JP2002191571A - Electrode catheter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrode catheter which is thin in the thickness as much as possible, whose tip part is easily bent in accordance with a part to be measured in the heart regardless of a usage frequency and with which intrapsychic physiological potential in the heart is stably and correctly measured. SOLUTION: A bending form body 5 is formed with a shape memory ultra- elastic wire and an elastically deformable bending part 6 is formed in its tip part. The bending form body 5 is put through a bending body 10 so as to be freely movable forwards and backwards and also the bending part 6 of the bending form body 5 is projected from a tip opening part 10a and engaged with a tip opening edge. The bending restricting body 10 is put through a flexible hollow tube body 1 so that an electrode part 2 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tip part. The bending restricting body 10 is moved forwards and backwards to restrict the bending of the bending part 6 by engagement between the tip opening edge of the body 10 and the bending part 6 of the bending form body 5, and thus the bending of the tip part in the tube body 1 is adjusted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a diagnostic electrode catheter or an intracardiac nerve pathway for extracting intracardiac potential and measuring the local potential for diagnosis of arrhythmia or the like. The present invention relates to an ultrafine electrode catheter such as an ablation electrode catheter used for treatment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an electrode catheter for diagnosis used for diagnosis of arrhythmia or an ablation electrode catheter used for treatment of arrhythmia is positioned accurately at a site where an electric potential is to be measured. It is necessary to match the shape of the part where the potential is to be measured in the heart, and the conventional electrode catheter forms a ring-shaped electrode part on the outer periphery of the tip, and this electrode part is used to measure the potential in the heart. In order to match the shape of the part to be measured, the tip was bent in advance according to the shape of the part to be measured in the heart, or a device for adjusting the bending of the tip at hand was provided. The configuration was adopted.

In the conventional electrode catheter having a bent distal end, the bending of the distal end of the catheter cannot be adjusted in the heart, so that the physiological potential may not be accurately measured. In addition, in the catheter having a device for adjusting the bending of the distal end portion at hand, the outer diameter is increased to 2.31 mm to 2.64 mm, and when the outer diameter of the catheter is increased, the catheter is removed after finishing the treatment procedure. Later, the hemostasis of the affected area became longer, the invasion to the human body was large, and the burden on the patient after use was large.

Further, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-76182, the distal end of a flexible hollow tube having an electrode formed on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end is bent. An elongated plate-shaped bend forming body having an elastically deformable bend formed at the tip is disposed, and the tip is engaged with the inner surface of the bend of the bend formed in the tube body. The inventor of the present invention has proposed an electrode catheter in which a bending member of a wire for controlling the bending of the distal end portion of the tube body by controlling the bending of the bending portion is allowed to freely advance and retreat.

[0005] In this electrode catheter, since the bend restrictor formed of a wire is engaged with the bend of the slender plate-shaped bend forming body, the engaging position between the bend of the bend formed body and the bend restrictor is engaged. Is not stable, and as the frequency of use increases, a change in the shape return angle of the bent portion of the bent forming body occurs, making it difficult to accurately diagnose physiological potential. There was a limit to reducing the diameter.

[0006]

In the above-mentioned conventional electrode catheter having a bent distal end portion, it is difficult to accurately align the distal end portion with the portion to be measured in the heart,
A catheter that has a large burden on a doctor and that can adjust the bending of the distal end portion at hand has problems such as an increase in outer diameter and infiltration into a human body.

In the electrode catheter described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-76182, the return bending angle changes as the frequency of use increases, making accurate diagnosis of physiological potential difficult and reducing the outer diameter of the catheter. Has a problem that a very fine catheter cannot be obtained.

