Patents Assigned to Ep Technologies
  • Patent number: 6078830
    Abstract: The present invention includes a catheter having a molded distal end assembly that includes at least one component molded therewithin. In a preferred embodiment, the catheter end assembly includes a plurality of electrodes and lead wires that are all molded into the walls of the assembly. Each such electrode has at least one thermocouple associated with it, and the thermocouple is also molded into the walls of the assembly. In manufacturing the multi-electrode end assembly, lead wires from the coils and thermocouples are preferably spiral wound within the molded walls of the assembly to reduce the possibility that lead wires may become disconnected during manufacturing and use of the catheter. Particular core pin designs with mold blocking techniques are utilized to mold the coils and lead wires into the wall of the end assembly. The molding method is generally applicable to the manufacturing of a variety of catheter distal end components and assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Levin, Russell B. Thompson, Sidney D. Fleischman
  • Patent number: 6074351
    Abstract: An electrode tip assembly attachable to the end of a catheter for supporting a tip electrode for percutaneous insertion into a living body having a steering mechanism includes an elongated body bendable in response to external forces to steer the tip electrode. The body is connected at its distal end to the tip electrode. At least one steering wire is attached to the elongated body for transmitting bending force to the body from a remote control mechanism. An movable stiffening member, preferably in the form of a sleeve or rod provides a variable fulcrum for bending of the body in response to an applied bending force. A control stylet or sleeve extends through the catheter and is attached to the stiffening member for moving the stiffening member in a distal/proximal direction or for rotating it relative to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell A. Houser, Tom Bourne
  • Patent number: 6076012
    Abstract: A catheter assembly comprising a elongated, flexible support structure having an axis. The assembly also includes an elongated porous electrode assembly carried by the support structure along the axis for contact with tissue. The elongated porous electrode assembly comprises a wall having an exterior peripherally surrounding an interior area, a lumen to convey a medium containing ions into the interior area, and an element coupling the medium within the interior area to a source of electrical energy. At least a portion of the wall comprising a porous material is sized to allow passage of ions contained in the medium to thereby enable ionic transport of electrical energy through the porous material to the exterior of the wall to form a continuous elongated lesion pattern in tissue contacted by the wall. The support structure can have a curvilinear geometry, e.g., a loop shape, and the elongated porous electrode assembly conforms to the curvilinear geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David K Swanson, Russell B Thompson, Sidney D Fleischman, Dorin Panescu, James G Whayne
  • Patent number: 6071279
    Abstract: A catheter assembly comprises a first branch body having a first axis, a second branch body extending in a non-parallel relationship with respect to the first axis, and at least one electrode carried by the second branch body. In use, the first branch body can be located within a pulmonary vein within the left atrium, while the electrode carried by the second branch body is located in contact with endocardial tissue outside the pulmonary vein. Ablation energy can be transmitted from the electrode to contacted endocardial tissue while the first branch body is located within the pulmonary vein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James G Whayne, Sidney D Fleischman, Russell B Thompson, David K Swanson, Yi Yang
  • Patent number: 6071278
    Abstract: Systems and methods for heating or ablating tissue use a porous electrode. The porous electrode comprises a wall having an interior area that contains an electrically conductive element. At least a portion of the wall comprises a porous material sized to block passage of blood cells while passing ions. The systems and methods position the porous electrode in contact with tissue. The systems and methods couple the electrically conductive element to a source of electrical energy. The systems and methods convey a fluid medium containing ions into the interior area to enable ionic transfer of electrical energy from the electrical conducting element through the fluid medium and porous material to ablate tissue. The systems and methods also specify differing electrical resistivities for the porous material based, at least in part, upon achieving differing desired tissue heating or ablation effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dorin Panescu, David K. Swanson, James G. Whayne, Patrick M. Owens, Russell B. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6071282
    Abstract: An electrode support structure comprises a guide body having at its distal end a flexible spline leg. The spline leg is flexed to define an arcuate shape to facilitate intimate contact against tissue. An electrode element is carried by the spline leg for movement along its axis. The structure includes a control element coupled to the electrode element. The control element remotely imparts force to move the electrode element along the axis of the spline leg. Therefore, in use, the physician can cause the electrode element to travel along a path that the spline leg defines, without otherwise changing the location of the guide body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Sidney D. Fleischman
