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US 5,628,775 AGranted
Flexible bond for sleeves enclosing a bendable electrode tip assembly
AssigneeEP Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJerome Jackson, Alan L. Kaganov
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible bond is formed between the exterior sleeve of a catheter guide tube and the exterior sleeve of the steerable electrode tip of the catheter. The flexible bond holds the sleeves in fluid tight abutment during twisting of the guide tube and bending of the electrode tip.
Claims14
An electrode tip assembly including at least one electrode, the assembly comprising
- a center support wire that is bendable in response to external forces,
- a guide tube joined to an end of the center support wire for positioning the center support wire and for holding the center support wire while it bends in response to external forces,
- an interior sleeve attached to a portion of the center support wire near its junction with the guide tube,
- a first exterior sleeve enclosing the center support wire and having an end portion overlying the interior sleeve, the first exterior sleeve being sufficiently flexible to conform to the shape of the center support wire while it bends,
- a second exterior sleeve enclosing the guide tube and having an end portion that extends beyond the end of the guide tube and overlies the interior sleeve, the end portions of the first and second exterior sleeves abutting about the interior sleeve, the second exterior sleeve being operative for transmitting twisting forces along the guide tube toward the center support wire,
- the interior sleeve having a tensile strength greater than the tensile strength of the first and second exterior sleeves, and
- means forming a flexible adhesive bond between the interior sleeve and the abutting overlying end portions of the first and second exterior sleeves to hold the end portions in abutment during twisting of the guide tube and bending of the central support wire.
4 more elements
An electrode tip assembly including at least one electrode, the assembly comprising
- a center support wire that is bendable in response to external forces, and having a proximal end,
- a guide tube having a distal end joined to the proximal end of the center support wire for positioning the center support wire and for holding the center support wire while it bends in response to external forces,
- a steering wire extending through the guide tube and attached to the center support wire for applying a bending force,
- a first flexible tube having an end portion surrounding the distal end of the guide tube and a body portion in intimate contact with the center support wire and the attached steering wire,
- a second flexible tube surrounding and in intimate contact with the body portion of the first flexible tube,
- a non-rigid fabric having a tensile strength greater than the first and second flexible tubes sandwiched between the body portion of the first flexible tube and the second flexible tube,
- an interior sleeve attached about a portion of the second flexible tube near the junction of the center support wire with the guide tube,
- a first exterior sleeve enclosing the second flexible tube and having an end portion overlying the interior sleeve, the first exterior sleeve being sufficiently flexible to conform to the shape of the center support wire while it bends,
- a second exterior sleeve enclosing the guide tube and having an end portion that extends beyond the distal end of the guide tube and that overlies the interior sleeve, the end portions of the first and second exterior sleeves abutting about the interior sleeve, the second exterior sleeve being operative for transmitting twisting forces along the guide tube toward the center support wire,
- the interior sleeve having a tensile strength greater than the tensile strength of the first and second exterior sleeves, and
- means forming a flexible adhesive bond between the interior sleeve and the abutting overlying end portions of the first and second exterior sleeves to hold the end portions in abutment during twisting of the guide tube and bending of the central support wire.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.