# US 10,765,475 B2 · All-in-one spiral catheter

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- Number: US 10,765,475 B2
- Document ID: US10765475B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/798,821
- Filed: 2017-10-31
- Published: 2019-05-02
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-10-31
- Assignees: Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd.
- Applicants: Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd.
- Inventors: Assaf Govari; Christopher Thomas Beeckler; Joseph Thomas Keyes; Kevin Justin Herrera
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765475B2

## CPC

- A61B 18/1492: {having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/287: Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
- A61B 5/6852: {Catheters}
- A61B 5/6856: {with a distal loop}
- A61M 25/005: {with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids}
- A61B 5/6851: {Guide wires}
- A61B 2017/00243: {cardiac}
- A61B 2017/00292: {mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means}
- A61B 2018/00351: {Heart}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

Medical catheterization is carried out by introducing a catheter into a heart, sliding the catheter through a sheath that encloses a multi-electrode probe into a chamber of the heart. The sheath is retracted to expose the probe. As the sheath is retracted the exposed probe expands into a spiral configuration, and the electrodes contact the endocardial surface of the chamber at multiple contact points.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of medical catheterization, comprising the steps of:
introducing a multi-electrode catheter into a heart, sliding the catheter into a chamber of the heart through a sheath;
retracting the sheath to expose the catheter; while retracting the sheath expanding the exposed catheter into a spiral configuration;
contacting the expanded catheter to an endocardial surface of the chamber at multiple contact points,
disposing a ring about a distal portion of a guide wire, the ring being freely slidable and rotatable on the guide wire;
connecting the ring to a distal end of the catheter for insertion therewith into the chamber; and
while retracting the sheath, rotating the catheter about the guide wire.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein retracting the sheath is performed while holding the catheter in position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising advancing the catheter while retracting the sheath.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the catheter comprises:
a flexible, electrically insulated tube having an external surface; a plurality of ablation electrodes disposed on the external surface of the tube in electrical isolation from one another; and a plurality of microelectrodes in electrical isolation from one another and from the ablation electrodes, the method further comprising the steps of:
reading bioelectrical signals from the heart with the microelectrodes; and
conducting electrical energy through selected ones of the ablation electrodes to produce a lesion in the chamber of the heart.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method according to claim 4, wherein the catheter further comprises a holding element, further comprising contacting the holding element to a wall of the heart to provide purchase for the catheter on the wall, the method further comprising the step of:
while retracting the sheath, rotating the catheter with respect to the sheath.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method according to claim 4, wherein the catheter has a shape memory that urges the catheter to form spiral loops.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The method according to claim 4, further comprising taking bioelectric readings from selected ones of the microelectrodes and preparing a map of electrical activity in the heart based on the readings.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The method according to claim 4, further comprising injecting electropotentials into the heart through selected ones of the microelectrodes.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the guide wire has a proximal stop and a distal stop for limiting sliding motion of the ring on the guide wire.

### Claim 10

An apparatus for medical catheterization, comprising:
an assembly adapted for introduction into a heart; and
a catheter slidable through the assembly into a chamber of the heart, comprising:
a sheath; and
a multi-electrode probe movable through the sheath in a compact configuration, the probe having a distal end and a shape memory that urges the probe to assume an expanded spiral configuration when advanced beyond the sheath into the chamber, wherein the assembly further comprises:
a guide wire; and
a ring disposed about a distal portion of the guide wire, the ring being freely slidable and rotatable on the guide wire, and the ring being connected to the distal end of the probe for insertion therewith into the chamber.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the probe comprises:
a flexible, electrically insulated tube having an external surface;
a plurality of ablation electrodes disposed on the external surface of the tube in electrical isolation from one another; and
a plurality of microelectrodes in electrical isolation from one another and from the ablation electrodes.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the probe further comprises a holding element adapted for contacting a wall of the heart.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the guide wire has a proximal stop and a distal stop for limiting sliding motion of the ring on the guide wire.