Catheter having two-piece connector for a split handle assembly

Abstract

A catheter and method for the treatment of a patient having atrial flutter or other arrhythmia comprises an elongated catheter body having an outer wall, proximal and distal ends, and at least one lumen extending therethrough. Further it has a distal tip section comprising a flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end and a plurality of lumens extending therethrough. The proximal end of the tip section is fixedly attached to the distal end of the catheter body. The tip section further comprises a nitinol tube having slots formed therein which causes the distal tip section to deflect using the same puller-wire action used to cause the deflectable catheter to deflect at a point proximal to the distal tip section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A catheter comprising:
 an elongated catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end;   a distal tip attached to the distal end of the catheter body having a plurality of electrodes disposed on the distal tip for diagnosing or treating a patient;   a control handle attached to the proximal end of the catheter body;   a plurality of electrical leads for communicating electrical signals each lead being attached to one of the plurality of electrodes, each lead passing through the catheter body into a two-piece connector for operably and releasably electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes to a system for diagnosing or treating a patient;   wherein the two-piece connector comprises:   a plug assembly and a receptacle assembly wherein the plug assembly is adapted to be inserted into the receptacle assembly to operably connect the plurality of electrical leads to the system.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein the plug assembly further comprises:
 a plug body; 
 a plug insulator adapted to hold a plurality of contacts; 
 an insulator lead adapted to capture and hold the plug insulator in the plug body; 
 a plug housing adapted to receive a portion of the plug body; and, 
 a cable for housing the plurality of electrical leads connected to the plurality of contacts. 
 
     
     
         3 . The catheter of  claim 2  wherein the insulator lead captures and holds the plug insulator in the plug body through a plurality of snap features designed to engage a plurality of snap receivers in the plug body. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter of  claim 2  wherein the plug body comprises a lock and release button adapted to engage and disengage a locking button catch in the receptacle assembly 
     
     
         5 . The catheter of  claim 2  wherein the plug body further comprises an EEPROM recess for securing an EEPROM in the plug assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter of  claim 2  where in the plug housing receives the plug body when a plurality of snap features on the plug body engages a plurality of snap receivers in the plug housing. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter of  claim 2  wherein the plug assembly further comprises strain relief to create an atraumatic transition from the plug housing to the cable. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter of  claim 2  wherein the plug insulator has a first key and a second key disposed there on to require one way insertion into the plug body. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter of  claim 2  wherein the contacts are pins. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter of  claim 2  wherein the contacts are socket contacts. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein the receptacle assembly comprises:
 a receptacle body; 
 a receptacle insulator adapted to hold a plurality of contacts; 
 an insulator lead adapted to capture and hold the receptacle insulator in the receptacle body; 
 a receptacle housing adapted to receive a portion of the receptacle body; and, 
 a cable for housing a plurality of electrical leads connected to the plurality of contacts. 
 
     
     
         12 . The catheter of  claim 11  wherein the insulator lead captures and holds the receptacle insulator in the receptacle body through a plurality of snap features designed to engage a plurality of snap receivers in the receptacle body. 
     
     
         13 . The catheter of  claim 11  wherein the receptacle body comprises a locking button catch adapted to engage the lock and release button catch in the plug assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The catheter of  claim 11  wherein the receptacle housing further comprises shielding to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI). 
     
     
         15 . The catheter of  claim 11  wherein the shielding is a layer of Mu metal disposed on the inside surface of the receptacle housing. 
     
     
         16 . The catheter of  claim 11  wherein the receptacle housing receives the receptacle body when a plurality of snap features on the receptacle body engages a plurality of snap receivers in the receptacle housing. 
     
     
         17 . The catheter of  claim 11  wherein the receptacle assembly further comprises strain relief to create an atraumatic transition from the receptacle housing to the cable. 
     
     
         18 . The catheter of  claim 11  wherein the receptacle insulator has a first key and a second key disposed there on to require one way insertion into the receptacle body. 
     
     
         19 . The catheter of  claim 11  wherein the contacts are pins. 
     
     
         20 . The catheter of  claim 11  wherein the contacts are socket contacts. 
     
     
         21 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein the plug assembly has at least one key disposed thereon to mate with a key way in the receptacle assembly so as to prevent the plug assembly from being inserted improperly in the receptacle assembly. 
     
     
         22 . A two-piece connector for operably connecting a device having a plurality of electrical leads to a system for the diagnosis and treatment of a patient wherein the two-piece connector comprises a plug assembly and a receptacle assembly wherein the plug assembly is adapted to be inserted into the receptacle assembly to operably connect the plurality of electrical leads to the system. 
     
     
         23 . The connector of  claim 22  herein the plug assembly further comprises:
 a plug body; 
 a plug insulator adapted to hold a plurality of contacts; 
 an insulator lead adapted to capture and hold the plug insulator in the plug body; 
 a plug housing adapted to receive a portion of the plug body; and, 
 a cable for housing the plurality of electrical leads connected to the plurality of contacts. 
 
     
     
         24 . The connector of  claim 23  wherein the insulator lead captures and holds the plug insulator in the plug body through a plurality of snap features designed to engage a plurality of snap receivers in the plug body. 
     
     
         25 . The connector of  claim 23  wherein the plug body comprises a lock and release button adapted to engage and disengage a locking button catch in the receptacle assembly 
     
     
         26 . The connector of  claim 23  wherein the plug body further comprises an EEPROM recess for securing an EEPROM in the plug assembly. 
     
     
         27 . The connector of  claim 23  where in the plug housing receives the plug body when a plurality of snap features on the plug body engages a plurality of snap receivers in the plug housing. 
     
     
         28 . The connector of  claim 23  wherein the plug insulator has a first key and a second key disposed there on to require one way insertion into the plug body. 
     
     
         29 . The connector of  claim 22  wherein the receptacle assembly comprises:
 a receptacle body; 
 a receptacle insulator adapted to hold a plurality of contacts; 
 an insulator lead adapted to capture and hold the receptacle insulator in the receptacle body; 
 a receptacle housing adapted to receive a portion of the receptacle body; and, 
 a cable for housing a plurality of electrical leads connected to the plurality of contacts. 
 
     
     
         30 . The connector of  claim 29  wherein the insulator lead captures and holds the receptacle insulator in the receptacle body through a plurality of snap features designed to engage a plurality of snap receivers in the receptacle body. 
     
     
         31 . The connector of  claim 29  wherein the receptacle body comprises a locking button catch adapted to engage the lock and release button catch in the plug assembly. 
     
     
         32 . The connector of  claim 29  wherein the receptacle housing further comprises shielding to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI). 
     
     
         33 . The connector of  claim 32  wherein the shielding is a layer of Mu metal disposed on the inside surface of the receptacle housing. 
     
     
         34 . The connector of  claim 29  wherein the receptacle housing receives the receptacle body when a plurality of snap features on the receptacle body engages a plurality of snap receivers in the receptacle housing. 
     
     
         35 . The connector of  claim 29  wherein the receptacle assembly further comprises strain relief to create an atraumatic transition from the receptacle housing to the cable. 
     
     
         36 . The connector of  claim 29  wherein the receptacle insulator has a first key and a second key disposed there on to require one way insertion into the receptacle body. 
     
     
         37 . The connector of  claim 22  wherein the plug assembly has at least one key disposed thereon to mate with a key way in the receptacle assembly so as to prevent the plug assembly from being inserted improperly in the receptacle assembly.