# US 9,433,751 B2 · Steerable catheter with distal tip orientation sheaths

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 9,433,751 B2
- Document ID: US9433751B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/655,637
- Filed: 2012-10-19
- Published: 2013-02-21
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2005-05-19
- Assignees: Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd.
- Applicants: Biosense Webster (Israel), Ltd.
- Inventors: Dean M. Ponzi; Mario A. Solis
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433751B2

## 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 25/0144: {having flexible regions as a result of inner reinforcement means, e.g. struts or rods}
- A61B 2017/003: {Steerable}
- A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation}
- A61M 25/0136: {Handles therefor}
- 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 bi-directional electrophysiology catheter having improved steerability which includes orientation sheaths, or thin walled tubes, placed in diametrically opposed lumen at the distal portion of the catheter for producing in-plane deflection of the distal portion of the catheter.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A steerable catheter for contacting tissue comprising:
an elongated, flexible tubular catheter body having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending there through;
a tip section at the distal end of the catheter body, the tip section comprising a flexible plastic tubing having first and second pairs of diametrically-opposed lumens extending there through, wherein the first pair of diametrically-opposed lumens is in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane containing the second pair of diametrically-opposed lumens, and a tip electrode;
a control handle at the proximal end of the catheter body;
first and second puller wires, each extending through one of the lumens of the first pair of diametrically-opposed lumens and through the lumen of the catheter body, each having a proximal end anchored to the control handle and a distal end anchored to the tip section, whereby the first puller wire is longitudinally moveable relative to the catheter body to cause deflection of the tip section in a plane in a first direction and the second puller wire is longitudinally moveable relative to the catheter body to cause deflection of the tip section in the plane in a second direction opposite the first direction;
and first and second tubular orientation sheath members each having proximal and distal ends, each comprised of a thin walled polymide tube, each extending through one of the lumens of the second pair of diametrically opposed lumens, each having an outer diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the lumen through which it extends and wherein each tubular orientation sheath member is bonded along a substantial portion of the tubular orientation sheath member to the wall of one of the lumens and wherein the tubular orientation sheath members are located and configured to reduce bending of the tip section in a direction other than across the plane in which the tubular orientation sheaths are contained, thereby providing greater contact force of the tip electrode against the tissue.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A steerable catheter according to claim 1, wherein the tip section is more flexible than the catheter body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A steerable catheter according to claim 1, wherein each tubular orientation sheath member is bonded to the respective lumen along the entire length of the tubular sheath.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The steerable catheter of claim 1 wherein the tubular sheath member has a wall thickness of approximately 0.001 inch.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The steerable catheter of claim 1 wherein each tubular orientation sheath member is bonded to the lumen using heat.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The steerable catheter of claim 1 wherein the proximal end of each tubular orientation sheath member is anchored at approximately the same longitudinal position within the catheter.