# US 10,869,992 B2 · Triple coil catheter support > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,869,992 B2 - Document ID: US10869992B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/403,284 - Filed: 2019-05-03 - Published: 2019-10-24 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-17 - Assignees: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc. - Applicants: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc. - Inventors: Sameer D. Pai; Zachary L. Helgeson; Troy T. Tegg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10869992B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/0147: {with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires} - A61B 5/02158: {provided with two or more sensor elements} - A61B 5/02444: {Details of sensor (A61B5/02427 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/287: Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS] - A61B 5/6852: {Catheters} - A61B 18/1492: {having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence)} - A61B 2018/00351: {Heart} - A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation} - A61B 2018/00839: {Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG} - A61M 2025/0046: {Coatings for improving slidability} - 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)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A catheter with three distinct compression resistance coils, including a body coil and two pull wire coils, is disclosed. The triple coil system can provide maximal resistance to compression of the catheter's proximal shaft, as well as maximization of the curve angle that the catheter tip can achieve. Additionally, the tri-coil catheter can allow for a lower initial compression load and a more flexible proximal shaft. A gap between the outer diameter of the pull wire and the inner diameter of the pull wire compression coil that is equal to about 10-30% of inner diameter of the pull wire compression coil can provide optimal catheter performance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A steerable catheter comprising a shaft comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen; a distal deflectable section of the shaft, the distal deflectable section comprising a proximal end and a distal end; a body compression coil surrounded by the shaft and extending through the central lumen from the proximal end of the shaft to the proximal end of the distal deflectable section; a first pull wire and a second pull wire, the first and second pull wires extending through the body compression coil from the proximal end of the shaft to the proximal end of the distal deflectable section; and a first pull wire compression coil and a second pull wire compression coil, the first and second pull wire compression coils surrounding the first and second pull wires, respectively, within the body compression coil, the pull wire compression coils extending from the proximal end of the shaft and terminating within the proximal end of the distal deflectable section. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The steerable catheter of claim 1, wherein the body and pull wire compression coils are configured to maximize resistance to compression of the proximal end of the shaft during deflection and to minimize axial deformation of the proximal end of the shaft during deflection. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The steerable catheter of claim 1, wherein the body and pull wire compression coils are configured to do at least one of the following: (a) maximize a curve angle of the distal deflectable section, (b) maximize flexibility of the proximal end of the shaft, and (c) lower an initial compression load on the catheter during deflection. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The steerable catheter of claim 1, wherein the body and pull wire compression coils are each configured to be progressively loaded as the axial load on the proximal end of the shaft increases. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The steerable catheter of claim 1, wherein the body compression coil and the pull wire compression coils comprise wound stainless steel flat wire. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The steerable catheter of claim 1, wherein a gap between an inner diameter of the shaft and an outer diameter of the body coil is about 0.0005-0.0010 inches. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The steerable catheter of claim 1, wherein the body coil is bonded within the proximal end of the shaft via at least one of the following mechanisms: radio frequency bonding, adhesive bonding, thermal bonding, or coupling. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The steerable catheter of claim 1, wherein the pull wire coils are bonded proximally within the proximal end of the shaft and distally within the proximal end of the distal deflectable section; and wherein bonding occurs via at least one of the following mechanisms: radio frequency bonding, adhesive bonding, thermal bonding, or coupling. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The steerable catheter of claim 1, wherein a gap between an outer diameter at least one of the first or second pull wires and an inner diameter of the respective at least one of the first or second pull wire compression coils is about 10%-30% of the inner diameter of the respective one of the at least first or second pull wire compression coils. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The steerable catheter of claim 9, wherein the gap is about 20% of the inner diameter of the respective one of the at least first or second pull wire compression coils. ### Claim 11 A steerable catheter comprising a shaft comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen; a distal deflectable section of the shaft, the distal deflectable section comprising a proximal end and a distal end; a body compression coil surrounded by the shaft and extending through the central lumen from the proximal end of the shaft to the proximal end of the distal deflectable section; at least one pull wire extending through the body compression coil from the proximal end of the shaft to the proximal end of the distal deflectable section; and a pull wire compression coil surrounding the pull wire within the body compression coil, the pull wire compression coil extending from the proximal end of the shaft and terminating within the proximal end of the distal deflectable section; wherein a gap between an inner diameter of the shaft and an outer diameter of the body coil is about 0.0005-0.0010 inches. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The steerable catheter of claim 11, wherein the body and pull wire compression coils are configured to maximize resistance to compression of the proximal end of the shaft during deflection and to minimize axial deformation of the proximal end of the shaft during deflection. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The steerable catheter of claim 11, wherein the body and pull wire compression coils are configured to do at least one of the following: (a) maximize a curve angle of the distal deflectable section, (b) maximize flexibility of the proximal end of the shaft, and (c) lower an initial compression load on the catheter during deflection. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The steerable catheter of claim 11, wherein the body and pull wire compression coils are each configured to be progressively loaded as the axial load on the proximal end of the shaft increases. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The steerable catheter of claim 11, wherein the body compression coil and the pull wire compression coils comprise wound stainless steel flat wire. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The steerable catheter of claim 11, wherein the body coil is bonded within the proximal end of the shaft via at least one of the following mechanisms: radio frequency bonding, adhesive bonding, thermal bonding, or coupling. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The steerable catheter of claim 11, wherein the pull wire coil is bonded proximally within the proximal end of the shaft and distally within the proximal end of the distal deflectable section; and wherein bonding occurs via at least one of the following mechanisms: radio frequency bonding, adhesive bonding, thermal bonding, or coupling. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The steerable catheter of claim 11, wherein a gap between an outer diameter of the pull wire and an inner diameter of the pull wire compression coil is about 10%-30% of the inner diameter of the pull wire compression coil. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The steerable catheter of claim 18, wherein the gap is about 20% of the inner diameter of the pull wire compression coil.