The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problem. The thickness of the catheter can be reduced as much as possible, and the tip can be easily bent according to the part to be measured in the heart irrespective of the frequency of use. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrode catheter capable of stably and accurately measuring a physiological potential in the heart.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrode catheter formed of a superelastic wire capable of storing a shape and having a bent portion formed at an end thereof and capable of being elastically deformed. A tubular bend restrictor in which the formed body is inserted into the inside so as to be able to freely advance and retreat, and the bent part of the bent formed body is projected from the distal end opening, and this bent part is engaged with the distal end opening edge; And a flexible hollow tube body having an electrode portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion thereof, wherein the bending restrictor is advanced and retreated to form a distal opening edge of the bending restrictor and a bent portion of the bending forming member. The engagement restricts the bending of the bent portion and adjusts the bending of the distal end portion of the tube body.

[0010] When the bend restrictor inserted into the flexible hollow tube so as to be able to move forward and backward is advanced and retracted, the bend of the bend forming body engaged with the opening edge of the bend restrictor is restricted. When the bending restricting member is advanced, the distal end portion engages and slides on the bending portion of the bending forming body, the bending fulcrum of the bending portion is located on the distal end side of the bending portion, and the bending portion changes linearly. Further, when the bending restricting body is retracted, the distal end of the bending restricting body engages with the base end side of the bending portion of the bending forming body, and the bending fulcrum of the bending portion of the bending forming body retreats to cause the bending of the bending portion. growing.

When the bend of the bend portion of the bend body changes, the bend angle of the distal end of the tube body changes.

The tube body is inserted into a portion for measuring the potential in the heart while adjusting the bend of the distal end of the tube body by moving the bend restrictor forward and backward, and the bend restrictor is moved forward and backward to match the portion to be measured. By changing the bend of the bent portion of the bent body and adjusting the bend of the distal end of the tube, the electrode formed at the distal end of the tube comes into accurate contact with the site to be measured and attempts to measure. The potential of the site can be measured.

[0013] Therefore, there is no displacement between the opening edge of the bend restricting body and the bent portion of the bend forming body whose bend is restricted, and the engaging position is constant so that the bent portion of the bend formed body is fixed. The return angle is stable even when the frequency of use increases, and the physiological potential in the heart can be accurately measured.

In addition, since the bend forming body is a wire, the catheter can be made extremely thin, and the burden on the patient can be reduced.

The electrode catheter according to the second aspect of the present invention
In the electrode catheter according to the first aspect, the bending restricting body is one in which a distal end portion is gradually narrowed in an inclined manner toward a distal end opening portion.

Since the tip of the bend restrictor is gradually tapered toward the opening of the tip, the edge of the tip of the bend restrictor engages with the bend of the bend forming body whose bend is regulated. The engagement portion has a fixed engagement position without displacement, and the return angle of the bent portion of the bent body is stable even if the frequency of use increases, so that the intracardiac physiological potential can be accurately measured.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of the electrode catheter of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a flexible hollow tube having a distal end closed by thermal processing with a polymer material, and the outer peripheral surface of the distal end of the tube 1 is axially spaced apart. Thus, a plurality of electrode portions 2 are formed.

The tube 1 is formed of, for example, a polyolefin-based resin, a polyamide resin, a polyurethane resin, a fluorine resin, a mixed resin of a polyamide resin and a polyurethane resin, or a two-layer or multi-layer extruded tube of a plurality of these materials. I do. In addition, the resin of the tube body may contain an X-ray opaque substance, such as sulfuric acid value, if necessary.

The electrode wires 3 connected to the respective electrode portions 2 of the tube body 1 are inserted into an electrode wire protection tube 4 inserted into the tube body 1.

The bend forming body 5 is formed of a single metal wire having radiopaque and superelastic shape memory or a stranded wire obtained by twisting this metal wire. This tube body 1 is disposed inside the distal end and
Is formed on the distal end side of the bend forming body 5, a bendable part 6 which is bent in an elastically deformable folding direction to bend the distal end part of the tube body 1, and the tip bend part 6 of the bend forming body 5 is formed. Is in contact with the inner surface of the tube body 1.

The single metal wire having the X-ray impermeability and the superelastic shape memory of the bend forming body 5 is, for example, nickel-titanium alloy or nickel-titanium-cobalt alloy having a basic composition of nickel-titanium-cobalt alloy. -A bent portion 6 is formed by heat treatment using a titanium alloy or the like.

