Magnetic guided ablation catheter

Abstract

Magnetic guided ablation catheters and methods of manufacture are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a catheter includes a unitary flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end. A plurality of magnets are positioned along an axis of the unitary flexible tubing, the plurality of magnets provided within the unitary flexible tubing. During operation, the plurality of magnets are responsive to an external magnetic field to selectively position and guide the catheter within a body of a patient.

1 . A catheter comprising:
 a unitary flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end;   a plurality of magnets positioned along an axis of the unitary flexible tubing, the plurality of magnets provided within the unitary flexible tubing; and   wherein the plurality of magnets are responsive to an external magnetic field to selectively position and guide the catheter within a body of a patient.   
   
   
       2 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of magnets are pushed into the unitary flexible tubing. 
   
   
       3 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of magnets are pushed into the unitary flexible tubing using a lubricant. 
   
   
       4 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the unitary flexible tubing is lubricated with alcohol to facilitate receiving the plurality of magnets therein. 
   
   
       5 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising an interference fit between the plurality of magnets and the unitary flexible tubing. 
   
   
       6 . The catheter of  claim 5 , wherein the interference fit is formed by an outer diameter of the plurality of magnets being larger than an inner diameter of the unitary flexible tubing. 
   
   
       7 . The catheter of  claim 6 , wherein the interference fit is formed by an outer diameter of the plurality of magnets being about 0.005 inches larger than an inner diameter of the unitary flexible tubing. 
   
   
       8 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the unitary flexible tubing is heat-shrunk over the plurality of magnets. 
   
   
       9 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the unitary flexible tubing has different flexibilities along a length the unitary flexible tubing. 
   
   
       10 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the unitary flexible tubing is more flexible toward the distal end and less flexible toward the proximal end. 
   
   
       11 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the unitary flexible tubing includes a plurality of segments, each segment having different flexibility. 
   
   
       12 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the unitary flexible tubing includes abrupt steps of flexibility between a plurality of segments, the abrupt steps between segments defining locations for providing magnets in the unitary flexible tubing. 
   
   
       13 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the unitary flexible tubing is manufactured with different material properties to provide less flexibility toward the proximal end and more flexibility toward the distal end. 
   
   
       14 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the unitary flexible tubing is formed thicker to provide less flexibility toward the proximal end, and the unitary flexible tubing is formed thinner to provide more flexibility toward the distal end. 
   
   
       15 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrode assembly at the distal end of the unitary flexible tubing, the electrode assembly comprising a distal magnet. 
   
   
       16 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of magnets comprise a first magnet, a second magnet, and a third magnet, the third magnet spaced from the second magnet which is spaced from the first magnet along the axis of the unitary flexible tubing, wherein the magnets are responsive to an external magnetic field to selectively position and guide the electrode assembly within a body of a patient, wherein the second magnet is spaced from the first magnet by a first distance along the axis of the unitary flexible tubing, and the third magnet is spaced a second distance from the second magnet along the axis of the tubing, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance. 
   
   
       17 . A catheter comprising:
 a variably-flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end, the variably-flexible tubing prefabricated to be unitary in construction;   at least one magnet separately provided from an electrode assembly and spaced from the electrode assembly along an axis of the flexible tubing; and   wherein the at least one magnet is responsive to an external magnetic field to selectively position and guide the electrode assembly within a body of a patient.   
   
   
       18 . The catheter of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one magnet is pushed into the variably-flexible tubing using a lubricant. 
   
   
       19 . The catheter of  claim 17 , wherein the variably-flexible tubing is heat-shrunk over the at least one magnet. 
   
   
       20 . The catheter of  claim 17 , wherein an interference fit is formed between the at least one magnet and the variably-flexible tubing. 
   
   
       21 . The catheter of  claim 17 , wherein the variably-flexible tubing is more flexible toward the distal end and less flexible toward the proximal end. 
   
   
       22 . The catheter of  claim 17 , wherein the variably-flexible tubing includes a plurality of different flexibility segments. 
   
   
       23 . The catheter of  claim 22 , wherein the variably-flexible tubing includes abrupt steps in flexibility between the different segments, the abrupt steps between segments defining locations for providing magnets in the unitary flexible tubing. 
   
   
       24 . A catheter comprising:
 a unitary flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end defining substantially an entire length of the catheter;   at least one magnet positioned along an axis of the unitary flexible tubing, the at least one magnet provided within the unitary flexible tubing; and   wherein the at least one magnet is responsive to an external magnetic field to selectively position and guide the catheter within a body of a patient.   
   
   
       25 . The catheter of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one magnet is pushed into the unitary flexible tubing using a lubricant. 
   
   
       26 . The catheter of  claim 24 , wherein the unitary tubing is heat-shrunk over the at least one magnet. 
   
   
       27 . The catheter of  claim 24 , wherein an interference fit is formed between the at least one magnet and the unitary tubing.