Electrophysiology loop catheter

Abstract

An electrophysiology catheter including control, localization, and/or fluid delivery features, and methods of using the same. One embodiment of the invention is directed to an electrophysiology catheter including a superelastic wire and a cable, and a method of controlling the catheter using the cable. Another embodiment is directed to an electrophysiology catheter including an adhesive to bias the orientation of the catheter. A further embodiment is directed to an electrophysiology catheter including adhesive and one or more cables, and a method of controlling the catheter using the one or more cables. Another embodiment is directed to a method including acts of injecting a fluid into the heart of a patient and adjusting the diameter of an arcuate curve of the catheter. Further embodiments are directed to a catheter having multiple position sensors on an arcuate curve of the catheter, or a position sensor associated with a movable electrode of the catheter.

1 . An electrophysiology catheter comprising: 
 a handle having a distal end and a proximal end, the handle including an actuator;    a flexible shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis that extends along a length of the shaft, the proximal end of the shaft being attached to the distal end of the handle;    a tip assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the tip assembly being attached to the distal end of the shaft, and the tip assembly including a wire formed of a superelastic material and shaped to bias the tip assembly in a first orientation; and    a cable, attached to the actuator and the tip assembly, that extends through the shaft, the cable being adapted to change an orientation of the tip assembly from the first orientation in response to movement of the actuator.    
     
     
         2 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the wire is shaped to bias the distal end of the tip assembly in a first orientation including an arcuately curved shape having a bias radius of curvature; and    the cable is adapted to change a radius of curvature of the distal end of the tip assembly to a radius of curvature larger than the bias radius of curvature in response to movement of the actuator.    
     
     
         3 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the wire has a radius of curvature smaller than or equal to a radius of curvature of the cable.    
     
     
         4 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 2 , wherein the wire is shaped to bias the distal end of the tip assembly in a first orientation including an arcuately curved shape spanning at least three hundred and sixty degrees.  
     
     
         5 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the wire is shaped to bias the distal end of the tip assembly in a first orientation including an arcuately curved shape having a bias radius of curvature; and    the cable is adapted to change a radius of curvature of the distal end of the tip assembly to a radius of curvature smaller than the bias radius of curvature in response to movement of the actuator.    
     
     
         6 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the cable has a radius of curvature smaller than or equal to a radius of curvature of the wire.    
     
     
         7 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 5 , wherein the distal end of the tip assembly curves at least three hundred and sixty degrees in response to movement of the actuator.  
     
     
         8 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the wire is shaped to bias the proximal end of the tip assembly in a first orientation including a bend having a bias angle of approximately ninety degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft; and    the cable is adapted to change an angle of the bend of the proximal end of the tip assembly to an angle smaller than the bias angle in response to movement of the actuator.    
     
     
         9 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the wire is disposed in an inner portion of the tip assembly and the cable is disposed in an outer portion of the tip assembly with respect to the angle of the bend of the proximal end of the tip assembly.    
     
     
         10 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the wire is shaped to bias the proximal end of the tip assembly in a first orientation including a bend having a bias angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft; and    the cable is adapted to change an angle of the bend of the proximal end of the tip assembly to an angle of approximately ninety degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft in response to movement of the actuator.    
     
     
         11 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the wire is disposed in an outer portion of the tip assembly and the cable is disposed in an inner portion of the tip assembly with respect to the angle of the bend of the proximal end of the tip assembly.    
     
     
         12 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the wire is shaped to bias the distal end of the tip assembly in a linear orientation; and    the cable is adapted to deform the wire so that the wire forms arcuate curve at the distal end of the tip assembly in response to movement of the actuator.    
     
     
         13 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the wire is shaped to bias the proximal end of the tip assembly in a linear orientation; and    the cable is adapted to deform the wire so that the wire forms a bend of approximately ninety degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tip assembly at the proximal end of the tip assembly in response to movement of the actuator.    
     
     
         14 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the wire is formed of a nickel titanium compound.  
     
     
         15 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 14 , wherein the wire is formed of nitinol.  
     
     
         16 . An electrophysiology catheter comprising: 
 a handle having a distal end and a proximal end, the handle including an actuator;    a flexible shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis that extends along a length of the shaft, the proximal end of the shaft being attached to the distal end of the handle; and    a tip assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the tip assembly being attached to the distal end of the shaft and the tip assembly including an adhesive cured in a configuration to bias the tip assembly in a first orientation.    
     
     
         17 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the first orientation includes a bend at the proximal end of the tip assembly having an angle of approximately ninety degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.  
     
     
         18 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the first orientation includes an arcuately curved shape at the distal end of the tip assembly.  
     
     
         19 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a first cable, attached to the actuator and the tip assembly, that extends through the shaft, the first cable being adapted to change an orientation of the tip assembly from the first orientation in response to movement of the actuator.    
     
     
         20 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the first orientation includes an arcuately curved shape at the distal end of the tip assembly having a bias radius of curvature; and    the first cable is adapted to change a radius of curvature of the distal end of the tip assembly to a radius of curvature larger than the bias radius of curvature in response to movement of the actuator.    
     
     
         21 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 20 , wherein the first orientation includes an arcuately curved shape spanning at least three hundred and sixty degrees.  
     
     
         22 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the first orientation includes an arcuately curved shape at the distal end of the tip assembly having a bias radius of curvature; and    the first cable is adapted to change a radius of curvature of the distal end of the tip assembly to a radius of curvature smaller than the bias radius of curvature in response to movement of the actuator.    
     
     
         23 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 22 , wherein the distal end of the tip assembly curves at least three hundred and sixty degrees in response to movement of the actuator.  
     