Further, the bend restricting body 10 is formed into a linear tubular shape that is radiopaque, is inserted into the tube body 1 so as to be able to advance and retreat, and the bend forming body 5 is inserted into the inside thereof. The bent portion 6 of the formed body 5 protrudes from the distal end opening 10a of the bending restricting body 10, and the inside of the bent portion 6 is engaged with the distal opening edge of the bending restricting body 10, and the bending restricting body 10 is bent. The fulcrum of the bent portion 6 is changed by engaging and sliding with the bent portion 6 of the formed body 5, and the bending of the distal end portion of the tube body 1 is adjusted.

The bending regulator 10 is made of, for example, nickel-titanium alloy, nickel-titanium-cobalt alloy, SU
Stainless steel such as S301 and SUS304 is used.

An operation gripping tube 11 is connected to the base end of the tube body 1. A sliding tube 12 is slidably fitted to the operation gripping tube 11, The base end of the bending restricting body 10 is connected to an axial long hole 13 formed in the gripping tube 11, and the bending restricting body 10
Are slid in the tube body 1.

Further, a contact portion 14 to which the electrode wire 3 is connected is provided at a base end of the operation gripping tube 11.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

When the bending restricting body 10 is advanced by operating the sliding tube 12, the leading edge of the bending restricting body 10 is bent.
The inside of the bent portion 6 is engaged and slid, and the bending fulcrum of the bent portion 6 is located at the distal end side of the bent portion 6, and the bent portion 6 is elastically deformed linearly to form a flexible hollow tube body. 1
Is also substantially linear.

When the distal end of the flexible hollow tube 1 is substantially linear, the tube 1 is inserted into the core of the human body from the distal end, and the potential of the heart is applied to the distal end of the tube 1. When the bending restricting body 10 is moved by moving the sliding tube 12 forward and backward in this state, the bending restricting body 10 restricts the bending of the bending portion 6 of the bending forming body 5. When the bending restricting body 10 is retracted, the opening edge of the bending restricting body 10 engages with the inner base end side of the bending portion 6 formed on the bending forming body 5, and the bending fulcrum of the bending portion 6 of the bending forming body 5 When the bending portion 6 is retreated and the bending of the bending portion 6 of the bending forming body 5 changes, the bending of the distal end of the tube body 1 also changes.

Then, by adjusting the degree of bending at the distal end of the tube 1, the electrode 2 formed at the distal end of the tube 1 is brought into accurate contact with a part in the heart to be measured and measured. The potential of the part to be measured is measured.

This operation is performed by the bending forming body 5 and the bending restricting body.
Since it is difficult to transmit X-rays, it is possible to perform X-ray imaging while performing X-ray imaging.

When removing the tube 1, the slide tube 12 is advanced and retracted while adjusting the bending of the distal end of the tube 1.

Then, the bend forming body 5 is attached to the bend restricting body 10.
, And bend the bent portion 6 to bend the end opening 10 of the regulating body 10.
a, and the leading end edge of the bend restricting body 10 is engaged with the bendable part 6, so that the engaging part between the bendable part 6 of the bend forming body 5 and the bendable restrictive body 10 has no displacement, and Is constant, the return angle of the bent portion 6 of the bent forming body 5 is stable even if the frequency of use increases, and the physiological potential in the heart can be accurately measured.

The bend forming body 5 is formed of a single metal wire having superelastic shape memory or a stranded wire of this metal wire, and the bend restricting body 10 is a linear tubular member that is radiopaque. Due to the simple configuration formed in the above, the outer diameter of the tube body 1 can be made thinner, and it can be easily inserted into and removed from the heart, and after the procedure of diagnosis and treatment is removed and the tube body 1 is removed, the hemostatic time of the affected part is reduced. In addition, invasion to the human body is reduced.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the outer diameter of the bending restrictor 10 is formed in a tubular shape having the same diameter from the opening at the distal end to the proximal end. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, in the electrode catheter shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the bending restricting body 10 is such that the distal end portion is gradually tapered toward the distal end opening portion 10a, and other configurations are the same. It is.

