Patents by Inventor Alan de la Rama
Alan de la Rama has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20140343546Abstract: A catheter includes a flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end. The catheter also includes an electrode assembly attached to the distal end of the flexible tubing and having a first magnet therein. The electrode assembly further includes an electrically conductive tip electrode and an electrically nonconductive coupler which is connected between the tip electrode and the distal end of the flexible tubing. The coupler and the tip electrode are coupled by an interlocking connection. The catheter also includes a second magnet spaced from the electrode assembly along a longitudinal axis of the tubing. The first magnet and the second magnet are responsive to an external magnetic field to selectively position and guide the electrode assembly within a body of a patient.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2014Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicant: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.Inventors: Alan de la Rama, Kirk Kochin Wu, Yongxing Zhang
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Publication number: 20140330269Abstract: A flexible tip electrode for an ablation catheter is disclosed. The catheter includes a catheter body and a hollow elongate tip electrode disposed at a distal end of the catheter body. The electrode includes a sidewall provided with one or more elongate gaps extending therethrough. The one or more elongate gaps providing flexibility in the sidewall for bending movement of the tip electrode relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter body.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2014Publication date: November 6, 2014Inventors: Carlo Pappone, Alan de la Rama, Peter C. Chen, Cary Hata, Jared A. Shimizu
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Publication number: 20140303619Abstract: A fluid delivery catheter configured to allow optimal fluid distribution through each electrode by varying the diameter of a catheter lumen is disclosed. Uniform or different fluid flow rates through longitudinally spaced apart elution holes may be achieved. Exemplary fluids for use with the catheter include a cooling fluid, a therapeutic fluid, and a medication.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2014Publication date: October 9, 2014Inventors: Carlo Pappone, Alan de la Rama, Peter Chen, Cary Hata
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Patent number: 8827910Abstract: A catheter includes a flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end. The catheter also includes an electrode assembly attached to the distal end of the flexible tubing and including a first magnet therein. The electrode assembly including an electrically conductive tip electrode and an electrically nonconductive coupler which is connected between the tip electrode and the distal end of the flexible tubing. The electrically conductive tip electrode comprises a hollow elongated tip electrode including a sidewall provided with one or more elongated gaps extending through the sidewall. The one or more elongated gaps providing flexibility in the sidewall for bending movement of the tip electrode relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter body. The first magnet is responsive to an external magnetic field to selectively position and guide the electrode assembly within a body of a patient.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2008Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Divsion, Inc.Inventors: Alan de la Rama, Carlo Pappone, Peter Cheng Chen, Cary Hata, Jared A. Shimizu
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Patent number: 8790341Abstract: A flexible tip electrode for an ablation catheter is disclosed. The catheter includes a catheter body and a hollow elongate tip electrode disposed at a distal end of the catheter body. The electrode includes a sidewall provided with one or more elongate gaps extending therethrough. The one or more elongate gaps providing flexibility in the sidewall for bending movement of the tip electrode relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter body.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2013Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.Inventors: Carlo Pappone, Alan de la Rama, Peter C Chen, Cary Hata, Jared A. Shimizu
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Publication number: 20140207136Abstract: An ablation catheter includes an electrode assembly having a plurality of longitudinally spaced sets of spines, which include a distal set of spines each having a distal end connected to a spine distal junction and a proximal end connected to a first joint, and a proximal set of spines each having a proximal end connected to the distal end of the catheter body and a distal end connected to the first joint or a second joint. The spines include electrodes. Zero or more additional sets of spines are connected between the distal set and proximal set, such that neighboring sets of spines are connected by a joint. Each joint is flexible to permit bending along the longitudinal axis. The electrode assembly is movable between a collapsed arrangement and an expanded arrangement with the intermediate segments of the spines in the expanded arrangement moving outwardly with respect to the collapsed arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2013Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: St. Jude Medical, Inc.Inventors: Alan DE LA RAMA, Cary HATA
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Publication number: 20140200639Abstract: Self-expanding lead including a lead body having a distal body end, a proximal body end, and a central axis extending therebetween. The lead body includes first and second outer arms and an inner arm disposed between the first and second outer arms. The first and second outer arms and the inner arm extend lengthwise between the proximal body end and the distal body end. The lead also includes an array of electrodes that are configured to apply a neurostimulation therapy within an epidural space of a patient. At least some of the electrodes are positioned along the first and second outer arms. Each of the first and second outer arms includes a resilient member that is biased to flex the corresponding first and second outer arms from a collapsed condition to an expanded condition in a lateral direction away from the inner arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2013Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.Inventor: Alan De La Rama
