# US 8,540,696 B2 · Deflectable catheter with a high modulus fiber puller element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,696 B2 - Document ID: US8540696B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/323,376 - Filed: 2005-12-29 - Published: 2007-07-05 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2005-12-29 - Assignees: Biosense Webster, Inc. - Applicants: Benjamin D. McDaniel; Dean M. Ponzi; Darrell Drysen - Inventors: Benjamin D. McDaniel; Dean M. Ponzi; Darrell Drysen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540696B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/0147: {with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires} - A61B 18/1492: {having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence)} - A61M 25/00: Catheters; Hollow probes (dilators A61M29/00; {peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00} ; for measuring or testing A61B; {materials for catheters A61L29/00}) - A61B 5/6852: {Catheters} - A61M 25/0029: {characterized by features relating to least one lumen located at the middle part of the catheter, e.g. slots, flaps, valves, cuffs, apertures, notches, grooves or rapid exchange ports (catheter shaft surface irregularities A61M2025/006)} - A61M 2025/0034: {characterized by elements which are assembled, connected or fused, e.g. splittable tubes, outer sheaths creating lumina or separate cores} - A61M 2025/004: {characterized by lumina being arranged circumferentially} - A61M 2025/015: {Details of the distal fixation of the movable mechanical means} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A deflectable catheter includes a catheter body, an intermediate section, a tip electrode and a control handle for deflecting the catheter by manipulation of a puller element that is made of a high modulus fiber material and extends through the catheter body and the intermediate section. The proximal end of the puller element is housed in the control handle and the distal end of the puller element is in a wrapped configuration and engages with a distal tip member or the intermediate section. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A deflectable catheter comprising: a catheter body; an intermediate section at a distal end of the catheter body; a distal tip electrode distal the intermediate section, the distal tip electrode comprising an electrode main body and an electrode stem at a proximal end of the electrode main body; a control handle at a proximal end of the catheter body; and a puller element having proximal and distal ends, the puller element extending through the catheter body and the intermediate section, wherein the proximal end of the puller element is housed in the control handle and the distal end of the puller element is anchored in a wrapped configuration to at least a portion of an outer circumferential wall of the stem of the distal tip electrode, and manipulation of the control handle results in movement of the puller element to deflect the intermediate section. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The deflectable catheter according to claim 1, further comprising a stop on at least one of the outer circumferential wall of the electrode stem or the puller element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The deflectable catheter according to claim 2, wherein the stop comprises a clamp on the puller element, and the wrapped configuration comprises the distal end of the puller element wrapped around the portion of the outer circumferential wall of the stem of the distal tip electrode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The deflectable catheter according to claim 2, wherein the stop comprises a protrusion extending from the electrode stem, and the wrapped configuration comprises the distal end of the puller element wrapped around at least a portion of the protrusion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The deflectable catheter according to claim 2, wherein the stop comprises a channel in the electrode stem, the channel extends between an exterior of the stem and an interior of the stem, and the wrapped configuration comprises the distal end of the puller element extending through the channel and wrapped around the portion of the outer circumferential wall of the stem of the distal tip electrode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The deflectable catheter according to claim 5, wherein the puller element extends through the channel and terminates in a knot that prevents the distal end of the puller wire from being pulled through the channel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The deflectable catheter according to claim 2, wherein the stop comprises a mold on the puller element and the electrode stem. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The deflectable catheter according to claim 2, wherein the stop comprises an adhesive on the puller element and the electrode stem. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The deflectable catheter according to claim 2, wherein the stop comprises a circumferential groove on the portion of the outer circumferential wall of the electrode stem, the wrapped configuration comprising the distal end wrapped around the portion of the outer circumferential wall of the stem and riding in the groove. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The deflectable catheter according to claim 2, wherein the wrapped configuration comprises the distal end of the puller element wrapped around the stop to thereby anchor the puller element to the portion of the outer circumferential wall of the electrode stem. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The deflectable catheter according to claim 1, wherein the wrapped configuration comprises the distal end of the puller element tied to the electrode stem to thereby anchor the puller element to the portion of the outer circumferential wall of the electrode stem. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The deflectable catheter according to claim 1, wherein the wrapped configuration comprises the distal end of the puller element is wrapped around at least a portion of the electrode stem to thereby anchor the puller element to the portion of the outer circumferential wall of the electrode stem. ### Claim 13 A deflectable catheter comprising: a catheter body; an intermediate section at a distal end of the catheter body; a control handle at a proximal end of the catheter body; and a puller element having proximal and distal ends, the puller element extending through the catheter body and the intermediate section, wherein the proximal end of the puller element is housed in the control handle and the distal end of the puller element is in engagement with a loop attached to an interior side wall of the intermediate section, and manipulation of the control handle results in movement of the puller element to deflect the intermediate section. ### Claim 14 A deflectable catheter comprising: a catheter body having proximal and distal ends; an intermediate section distal the catheter body; a distal tip electrode distal the intermediate section, the distal tip electrode comprising an electrode main body and an electrode stem at a proximal end of the electrode main body; a puller element having proximal and distal ends, the puller element extending through the catheter body and the intermediate section, wherein the puller element is anchored in a wrapped configuration to at least a portion of an outer circumferential wall of the stem of the distal tip electrode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The deflectable catheter according to claim 1, wherein the puller element comprises a high modulus fiber material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The deflectable catheter according to claim 15, wherein the high modulus fiber material is nonconductive. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The deflectable catheter according to claim 15, wherein the high modulus fiber material is generally nonstretching. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The deflectable catheter according to claim 15, wherein the high modulus fiber material is braided. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The deflectable catheter according to claim 15, wherein the high modulus fiber material comprises a polymeric material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The deflectable catheter according to claim 15, wherein the high modulus fiber material comprises a ceramic material. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The deflectable catheter according to claim 15, wherein the high modulus fiber material comprises High Molecular Density Polyethylene. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The deflectable catheter according to claim 15, wherein the high modulus fiber material comprises a melt spun liquid crystal polymer fiber rope. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The deflectable catheter according to claim 15, wherein the high modulus fiber material comprises a spun para-aramid fiber polymer. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The deflectable catheter according to claim 15, wherein the high modulus fiber material has a tensile strength ranging between about 2,000 MPa and about 10,400 MPa. ### Claim 25 (depends on 15) The deflectable catheter according to claim 15, wherein the high modulus fiber material has a tensile modulus substantially in the range of about 35,000 MPa to about 140,000 MPa.