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US 2001/0020174 A1Published application
Helical and pre-oriented loop structures for supporting diagnostic and therapeutic elements in contact with body tissue
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorJosef V. Koblish
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A probe that facilitates the creation of circumferential lesions in body tissue. The probe includes a probe body and a helical or loop structure that supports electrodes or other operative elements against the body tissue.
Claims46
A probe, comprising:
- a probe body defining a distal region, a proximal region and a longitudinal axis;
- a helical structure associated with the distal region of the probe body and movable between a coiled and uncoiled configuration, the helical structure defining proximal and distal ends, proximal and distal end diameters, and proximal and distal end stiffnesses, the distal end diameter being less than the proximal end diameter when in the coiled configuration and the distal end stiffness being less than the proximal end stiffness at least when in the uncoiled configuration;
- and
- at least one operative element supported on the helical structure.
1 more element
A probe, comprising:
- a probe body defining a distal region, a proximal region and a longitudinal axis;
- a helical structure associated with the distal region of the probe body and defining proximal and distal ends;
- a core wire located within the helical structure and defining a core wire stiffness at the proximal end of the helical structure and a core wire stiffness at the distal end of the helical structure that is less than the core wire stiffness at the proximal end of the helical structure;
- and
- at least one operative element supported on the helical structure.
2 more elements
A probe, comprising:
- a probe body defining a distal region, a proximal region and a longitudinal axis;
- a helical structure associated with the distal region of the probe body and defining proximal and distal ends;
- a core wire located within the helical structure and defining a cross-sectional area at the proximal end of the helical structure and a cross-sectional
- at the distal end of the helical structure that is less than the cross-sectional area at the proximal end of the helical structure;
- and
- at least one operative element supported on the helical structure.
3 more elements
A probe, comprising:
- a probe body defining a distal region, a proximal region and a longitudinal axis;
- a helical structure associated with the distal region of the probe body defining proximal and distal ends and proximal and distal end diameters, the distal end diameter being less than the proximal end diameter;
- an anchor member associated with the distal end of the helical structure;
- a core wire formed from shape memory material including a helical portion located within the helical structure and a linear portion located within the anchor member, the helical portion defining a cross-sectional area at the proximal end of the helical structure and a cross-sectional at the distal end of the helical structure that is less than the cross-sectional area at the proximal end of the helical structure and the linear portion defining a cross-sectional area that is less than the cross-sectional area at the proximal end of the helical structure;
- and
- a plurality of electrodes supported on the helical structure.
3 more elements
A probe, comprising:
- an elongate body defining a longitudinal axis, distal region, a proximal region, a proximal end and a curved portion having a pre-set curvature, the curved portion defining a curved portion plane that is arranged at a non-zero angle to longitudinal axis of the elongate body;
- a control element defining a distal portion associated with the distal region of the elongate body and extending outwardly therefrom and proximally to the proximal end of the elongate body;
- and
- at least one operative element supported on the distal region.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.