US 5,954,649 A · Catheter system having ultrasound locating capabilities

Abstract

An improved catheter system having ultrasound locating capabilities comprising a locator catheter and an ultrasound receiver catheter resulting in an effective electrophysiology procedure without undesired side effects of using a conventional x-ray imaging system. Said catheter system comprising a locator catheter consisted of a catheter shaft having a distal tip section, a distal end, a proximal end and at least one lumen extending therebetween, wherein at least one electrode is secured at said distal tip section; a handle attached to the proximal end of said catheter shaft; an ultrasound crystal secured on the catheter shaft proximal to the distal end; a connector secured to the proximal end of said handle; and a reference catheter comprising three or more ultrasound crystal beacons which have pre-determined locations with reference to an external locating calibration system, wherein said ultrasound beacons can emit and receive ultrasound signals, and the crystals used in ultrasound imaging means can be shaped as a cylinder, a donut, or a ring shape.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A catheter system comprising,

a locator catheter comprising a catheter shaft having a distal tip section, a distal end, a proximal end and at least one lumen extending therebetween, wherein at least one electrode is secured at said distal tip section;
a handle attached to the proximal end of said catheter shaft;
an ultrasound crystal secured on the catheter shaft proximal to the distal end for transmitting ultrasound signals;
a connector secured to the proximal end of said handle;
a reference catheter comprising at least three ultrasound crystal beacons for receiving the ultrasound signals transmitted from the ultrasound crystal secured to the locator catheter, wherein said beacons have coordinates that are pre-set with reference to an external location calibration system, and can emit and receive ultrasound signals;
said external location calibration system for receiving signals from the crystal beacons and constantly calibrating the coordinates of the beacons on the reference catheter;
and
a data acquisition computer connected to the location calibration system for determining the location of the locator catheter.

5 more elements

A method for operating a catheter system to contact a target tissue in a heart chamber for an electrophysiology study, the catheter system comprising a locator catheter comprising a catheter shaft having a distal tip section, a distal end, a proximal end and at least one lumen extending therebetween, wherein at least one electrode is secured at said distal tip section;

a handle attached to the proximal end of said catheter shaft;
an ultrasound crystal secured on the catheter shaft proximal to the distal end;
a connector secured to the proximal end of said handle;
and a reference catheter comprising at least three ultrasound crystal beacons which have pre-determined locations with reference to an external locating calibration system, wherein said ultrasound beacons can emit and receive ultrasound signals;
the method comprising the steps of:
percutaneously introducing the reference catheter under non-deployed state through a blood vessel to the heart chamber;
deploying the catheter to position the at least three ultrasound crystal beacons;
locating the at least three ultrasound crystal beacons in reference to an external calibration system;
constantly calibrating the location of the crystal beacons on the reference catheter;
percutaneously introducing the locator catheter through a blood vessel to the heart chamber;
deflecting the distal section of said locator catheter about a transverse axis to position the tip section;
determining the coordinates of the locator catheter;
and intimately contacting the electrode with the target tissue for an electrophysiology study.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Catheter system having ultrasound locating capabilities

Life of this patent

Catheter system having ultrasound locating capabilities

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16