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Patent number: 8764742Abstract: A fluid delivery catheter configured to allow optimal fluid distribution through each electrode by varying the diameter of a catheter lumen is disclosed. Uniform or different fluid flow rates through longitudinally spaced apart elution holes may be achieved. Exemplary fluids for use with the catheter include a cooling fluid, a therapeutic fluid, and a medication.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2007Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.Inventors: Carlo Pappone, Alan De La Rama, Peter Chen, Cary Hata
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Publication number: 20140148674Abstract: In various embodiments, a catheter comprising an expandable electrode assembly or basket is provided. In specific embodiments, the basket is particularly useful for mapping electrical activity at one or more locations within the heart. The basket can comprise a plurality of bendable or deflectable arms. At least one of the arms may have varied flexibility over its length in the form of one or more discontinuities of stiffness or flexibility at an elbow region or other variances in flexibility over the arm's length. Such variance in flexibility may allow the arm to assume a different bent configuration or respond to external factors more positively than possible with an arm having a static or near static flexibility or stiffness over its length.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2013Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.Inventors: Sacha C. Hall, Dale E. Just, Alan de la Rama, Cary Hata
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Publication number: 20140142408Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a catheter that comprises an elongated catheter body (16) and an electrode assembly (10) at the distal end of the catheter body. The electrode assembly comprises a plurality of vines (11), each of the spines having a proximal end connected to the distal end of the catheter and a distal end, the distal ends of the spines being connected at a spine tip junction (13). Each spine includes an elbow (20) having at least one discontinuity in stiffness at an intermediate position between the distal end and the proximal end thereof. The spines include is plurality of electrodes (12). The electrode assembly is collapsible to a collapsed arrangement to fit within a lumen of the elongated catheter body and expandable to an expanded arrangement with the elbows of the spines bending outwardly relative to the proximal and distal ends of the spines.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2013Publication date: May 22, 2014Applicant: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.Inventors: Alan de la Rama, Cary Hata
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Patent number: 8715279Abstract: A catheter includes a flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end. The catheter also includes an electrode assembly attached to the distal end of the flexible tubing and having a first magnet therein. The electrode assembly further includes an electrically conductive tip electrode and an electrically nonconductive coupler which is connected between the tip electrode and the distal end of the flexible tubing. The coupler and the tip electrode are coupled by an interlocking connection. The catheter also includes a second magnet spaced from the electrode assembly along a longitudinal axis of the tubing. The first magnet and the second magnet are responsive to an external magnetic field to selectively position and guide the electrode assembly within a body of a patient.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2012Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.Inventors: Alan de la Rama, Kirk Kochin Wu, Yongxing Zhang
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Publication number: 20140107639Abstract: A method for denervation comprises introducing a distal portion of a catheter through an interior of a vessel of a patient to a location at or proximate one of a renal pelvis or a calyx. The catheter includes an elongated catheter body extending longitudinally between a proximal end and a distal end. The catheter body includes the distal portion at the distal end and a catheter lumen from the proximal end to the distal end. Energy is delivered from the distal portion to cause renal denervation, for example, by denervating at least some tissue proximate at least one of the renal pelvis or a renal vessel from a location at or proximate the renal pelvis or the calyx from a location at or proximate the calyx.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2012Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division, Inc.Inventors: Yongxing Zhang, Cary Hata, Alan De La Rama
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Patent number: 8639310Abstract: The disclosure relates to a variety of systems and methods for sensing electrical events about a selected annulus region of the heart and for treating tissue in the selected annulus region. Wherein the system includes a first catheter that has an expandable member, an ablation element, and a lumen configured to allow a second catheter therethrough. The second catheter includes a distal section in a ring shape and a plurality of electrodes coupled around the ring. Optionally a second lumen can be included through the first catheter that allows for contrast media to be delivered to the distal end of the system.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2013Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.Inventors: Peter C. Chen, Alan de la Rama, Cary K. Hata, Vivian Tran
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Publication number: 20140025068Abstract: A flexible tip electrode for an ablation catheter is disclosed. The catheter includes a catheter body and a hollow elongate tip electrode disposed at a distal end of the catheter body. The electrode includes a sidewall provided with one or more elongate gaps extending therethrough. The one or more elongate gaps providing flexibility in the sidewall for bending movement of the tip electrode relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter body.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2013Publication date: January 23, 2014Inventors: Carlo Pappone, Alan de la Rama, Peter Chen, Cary Hata, Jared A. Shimizu
