US5855552A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Catheter having ring electrodes secured thereon
Assignee: EP Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1997-06-13
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Granted: 1999-01-05
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Expires: 2017-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A catheter having an elongated polymeric body with hollow encircling ring electrodes thereon and a method of forming the same are provided by the invention. Ring electrodes are each connected to an external electrical circuit by wires extending through the lumen, the wires each passing through an aperture through a wall of the body and being connected to an interior surface of the ring electrode. The tubular body of the catheter is expanded into a tight interference fit with the interior surfaces of the ring electrodes by heating the body to a temperature approaching its glass transition temperature to permit relief of internal stresses.
Inventors
- 👤 Russell A. Houser
- 👤 Gloria Alvarez
- 👤 Russell B. Thompson
- 👤 Michael Idaomi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0009; A61M25/0012; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/056; B; B29; B29C; B29C63/00; B29C63/38; B29C63/46; B29C65/00; B29C65/66; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/20; B29C66/24; B29C66/242; B29C66/2422; B29C66/24221; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/53; B29C66/532; B29C66/5324; B29C66/53241; B29C66/61; B29C66/90; B29C66/91; B29C66/912; B29C66/9121; B29C66/91231; B29C66/914; B29C66/9141; B29C66/91421; B29C66/91431; B29C70/00; B29C70/68; B29C70/84; B29C61/00; B29C61/04; B29C66/70; B29C66/71; B29C66/73; B29C66/731; B29C66/7311; B29C66/73117; B29C66/96; B29C66/961; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/753; B29L2031/7542; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S174/00; Y10S174/08; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A catheter, comprising: an elongated body including a wall region encircled by a metallic ring electrode, the metallic ring electrode having an interior surface; and a conductor having a first end passing through the wall region and connected to the interior surface of the metallic ring electrode, and a second end adapted for connection to an external circuit; wherein the wall region includes an internally stressed thermoplastic material, which has been expanded to engage the interior surface to mechanically lock the metallic ring electrode to the elongated body, the thermoplastic material of the wall region being, after expansion, substantially free of internal stress.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A catheter, comprising: an elongated body including a wall region encircled by a metallic ring electrode, the metallic ring electrode having an interior surface; and a conductor having a first end passing through the wall region and connected to the interior surface of the metallic ring electrode, and a second end adapted for connection to an external circuit; wherein the wall region includes an internally stressed thermoplastic material, which has been expanded to engage the interior surface to mechanically lock the metallic ring electrode to the elongated body, the thermoplastic material of the wall region being, after expansion, substantially free of internal stress.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A catheter according to claim 1 wherein the wall region is encircled by several metallic ring electrodes, each one mechanically locked to the elongated body by expansion of the thermoplastic material, which, after expansion, is substantially free of internal stress.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
103 words
A catheter, comprising: an elongated body including a wall region encircled by a metallic ring electrode, the metallic ring electrode having an interior surface; and a conductor having a first end passing through the wall region and connected to the interior surface of the metallic ring electrode, and a second end adapted for connection to an external circuit; wherein the wall region includes an internally stressed polymeric material, which has been expanded to engage the interior surface to mechanically lock the metallic ring electrode to the elongated body, the polymeric material of the wall region being, after expansion, substantially free of internal stress.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
103 words
A catheter, comprising: an elongated body including a wall region encircled by a metallic ring electrode, the metallic ring electrode having an interior surface; and a conductor having a first end passing through the wall region and connected to the interior surface of the metallic ring electrode, and a second end adapted for connection to an external circuit; wherein the wall region includes an internally stressed polymeric material, which has been expanded to engage the interior surface to mechanically lock the metallic ring electrode to the elongated body, the polymeric material of the wall region being, after expansion, substantially free of internal stress.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
107 words
A catheter, comprising: an elongated body including a wall region encircled by a metallic ring electrode, the metallic ring electrode having an interior surface; and a conductor having a first end passing through the wall region and connected to the interior surface of the metallic ring electrode, and a second end adapted for connection to an external circuit; wherein the wall region includes an internally stressed polymeric material, which has been expanded by heat to engage the interior surface to mechanically lock the metallic ring electrode to the elongated body, the polymeric material of the wall region being, after expansion by heat, substantially free of internal stress.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
107 words
A catheter, comprising: an elongated body including a wall region encircled by a metallic ring electrode, the metallic ring electrode having an interior surface; and a conductor having a first end passing through the wall region and connected to the interior surface of the metallic ring electrode, and a second end adapted for connection to an external circuit; wherein the wall region includes an internally stressed polymeric material, which has been expanded by heat to engage the interior surface to mechanically lock the metallic ring electrode to the elongated body, the polymeric material of the wall region being, after expansion by heat, substantially free of internal stress.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
111 words
A catheter, comprising: an elongated body including a wall region encircled by a metallic ring electrode, the metallic ring electrode having an interior surface; and a conductor having a first end passing through the wall region and connected to the interior surface of the metallic ring electrode, and a second end adapted for connection to an external circuit; wherein the wall region includes an internally stressed polymeric material, which has been expanded by heat and pressure to engage the interior surface to mechanically lock the metallic ring electrode to the elongated body, the polymeric material of the wall region being, after expansion by heat and pressure, substantially free of internal stress.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
111 words
A catheter, comprising: an elongated body including a wall region encircled by a metallic ring electrode, the metallic ring electrode having an interior surface; and a conductor having a first end passing through the wall region and connected to the interior surface of the metallic ring electrode, and a second end adapted for connection to an external circuit; wherein the wall region includes an internally stressed polymeric material, which has been expanded by heat and pressure to engage the interior surface to mechanically lock the metallic ring electrode to the elongated body, the polymeric material of the wall region being, after expansion by heat and pressure, substantially free of internal stress.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A catheter according to claim 1 or 3 or 4 or 5, wherein the conductor is a wire.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A catheter according to claim 3 or 4 or 5 wherein the wall region is encircled by several metallic ring electrodes, each one mechanically locked to the elongated body by expansion of the polymeric material, which, after expansion, is substantially free of internal stress.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-01-04 | 2002-07-06 | 2003-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-01-04 | 2006-07-06 | 2007-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-01-04 | 2010-07-06 | 2011-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |