US 11,628,286 B2Granted

Coupler assembly for catheters

AssigneeSt. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.

InventorsArthur G. Erdman, Saurav Paul, Troy T. Tegg

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Coupler assemblies and methods are disclosed as the coupler assemblies may be used with a catheter. An exemplary coupler assembly includes a spherical linkage coupler for a catheter. The coupler comprises a first cylinder portion for connecting to a structure, and a second cylinder portion for connecting to a distal end of a body of the catheter. The coupler also comprises a spherical linkage including at least two link arms. Each of the two link arms are connected on one end to the first cylinder portion and on the other end to the second cylinder portion. The two link arms connect a portion of the structure to the distal end of the catheter and enable the structure to move relative to the distal end of the catheter in response to an external force exerted on the structure.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A catheter shaft coupler, comprising:

a first rigid segment;
a second rigid segment;
an optical sensor connected with a distal end of the second rigid segment, wherein the optical sensor comprises an emitter and a receiver, the emitter configured to emit an optical signal between a distal portion and a proximal portion of the catheter shaft;
a plurality of link arms extending between the first rigid segment and the second rigid segment, wherein each of the plurality of link arms are connected to the first rigid segment and the second rigid segment by compliant joints, wherein the compliant joints include a plurality of indentations defined along each one of the plurality of link arms, wherein the plurality of indentations comprise at least one first indentation defined in a proximal facing surface of a link arm of the plurality of link arms and at least one second indentation defined in a distal facing surface of the link arm of the plurality of link arms, wherein the at least one first indentation and the at least one second indentation are distinct, wherein the plurality of link arms are configured to:
connect the first rigid segment and the second rigid segment;
flex at the indentations;
and
allow the second rigid segment to deflect with respect to the first rigid segment.

5 more elements

A catheter shaft, comprising:

an elongate shaft extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising a proximal shaft portion and a distal shaft portion;
a coupler comprising a proximal rigid segment and a distal rigid segment, a distal end of the distal rigid segment connected to the distal shaft portion and a proximal end of the proximal rigid segment connected to the proximal shaft portion, wherein the coupler includes:
a plurality of link arms extending between the proximal rigid segment and the distal rigid segment, wherein each of the plurality of link arms includes a plurality of indentations defined in each of the plurality of link arms configured to allow each of the plurality of link arms to flex at the plurality of indentations, wherein the plurality of indentations comprise at least one first indentation defined in a proximal facing surface of each of the plurality of link arms and at least one second indentation defined in a distal facing surface of each of the plurality of link arms, wherein the at least one first indentation and the at least one second indentation are distinct, wherein the plurality of link arms:
provide an increase in flexibility over the proximal rigid segment and the distal rigid segment;
extend circumferentially around less than an entire circumference of at least one of the proximal rigid segment or the distal rigid segment;
and
are configured to allow the distal shaft portion and the distal rigid segment to deflect with respect to the proximal shaft portion and the proximal rigid segment.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/948,645Filed 23 Nov 2015 · continuation
Priority: 1 May 2007
Published: US 2016/0144162 A126 May 2016
Granted: 18 Apr 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification25 codes

A61M 39/10
Tubes, tube connectors, tube couplings, valves, access sites or the like, specially adapted for medical use: tube connectors or tube couplings
F16C 11/12
Pivotal connections: incorporating flexible connections, e.g. leaf springs
A61B 5/0084
Adapted for particular medical purposes: for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters
A61B 5/065
Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies ; Determining position of diagnostic devices within or on the body…:…

Family

Application60/915,387Us provisional application · filed 1 May 2007
Application11/941,073Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 15 Nov 2007
Application61/142,079Us provisional application · filed 31 Dec 2008
Application12/650,461Parent of this continuation · filed 30 Dec 2009
Application13/961,435Parent of this continuation · filed 7 Aug 2013
US 8,515,521 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 20 Aug 2013
US 8,577,447 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 5 Nov 2013
US 2016/0144162 A1Pre-grant publication · published 26 May 2016
US 9,204,928 B2Parent of this continuation
Application12/650,461Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2008/0275428 A1Published application
US 2010/0152574 A1Published application
US 2014/0046194 A1Published application
US 11,628,286 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.