In this embodiment, since the tip of the bend restricting body 10 is gradually tapered toward the distal opening 10a, the gap between the opening edge of the bend restricting body 10 and the bend forming body 5 is reduced. The approaching portion, the leading end opening edge of the bend restricting body 10 and the engaging portion with the bendable portion 6 of the bendable member 5 where the bend is regulated have no positional deviation, the engagement position is surely fixed, and the bendable member 5 The return angle of the bent portion 6 is stable even when the frequency of use increases, and the intracardiac physiological potential can be accurately measured.

As shown in FIG. 5, a partition wall 15 is formed in the flexible hollow tube body 1 in the diametrical direction, and each of the bending restricting body 10 and the tube body 1 inserted into the bending forming body 5 is formed. The electrode wire protection tube 4 through which the electrode wire 3 connected to the electrode portion 2 is inserted is partitioned and disposed in the tube body 1 to prevent the electrode wire 3 from contacting the bend forming body 5 and the bend regulating body 10. You can also.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, an electrode wire 3 is linearly or spirally arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the flexible hollow tube body 1, or an electrode wire 3 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the flexible hollow tube body 1. The wire 3 is printed in a straight or spiral shape, and the tip of the electrode wire 3 is connected to the electrode portion 2 of the tube body 1. The electrode wire 3 is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the tube body 1 by a silicone resin or a fluororesin. It can also be covered with a coating 16 coated or coated with a heat-shrinkable resin.

[0040]

According to the present invention, the outer diameter of the tube can be made simpler and smaller by inserting the bend forming body of the wire rod into the bend restrictor so as to be able to advance and retreat. Just bend and move the regulating body back and forth,
The distal end of the pipe body can be easily bent, and the engaging portion between the distal opening edge of the bending restricting body and the bending portion of the bending forming body where the bending is restricted has no displacement, and the engaging position is constant, The return angle of the bent portion of the bent body is stable even when the frequency of use is increased, and the physiological potential in the heart can be accurately measured. An economical electrode catheter with less infiltration, reduced burden on patients and physicians, and a simplified mechanism can be obtained.

Further, the engaging portion between the opening edge of the bend restricting body and the bend portion of the bend restricting member whose bend is restricted does not have any positional deviation, and the engaging position is reliably fixed, and the bend portion of this bend restricting member is formed. The return angle is stable even if the frequency of use increases,
The physiological potential in the heart can be accurately measured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a part of an electrode catheter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the same electrode catheter.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the electrode catheter.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a bending restricting body of an electrode catheter according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional side view of an electrode catheter showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a part of an electrode catheter showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tube body 2 Electrode part 5 Bend formation body 6 Bend part 10 Bend restricting body 10a Tip opening

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (reference) A61N 1/05 F term (reference) 4C053 CC03 4C060 KK10 KK12 KK20 KK47 4C167 AA05 AA32 BB02 BB07 BB10 BB11 BB12 BB14 BB26 BB40 BB42 BB52 BB62 CC08 CC19 DD10 EE03 GG04 GG05 GG06 GG07 GG23 GG24 GG32 HH17 HH30

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A bend forming body formed of a super-elastic wire capable of storing a shape and having an elastically deformable bent portion formed at a distal end portion thereof, and the bent formed body is inserted inward and backward so as to be able to advance and retreat, and the bend is formed. A tubular bend restrictor is formed by projecting a bent portion of the body from the distal opening and engaging the bent portion with the edge of the distal opening, and an electrode portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end by inserting the bent restrictor inside. A flexible hollow tube body, wherein the bending body is advanced and retreated, and the bending of the bending section is controlled by engagement of a front opening edge of the bending body with a bending section of the bending body. An electrode catheter, which adjusts the bending of the distal end of the electrode catheter. 2. The electrode catheter according to claim 1, wherein the bend restricting body has a distal end portion gradually tapered toward the distal end opening.