  • Patent number: 6071274
    Abstract: A catheter assembly comprises a sheath, which includes a side wall enclosing an interior bore, a distal region, and an opening in the sidewall. The assembly also comprises a bendable catheter tube, which is carried for sliding movement in the interior bore. The catheter tube has a distal portion. The assembly further comprises a coupling, which joins the distal region of the sheath and the distal portion of the catheter tube. The coupling causes bending of the catheter tube outwardly through the opening, in response to sliding movement of the catheter tube within the interior bore toward the distal region of the sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell B. Thompson, David L. McGee, James G. Whayne, Yi Yang, Sidney D. Fleischman
  • Patent number: 6071281
    Abstract: A surgical method and apparatus for positioning a diagnostic or therapeutic element within the body. The apparatus may be catheter-based or a probe including a relatively short shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Burnside, Russell B. Thompson, Sidney D. Fleischman
  • Patent number: 6070094
    Abstract: Systems and related methods guide a movable electrode within an array of multiple electrodes located within the body. The systems and methods employ the movable electrode or at least one of the multiple electrodes on the array to generate and then sense electrical or sonic energy in a predetermined fashion to generates an output that locates the movable electrode within the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Swanson, Dorin Panescu, James G. Whayne
  • Patent number: 6063318
    Abstract: A method of bonding sections of a catheter body together in abutting relationship including the steps of providing a temperature resistance polymeric sleeve, which sleeve preferably has a spirally wound metallic wire imbedded between its inner and outer diameters. The sleeve is inserted into ends of tubing segments to be joined together to form a catheter body. Then heat is applied over the area including the sleeve to melt the tubing over the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell A. Houser, Jerome Jackson, Russell B. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6062305
    Abstract: A plate heat exchanger including heat exchanger plates arranged adjacent to each other and in a compressed pack, the heat exchanger plates each having openings aligned with each other and channels configured to receive a heat emitting medium and a heat absorbing medium alternately via the openings. The plate heat exchanger further includes gaskets arranged on a periphery of the openings and between two adjacent heat exchanger plates in gasket regions. The heat exchanger plates have corrugations extending from the openings in a substantially radial direction and uninterrupted through the gasket regions. Corrugations hills and corrugations troughs of adjacent heat exchanger plates cross at crossing points such that adjacent heat exchanger plates support each other at the crossing points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: EP Technology AB
    Inventor: Lars Persson
  • Patent number: 6056745
    Abstract: Systems and methods for ablating body tissue use an electrode for contacting tissue to form a tissue-electrode interface. The electrode is coupled to a source of ablation energy for transmitting ablation energy at a prescribed ablation power level into tissue to form, over a prescribed ablation time period, a therapeutic result. The therapeutic result includes a lesion that extends beneath the tissue-electrode interface to a boundary depth between viable and nonviable tissue and a maximum tissue temperature developed within the lesion between the tissue-electrode interface and the boundary depth. The systems and methods include an element to cool the electrode. An input element inputs a desired therapeutic result including at least a targeted lesion boundary depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dorin Panescu, David K. Swanson, Sidney D. Fleischman
  • Patent number: 6052607
    Abstract: An electrode assembly for use in interventricular cardiac mapping includes one or more elongated splines each of which carries a plurality of spaced apart electrodes thereon. The body of each spline is formed of a plurality of alternating electrically conductive layers and the electrically non-conductive layers. A separate electrically conductive pathway is provided to connect each of the electrodes to a different one of the conductive layers. Each of the layers is electrically connected to an electrical signal processing device so that signals provided by each of the electrodes can be processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart D. Edwards, Thomas F. Kordis, David K. Swanson
  • Patent number: 6049732