     
         24 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 20 , wherein: 
 a second cable is adapted to change a radius of curvature of the distal end of the tip assembly to a radius of curvature smaller than the bias radius of curvature in response to movement of the actuator.    
     
     
         25 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 the first orientation includes a bend at the proximal end of the tip assembly having a bias angle of approximately ninety degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft; and    the first cable is adapted to change an angle of the bend of the proximal end of the tip assembly to an angle smaller than the bias angle in response to movement of the actuator.    
     
     
         26 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 25 , wherein: 
 the adhesive is disposed in an inner portion of the tip assembly and the first cable is disposed in an outer portion of the tip assembly with respect to the angle of the bend of the proximal end of the tip assembly.    
     
     
         27 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 25 , further including a second cable adapted to change an angle of the bend of the proximal end of the tip assembly to an angle of approximately ninety degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft in response to movement of the actuator.  
     
     
         28 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 the first orientation includes a bend having a bias angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft; and    the first cable is adapted to change an angle of the bend of the proximal end of the tip assembly to an angle of approximately ninety degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft in response to movement of the actuator.    
     
     
         29 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 28 , wherein: 
 the adhesive is disposed in an outer portion of the tip assembly and the first cable is disposed in an inner portion of the tip assembly with respect to the angle of the bend of the proximal end of the tip assembly.    
     
     
         30 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 the first orientation includes a linear orientation along the longitudinal axis of the shaft at the distal end of the tip assembly; and    the first cable is adapted to form an arcuate curve at the distal end of the tip assembly in response to movement of the actuator.    
     
     
         31 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 the first orientation includes a linear orientation along the longitudinal axis of the shaft at the proximal end of the tip assembly; and    the first cable is adapted to form a bend of approximately ninety degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tip assembly at the proximal end of the tip assembly in response to movement of the actuator.    
     
     
         32 . An electrophysiology catheter comprising: 
 a handle having a distal end and a proximal end, the handle including an actuator;    a flexible shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis that extends along a length of the shaft, the proximal end of the shaft being attached to the distal end of the handle;    a tip assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the tip assembly being attached to the distal end of the shaft and the tip assembly including an adhesive cured in a configuration to support the tip assembly in a first orientation including an arcuately curved shape at the distal end of the tip assembly having a first radius of curvature;    a first cable, attached to the actuator and the tip assembly, that extends through the shaft, the first cable being adapted to change an orientation of the tip assembly from the first orientation to a second orientation including an arcuately curved shape at the distal end of the tip assembly having a second radius of curvature larger than the first radius of curvature in response to movement of the actuator; and    a second cable, attached to the actuator and the tip assembly, that extends through the shaft, the second cable being adapted to change the orientation of the tip assembly from the second orientation to the first orientation in response to movement of the actuator.    
     
     
         33 . An electrophysiology catheter comprising: 
 a handle having a distal end and a proximal end, the handle including an actuator;    a flexible shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis that extends along a length of the shaft, the proximal end of the shaft being attached to the distal end of the handle;    a tip assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the tip assembly being attached to the distal end of the shaft and the tip assembly including an adhesive cured in a configuration to support the tip assembly in a first orientation including a bend at the proximal end of the tip assembly having a first angle of approximately ninety degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft;    a first cable, attached to the actuator and the tip assembly, that extends through the shaft, the first cable being adapted to change an orientation of the tip assembly from the first orientation to a second orientation including a bend at the proximal end of the tip assembly having a second angle relative to the longitudinal axis that is smaller than the first angle in response to movement of the actuator; and    a second cable, attached to the actuator and the tip assembly, that extends through the shaft, the second cable being adapted to change the orientation of the tip assembly from the second orientation to the first orientation in response to movement of the actuator.    
     
     
         34 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 33 , wherein the first angle is approximately ninety degrees.  
     
     
         35 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the adhesive is epoxy.  
     
     
         36 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the adhesive is silicone.  
     
     
         37 . A method of shaping a tip assembly of a catheter, comprising acts of: 
 injecting an adhesive into a lumen of the catheter that extends along the tip assembly of the catheter; and    curing the adhesive by maintaining a portion of the tip assembly of the catheter in a fixed position for a time sufficient to allow the adhesive to bias the tip assembly in a particular orientation.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the act of curing the adhesive includes maintaining a proximal end of the tip assembly in a bent shape having an angle of approximately ninety degrees.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the act of curing the adhesive includes maintaining a distal end of the tip assembly in an arcuately curved shape.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the act of curing the adhesive includes maintaining a portion of the tip assembly in a linear shape.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the act of injecting the adhesive includes injecting epoxy into the lumen of the catheter.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the act of injecting the adhesive includes injecting silicone into the lumen of the catheter.  
     
     
         43 . The method of any of claims  claim 37 , wherein the act of curing the adhesive includes heating the tip assembly of the catheter at a predetermined temperature.  
     
     
         44 - 73 . (canceled)  
     
     
         74 . A flexible shaft of a catheter device, the shaft comprising: 
 a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis that extends along a length of the catheter body; and    a channel formed of a superelastic material and shaped to bias a portion of the catheter body in a first orientation.    
     
     
         75 - 94 . (canceled)  
     
     
         95 . An electrophysiology catheter, comprising: 
 a handle having a distal end and a proximal end, the handle including an actuator;    a flexible shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis that extends along a length of the shaft, the proximal end of the shaft being attached to the distal end of the handle;    a tip assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the tip assembly being attached to the distal end of the shaft, and the tip assembly including    a channel formed of a superelastic material and shaped to bias the tip assembly in a first orientation; and    a cable, attached to the actuator and the tip assembly and extending through the channel, the cable being adapted to change an orientation of the tip assembly from the first orientation in response to movement of the actuator.    
     
     
         96 - 101 . (canceled)