Catheter with an irrigated composite tip electrode
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorKatie Messing
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various catheter designs with irrigated tip electrodes are provided for reducing the heating of the tip resulting from RF biasing. The electrode tip of the catheter may be comprised of a highly thermal conductivity layer covered by a biologically compatible material and having irrigation or irrigation channels for removing excess thermal energy from the catheter tip and the surrounding area of the catheter tip. The catheter tip may be designed with multiple irrigation channels, multiple channel pathways, and/or exterior shapes to improve the cooling of the tip. These approaches may be used individually or in combination to produce a catheter tip with improved heat dissipation characteristics.
Claims25
A medical ablation electrode, comprising:
- a biologically compatible outer layer of an electrically conductive material;
- a thermally conductive inner layer;
- and
- an irrigation channel in contact with said inner layer for channeling cooling fluid.
A medical ablation electrode, comprising:
- a biologically compatible outer layer of an electrically conductive material;
- a thermally conductive inner layer;
- and
- an irrigation channel formed within and extending along said inner layer for channeling cooling fluid.
A medical ablation electrode, comprising:
- a biologically compatible outer layer of an electrically conductive material and exhibiting a first thermal conductivity;
- a thermally conductive inner layer exhibiting a second thermal conductivity greater than said first thermal conductivity;
- and
- an irrigation channel in contact with said inner layer for channeling cooling fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.