface having a layer of oxide.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one passive electrode is composed of tantalum or a conductive polymer.

7 . A medical system, comprising:

a generator configured to generate pulsed electric field (PEF) energy; and

a medical device coupled to the generator, the medical device including:

an elongate body having a proximal portion and a distal portion;

a plurality of active electrodes coupled to the distal portion of the elongate body and being configured to electrically couple to the generator and receive a pulse train of PEF energy include low voltage pulses and high voltage pulses;

an insulator disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of active electrodes, the insulator being composed of tantalum pentoxide and being configured to prevent delivery of the low voltage pulses and allow delivery of the high voltage pulses; and

at least one passive electrode coupled to the elongate body and disposed on the insulator, the at least one passive electrode is not electrically coupled to the generator during delivery of the pulse train, the at least one passive electrode composed of a conductive material and configured to passively extend or focus an electric field generated by the plurality of active electrodes.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one passive electrode is axially aligned with the plurality of active electrodes.

9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of active electrodes is separated by the insulator disposed on the elongate body.

10 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of active electrodes is composed of tantalum or a tantalum alloy.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of active electrodes includes at least a partial layer of oxide.

12 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one passive electrode is composed of tantalum or a conductive polymer.

13 . A medical device, comprising:

an elongate body having a proximal portion and a distal portion;

a plurality of active electrodes coupled to the distal portion of the elongate body and being configured to electrically couple to a source of pulsed electric field energy and receive a pulse train including low voltage pulses and high voltage pulses, the plurality of active electrodes being composed of tantalum or a tantalum alloy;

an insulator disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of active electrodes, the insulator being composed of tantalum pentoxide and being configured to prevent delivery of the low voltage pulses and allow delivery of the high voltage pulses;

a plurality of passive electrodes coupled to the elongate body and is not electrically coupled to the source of pulsed electric field energy during delivery of the pulse train, the plurality of passive electrodes is composed of a conductive material and configured to passively extend or focus an electric field generated by the plurality of active electrodes; and

one of the plurality of passive electrodes being disposed on an outer surface of the insulator.