    Abstract: A system is used in association with a structure which, in use, is deployed in an interior body region. The structure includes an operative element. A switch matrix is coupled to the operative element. The switch matrix includes a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs. A controller is coupled to the switch matrix to control the switch matrix to couple the operative element to selected ones of the inputs and selected ones of the outputs in accordance with applied commands. An interface is coupled to the controller. The interface includes an input element to receive operator input and a processor to generate applied commands to the controller in response to operator input. The interface also includes an image controller to generate an image of the structure while coupled to the switch matrix. The image controller generates markers on the image in response to signals transmitted from the operative element through the switch matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dorin Panescu, David McGee, Daniel A. Dupree, David F. Dueiri, David K. Swanson, James G. Whayne, Robert R. Burnside, Tuan Nguyen, William Reining, David W. Arnett
  • Patent number: 6048329
    Abstract: A catheter assembly having a sheath, which includes a side wall enclosing an interior bore, and a distal region. The assembly also has a bendable catheter tube, which is carried for sliding movement in the interior bore. A pull wire also runs through the interior bore of the sheath, preferably within a lumen. The catheter tube has a distal portion with a coupling which joins the distal portion of the catheter tube and the distal portion of the pull wire. Relative movement of the pull wire and the sheath causes bending of the catheter tube outwardly through the opening, in response to sliding movement of the catheter tube within the interior bore toward the distal region of the sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell B. Thompson, Sidney D. Fleischman, Josef V. Koblish, James G. Whayne, Steven E. Levin
  • Patent number: 6047218
    Abstract: An imaging element characterizes tissue morphology by analyzing perfusion patterns of a contrast media in tissue visualized by the imaging element, to identify infarcted tissue. In a preferred implementation, a catheter tube introduced into a heart region carries the imaging element, as well as a support structure spaced from the imaging element, which contacts endocardial tissue. The imaging element is moved as the imaging element visualizes tissue. A selected electrical event is sensed in surrounding myocardial tissue, which regulates movement of the imaging element. The support element stabilizes the moving imaging element as it visualizes tissue, providing resistance to dislodgment or disorientation despite the presence of dynamic forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James G. Whayne, David K. Swanson, Dorin Panescu, David McGee, Harm TenHoff
  • Patent number: 6033378
    Abstract: A steering mechanism including a steering shaft coupled to a controller which includes a handle and apparatus for manipulating the distal end of the steering shaft. The steering shaft includes a flexible coiled spring having a lead spring fixed in position with respect to a distal end thereof in the distal end of the steering shaft. One or more steering wires is affixed at the distal ends thereof to the lead spring. The steering wires extend through the steering shaft to the controller, and the steering apparatus of the controller is used to place tension on one or both of the steering wires. The attachment of the distal ends of the steering wires to the lead spring may be opposite one another or may be offset for providing greater maneuverability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ingemar Lundquist, Russell Blake Thompson
  • Patent number: 6030382
    Abstract: Devices and methods for ablating body tissue. The devices include a support body and at least one elongated electrode. Adjacent windings are spaced apart to impart enhanced flexibility to the elongated electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sidney D. Fleischman, Russell B. Thompson, Dorin Panescu, David K. Swanson
  • Patent number: 6030379
    Abstract: Systems and methods for ablating body tissue use an ablation element for contacting tissue to form a tissue interface. The ablation element is adapted to be connected to a source of ablation energy to conduct ablation energy for transmission by the ablation element into tissue at the tissue interface. The systems and methods include a tissue temperature sensing element held in a carrier in thermal conductive contact with tissue beneath the tissue interface. A mechanism attached to the carrier selectively advances the carrier relative to the ablation element to different depths beneath the tissue interface. A controller is coupled to the mechanism and to the tissue temperature sensing element to control advancement of the carrier beneath the tissue interface based, at least in part, upon tissue temperatures sensed by the sensing element beneath the tissue interface. Preferably, the controller controls the mechanism to locate the sensing element at the depth where the hottest sensed tissue temperature exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dorin Panescu, Thomas M. Bourne
  • Patent number: 6027451
    Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus including a catheter carrying a first ultrasonic transducer adapted to be inserted into a patient, a second ultrasonic transducer adapted to be placed in spaced relation to the catheter at either a known location within the patient's body or a known location associated with the exterior surface of the patient's body, a processing device operably connected to at least the first ultrasonic transducer, and a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. McGee, David K. Swanson