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Patent number: 8620400Abstract: An electrophysiology catheter includes a tubular body having a proximal region, a neck region, and a distal region predisposed into a loop and including electrodes. A first deflection wire extends through at least a portion of the proximal region of the catheter body and includes a first flattened section, while a second deflection wire extends through the neck region and at least a portion of the distal region and includes a second flattened section within the neck region. A first activation wire is joined to the flattened section of the first deflection wire, while a second activation wire is joined to the flattened section of the second deflection wire. Thus, forces acting on the first and second activation wires, such as forces imposed by a handle-based actuator, are respectively transmitted to the first and second deflection wires, thereby deflecting the proximal and neck regions, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2013Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.Inventors: Alan de la Rama, Phuong-Oahn Phung, Pianka Roy
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Publication number: 20130310825Abstract: An irrigated catheter with uniform cooling and/or uniform fluid distribution in longitudinally spaced apart elution holes by varying the diameter of a fluid delivery lumen. A number of elution holes are provided in a tip region of a catheter body, and these elution holes are in fluid communication with the lumen through ducts. The fluid delivery lumen may be provided with a flow constrictor to restrict flow of fluid towards the distal region.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2013Publication date: November 21, 2013Inventors: Carlo Pappone, Alan de la Rama, Peter Chen, Cary Hata
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Patent number: 8588885Abstract: In various embodiments, a catheter comprising an expandable electrode assembly or basket is provided. In specific embodiments, the basket is particularly useful for mapping electrical activity at one or more locations within the heart. The basket can comprise a plurality of bendable or deflectable arms. At least one of the arms may have varied flexibility over its length in the form of one or more discontinuities of stiffness or flexibility at an elbow region or other variances in flexibility over the arm's length. Such variance in flexibility may allow the arm to assume a different bent configuration or respond to external factors more positively than possible with an arm having a static or near static flexibility or stiffness over its length.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2011Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.Inventors: Sacha C. Hall, Dale E. Just, Alan de la Rama, Cary Hata
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Patent number: 8588886Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a catheter that comprises an elongated catheter body (16) and an electrode assembly (10) at the distal end of the catheter body. The electrode assembly comprises a plurality of spines (11), each of the spines having a proximal end connected to the distal end of the catheter and a distal end, the distal ends of the spines being connected at a spine tip junction (13). Each spine includes an elbow (20) having at least one discontinuity in stiffness at an intermediate position between the distal end and the proximal end thereof. The spines include a plurality of electrodes (12). The electrode assembly is collapsible to a collapsed arrangement to fit within a lumen of the elongated catheter body and expandable to an expanded arrangement with the elbows of the spines bending outwardly relative to the proximal and distal ends of the spines.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2012Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.Inventors: Alan de la Rama, Cary K. Hata
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Publication number: 20130237791Abstract: The disclosure relates to a variety of systems and methods for sensing electrical events about a selected annulus region of the heart and for treating tissue in the selected annulus region. Wherein the system includes a first catheter that has an expandable member, an ablation element, and a lumen configured to allow a second catheter therethrough. The second catheter includes a distal section in a ring shape and a plurality of electrodes coupled around the ring. Optionally a second lumen can be included through the first catheter that allows for contrast media to be delivered to the distal end of the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2013Publication date: September 12, 2013Applicant: ST. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.Inventors: Peter C. Chen, Alan de la Rama, Cary K. Hata, Vivian Tran
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Patent number: 8521305Abstract: A lead includes an elongated body and an anchor segment disposed between the distal end of the body and electrodes on a distal portion of the body. The anchor segment has lobes which are separated by slits and movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position. A positioning mechanism is disposed inside the hollow interior of the body and at least partially within the anchor segment. The positioning mechanism has a distal positioning portion attached to the distal end of the body and a proximal positioning portion. A control member is connected with the proximal positioning portion to control the positioning mechanism to pull the distal end toward the proximal end so as to move the lobes from the collapsed position to the expanded position and to push the distal end away from the proximal end so as to move the lobes from the expanded to the collapsed position.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2011Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Inc.Inventors: Alan De La Rama, Peter C. Chen