Granted Patent B2

US 12,746,365 · App. 19/359,594 · Granted Sep 29, 2026

Inventors: Gregory K. Olson (Elk River, MN); Rishi Manda (Edina, MN); Travis Dahlen (Forest Lake, MN); Troy T. Tegg (Elk River, MN); Brian M. Monahan (Elk River, MN); Russell D. Terwey (St. Michael, MN)

Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.

A61M25/0026A61M25/0009A61M25/0032A61M25/0144A61M25/10A61B2017/00327A61B2017/00867A61B2018/00357A61B2018/00577A61B2018/00791A61B2018/00821A61B2018/0212A61B2018/1405A61B18/1492A61B34/25A61B2218/002A61M2025/0035A61M2025/0036A61M2025/0037A61M25/0045A61M2025/0046A61M25/0054A61M2025/0063A61M25/0136A61M25/0141A61M25/0147

Abstract

Claims (18)

1 . An electrophysiological catheter comprising:

a handle comprising:

a control mechanism that is housed inside of the handle; and

a selective movement limiter, the selective movement limiter being slidably moveable along a longitudinal axis defined by the handle for selectively engaging the control mechanism; and

a catheter shaft comprising a catheter shaft proximal end and a catheter shaft distal end, wherein the catheter shaft proximal end is coupled to the handle;

an expandable structure comprising elongated splines and a distal hub, wherein each of the elongated splines comprises a shape memory material and a plurality of ring electrodes, wherein each of the elongated splines comprises a respective spline proximal end and a respective spline distal end, wherein each of the spline proximal ends is coupled to the catheter shaft distal end, and wherein each of the spline distal ends is coupled to the distal hub; and

a deflection control member coupled to the distal hub, wherein the selective movement limiter coupled to the control mechanism selectively varies a position of the distal hub relative to the catheter shaft distal end to selectively vary an amount of expansion of the expandable structure, wherein a shape of the expandable structure is produced via a combination of the shape memory material and the position of the selective movement limiter, wherein the selective movement limiter limits a longitudinal movement of the deflection control member when the selective movement limiter is engaged with the control mechanism in a locked position, wherein the deflection control member moves freely along the longitudinal axis in an unlocked position.

2 . The electrophysiological catheter of claim 1 , further comprising a proximal hub via which each of the spline proximal ends is coupled to the catheter shaft distal end.

3 . The electrophysiological catheter of claim 2 , wherein:

the proximal hub comprises coupling features; and

each of the coupling features is configured to couple with one of the spline proximal ends.

4 . The electrophysiological catheter of claim 3 , wherein each of the coupling features is shaped to accommodate one of the spline proximal ends.

5 . The electrophysiological catheter of claim 1 , wherein the shape memory material comprises Nitinol.

6 . The electrophysiological catheter of claim 1 , wherein the shape memory material causes each of the elongated splines to be self-erecting.

7 . The electrophysiological catheter of claim 1 , wherein each spline distal end is connected to the distal hub so as to accommodate pivoting of the spline distal end relative to the catheter shaft distal hub.

8 . The electrophysiological catheter of claim 1 , wherein the selective movement limiter comprises a slidable thumb lever.

9 . The electrophysiological catheter of claim 1 , wherein the selective movement limiter is configured to frictionally limit the longitudinal movement of the deflection control member.

10 . The electrophysiological catheter of claim 9 , wherein the selective movement limiter comprises a clamp mechanism for frictionally limiting the longitudinal movement of the deflection control member.

Continuity (5)

References Cited (400)