US6245020B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Catheter assembly with distal end inductive coupler and embedded transmission line
Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
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Filing: 1999-01-26
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Granted: 2001-06-12
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Expires: 2019-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A catheter assembly includes an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end with a drive cable disposed therein, the drive cable having a proximal end and a distal end, and rotatable relative to the catheter body. A first electro-magnetic element is disposed proximate the distal end of the catheter, and a second electro-magnetic element disposed proximate the distal end of the drive cable and in electrical communication with an operative element mounted at the end of the drive cable, the first and second electro-magnetic elements forming an inductive coupler. The catheter assembly can include various other distal operative elements, which are in communication with corresponding proximal operative elements via transmission lines embedded within the wall of the catheter body.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas C. Moore
- 👤 Eric Williams
- 👤 David A. White
- 👤 Donald S. Mamayek
- 👤 Donald Masters
- 👤 Martin Belef
- 👤 Veijo Soursa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:49
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/44; A61B8/4444; A61B8/4461; A61B8/12; A61B8/445; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B8/06; A61B8/4483; A61B8/4488
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A catheter assembly, comprising: an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a non-rotatable distal imaging element disposed on the distal portion of the elongate catheter body; a first conductor embedded substantially within the entire length of the catheter body, the first conductor having a distal end electrically coupled to the non-rotatable transducer element and a proximal end configured for electrically coupling to a first proximal operative element; a drive cable disposed in the catheter body, the drive cable having a proximal end and a distal end, and rotatable relative to the catheter body; a rotatable imaging element mounted to the distal end of the drive cable within the catheter body; and a second conductor disposed within the drive cable, the second conductor having a distal end electrically coupled to the rotatable imaging element and a proximal end configured for electrically coupling to a second proximal operative element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A catheter assembly, comprising: an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a non-rotatable distal imaging element disposed on the distal portion of the elongate catheter body; a first conductor embedded substantially within the entire length of the catheter body, the first conductor having a distal end electrically coupled to the non-rotatable transducer element and a proximal end configured for electrically coupling to a first proximal operative element; a drive cable disposed in the catheter body, the drive cable having a proximal end and a distal end, and rotatable relative to the catheter body; a rotatable imaging element mounted to the distal end of the drive cable within the catheter body; and a second conductor disposed within the drive cable, the second conductor having a distal end electrically coupled to the rotatable imaging element and a proximal end configured for electrically coupling to a second proximal operative element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the distal non-rotatable imaging element comprises a forward-looking ultrasonic transducer element mounted to the distal end of the catheter body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable distal imaging element comprises a rotatable ultrasonic transducer element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
156 words
A catheter assembly, comprising: an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a plurality of non-rotatable distal imaging elements disposed on the elongate catheter body; a plurality of first conductors substantially embedded within the entire length of the catheter body, the plurality of first conductors having distal ends respectively electrically coupled to the plurality of non-rotatable distal imaging elements and proximal ends configured for respectively electrically coupling to at least one proximal operative element; a drive cable disposed in the catheter body, the drive cable having a proximal end and a distal end, and rotatable relative to the catheter body; a rotatable imaging element mounted to the distal end of the drive cable within the catheter body; and a second conductor disposed within the drive cable, the second conductor having a distal end electrically coupled to rotatable imaging element and a proximal end configured for electrically coupling to a proximal operative element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
156 words
A catheter assembly, comprising: an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a plurality of non-rotatable distal imaging elements disposed on the elongate catheter body; a plurality of first conductors substantially embedded within the entire length of the catheter body, the plurality of first conductors having distal ends respectively electrically coupled to the plurality of non-rotatable distal imaging elements and proximal ends configured for respectively electrically coupling to at least one proximal operative element; a drive cable disposed in the catheter body, the drive cable having a proximal end and a distal end, and rotatable relative to the catheter body; a rotatable imaging element mounted to the distal end of the drive cable within the catheter body; and a second conductor disposed within the drive cable, the second conductor having a distal end electrically coupled to rotatable imaging element and a proximal end configured for electrically coupling to a proximal operative element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The catheter assembly of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of non-rotatable distal imaging elements comprise ablation elements mounted to the distal end of the catheter body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter assembly of claim 4 , wherein the rotatable distal imaging element comprises a rotatable ultrasonic transducer element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
147 words
A catheter assembly, comprising: an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a distal imaging element disposed on the elongate catheter body; a first conductor embedded substantially within the entire length of the catheter body, the first conductor having a distal end electrically coupled to the distal imagine element and a proximal end configured for electrically coupling to a first proximal operative element; a drive cable disposed in the catheter body, the drive cable having a proximal end and a distal end, and rotatable relative to the catheter body; a rotatable distal imaging element mounted to the distal end of the drive cable within the catheter body; and a second conductor disposed within the drive cable, the second conductor having a distal end electrically coupled to rotatable imaging element and a proximal end configured for electrically coupling to a second proximal operative element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
147 words
