Catheter for delivery of electric energy and a process for manufacturing same

A catheter comprising:

• a core having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end of said catheter;
• a first layer of stranded fibers having a first plurality of fibers that extend between said proximal end and said distal end of said catheter over said core;
• a second layer of stranded fibers having a second plurality of fibers that extend between said proximal end and said distal end of said catheter over said core, said second layer of stranded fibers being disposed between said first layer of stranded fibers and said core;
• a first electrically non-conductive layer disposed over said first layer of stranded fibers thereby preventing a flow of electrical current in a radial direction through said first electrically non-conductive layer;
• and
• a second electrically non-conductive layer disposed between said first layer of stranded fibers and said second layer of stranded fibers thereby preventing a flow of electrical current between said first and said second layers of stranded fibers,
• wherein said first and said second layers of stranded fibers form an electro-cautery cutting end at said distal end of said catheter,
• substantially all fibers of said first layer of stranded fibers and said second layer of stranded fibers are electrically conductive wires,
• said core defines a hollow path extending between said proximal end and said distal end such that said hollow path can accommodate at least a pacing lead threaded therethrough,
• said first plurality of fibers extend from said proximal end to said distal end of said catheter along non-overlapping helical paths defining a first rotation direction, and
• said second plurality of fibers extend from said proximal end to said distal end of said catheter along non-overlapping helical paths defining a second rotation direction that is approximately equal in magnitude and opposite in sign to said first rotation direction.

An electro-cautery device, comprising:

• a catheter having an electro-cautery cutting end at a distal end of said catheter;
• and
• an electro-cautery power unit attached to a proximal end of said catheter,
• wherein said catheter comprises:
• a core having an axis extending between said proximal end and said distal end of said catheter,
• a layer of stranded fibers having a plurality of fibers that extend between said proximal end and said distal end of said catheter over said core, and
• an electrically non-conductive layer disposed over said layer of stranded fibers thereby preventing a flow of electrical current in a radial direction through said electrically non-conductive layer,
• wherein said layer of stranded fibers comprises a plurality of electrically conductive wires that are connected to said electro-cautery power unit and extend to a most distal end of said catheter to form an electro-cautery cutting tip at said distal end of said catheter, and
• said plurality of electrically conductive wires that form said electro-cautery cutting tip being brought directly into contact with tissue to be cauterized.