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.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61 / 642,582, filed May 4, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to devices such as catheters for the diagnosis and / or treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. In particular the catheter has a two-piece connector for a split handle assembly to provide a means for more easily reusing and reprocessing various portions of the catheter assembly. The catheter handle assembly may also be used for other catheters such as renal ablation catheters.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0003]Cardiac arrhythmias, such as atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation in particular, persist as common and dangerous medical ailments, especially in the aging population. In patients with normal sinus rhythm, the heart, which is comprised of atrial, ventricular, and excitatory conduction tissue, is elect...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is about a catheter with a split-handle and a two-piece connector that enables the reuse of a portion of the catheter assembly. Electronic circuitry that was usually placed in the operator-controlled handle has been moved to the two-piece connector, making it easier to dispose of. The design of the two-piece connector allows for the placement of electrical components in different parts of the connector and enables the reuse of various components, EMI shielding, and other purposes. The connector design also includes keyed design and latching mechanisms to securely connect the two pieces together and make sure they are properly connected. Overall, this design provides flexibility, reprocess capability, and security for catheters.

Problems solved by technology

Cardiac arrhythmias, such as atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation in particular, persist as common and dangerous medical ailments, especially in the aging population.

This is a potentially life-threatening arrhythmia because it may lead to ventricular fibrillation and sudden death.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is often a chronic condition that leads to a small increase in the risk of death often due to strokes.

Risk increases with age.

Atrial fibrillation is often asymptomatic and is not in itself generally life-threatening, but it may result in palpatations, weakness, fainting, chest pain and congestive heart failure.

Stroke risk increases during AF because blood may pool and form clots in the poorly contracting atria and the left atrial appendage.

The use of such anticoagulants comes with its own risk of internal bleeding.

In some patients, medication is not sufficient and their AF is deemed to be drug-refractory, i.e., untreatable with standard pharmacological interventions.

Such ablation is not successful in all patients, however.

Surgical ablation is one option but also has additional risks traditionally associated with surgery.

The tissue is heated sufficiently to cause cellular destruction in the cardiac tissue resulting in formation of a lesion within the cardiac tissue which is electrically non-conductive.

Primarily, these types of catheters are sold as single use only devices due to concerns with the ability to properly clean and sterilize the devices for reuse in addition to concerns that certain electronic circuitry in the devices may be damaged during reprocessing and make such devices less reliable in subsequent reuses.

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