A catheter assembly, comprising: an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a distal imaging element disposed on the elongate catheter body; a first conductor embedded substantially within the entire length of the catheter body, the first conductor having a distal end electrically coupled to the distal imagine element and a proximal end configured for electrically coupling to a first proximal operative element; a drive cable disposed in the catheter body, the drive cable having a proximal end and a distal end, and rotatable relative to the catheter body; a rotatable distal imaging element mounted to the distal end of the drive cable within the catheter body; and a second conductor disposed within the drive cable, the second conductor having a distal end electrically coupled to rotatable imaging element and a proximal end configured for electrically coupling to a second proximal operative element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter assembly of claim 7 , wherein the distal imaging element is non-rotatable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter assembly of claim 7 , wherein the conductor is a transmission line.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The catheter assembly of claim 7 , wherein the distal imaging element comprises a forward-looking ultrasonic transducer element mounted to the distal end of the catheter body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The catheter assembly of claim 7 , wherein the distal operative element comprises a forward-looking ultrasonic transducer element mounted to the distal end of the catheter body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter assembly of claim 7 , wherein the rotatable distal imaging element comprises a rotatable ultrasonic transducer element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
159 words
A catheter assembly, comprising: an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a plurality of non-rotatable distal imaging elements disposed on the elongate catheter body; a plurality of first conductors embedded substantially within the entire length of the catheter body, the plurality of first conductors having distal ends respectively electrically coupled to the plurality of non-rotatable distal imaging elements and proximal ends configured for respectively electrically coupling to at least one proximal operative element; a drive cable disposed in the catheter body, the drive cable having a proximal end and a distal end, and rotatable relative to the catheter body; a rotatable distal imaging element mounted to the distal end of the drive cable within the catheter body; and a second conductor disposed within the drive cable, the second conductor having a distal end electrically coupled to a rotatable imagine element and a proximal end configured for electrically coupling to a second proximal operative element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
159 words
A catheter assembly, comprising: an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a plurality of non-rotatable distal imaging elements disposed on the elongate catheter body; a plurality of first conductors embedded substantially within the entire length of the catheter body, the plurality of first conductors having distal ends respectively electrically coupled to the plurality of non-rotatable distal imaging elements and proximal ends configured for respectively electrically coupling to at least one proximal operative element; a drive cable disposed in the catheter body, the drive cable having a proximal end and a distal end, and rotatable relative to the catheter body; a rotatable distal imaging element mounted to the distal end of the drive cable within the catheter body; and a second conductor disposed within the drive cable, the second conductor having a distal end electrically coupled to a rotatable imagine element and a proximal end configured for electrically coupling to a second proximal operative element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The catheter assembly of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of non-rotatable distal imaging elements comprise ablation elements mounted to the distal end of the catheter body.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The catheter assembly of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of non-rotatable distal imaging elements respectively comprises a plurality of transducer elements circumferentially spaced around the elongate catheter body to form a phased array.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter assembly of claim 13 , wherein the rotatable distal operative element comprises a rotatable ultrasonic transducer element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
197 words
A catheter assembly, comprising: an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a distal imaging element disposed on the elongate catheter body; a first pair of conductors embedded within the catheter body to form a transmission line having a characteristic impedance, the first pair of conductors having a distal end electrically coupled to the distal imaging element and a proximal end configured for electrically coupling to a first proximal operative element; wherein a value of the characteristic impedance of the transmission line is selected by selecting a separation between the pair of conductors, a diameter of each of the pair of conductors, and an effective relative dielectric constant of the catheter body; a drive cable disposed in the catheter body, the drive cable having a proximal end and a distal end, and rotatable relative to the catheter body; a rotatable distal imaging element mounted to the distal end of the drive cable within the catheter body; and a second conductor disposed within the drive cable, the second conductor having a distal end electrically coupled to a rotatable imaging element and a proximal end configured for electrically coupling to a second proximal operative element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
197 words
A catheter assembly, comprising: an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a distal imaging element disposed on the elongate catheter body; a first pair of conductors embedded within the catheter body to form a transmission line having a characteristic impedance, the first pair of conductors having a distal end electrically coupled to the distal imaging element and a proximal end configured for electrically coupling to a first proximal operative element; wherein a value of the characteristic impedance of the transmission line is selected by selecting a separation between the pair of conductors, a diameter of each of the pair of conductors, and an effective relative dielectric constant of the catheter body; a drive cable disposed in the catheter body, the drive cable having a proximal end and a distal end, and rotatable relative to the catheter body; a rotatable distal imaging element mounted to the distal end of the drive cable within the catheter body; and a second conductor disposed within the drive cable, the second conductor having a distal end electrically coupled to a rotatable imaging element and a proximal end configured for electrically coupling to a second proximal operative element.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter assembly of claim 17 , wherein the first conductor is embedded substantially within the entire length of the catheter body.
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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) | 2004-06-11 | 2004-12-11 | 2005-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-06-11 | 2008-12-11 | 2009-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-06-11 | 2012-12-11 | 2013-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |