JP2012135338A - Electrode catheter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrode catheter in which abnormal temperature elevations (high temperature parts) are not generated in portions of an electrode tip during cauterization, which is excellent in cooling of the electrode tip surface and inhibition of thrombus formation on the electrode tip surface, and can carry out cauterization efficiently.SOLUTION: The electrode catheter includes a catheter shaft 10 having a lumen 11 that serves as a liquid channel, an insulated irrigation member 20 connected to the distal side of the catheter shaft 10, and the electrode tip 30 connected to the distal side of the insulated irrigation member 20. In the distal part of the irrigation member 20, a plurality of irrigation openings 25A are disposed at equiangular intervals along the outer circumference of the irrigation member 20, the irrigation openings irrigating liquid supplied from the catheter shaft 10 to the surface of the electrode tip 30.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrode catheter, and more particularly to an electrode catheter having an electrode attached to the tip of the catheter and a mechanism for irrigating a liquid such as physiological saline to the electrode.

  In the ablation catheter, which is an electrode catheter, irrigation is used to cool the tip electrode that has become hot during cauterization and to stir and dilute blood around the tip electrode to prevent thrombus formation on the tip electrode surface. What has a mechanism is used.

  As a conventional catheter equipped with an irrigation mechanism, a catheter that injects physiological saline supplied into the tip electrode through a catheter shaft from a plurality of openings formed on the surface of the tip electrode has been introduced. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent No. 2562681 JP 2006-239414 A

  However, conventionally known catheters in which an irrigation opening is formed on the surface of the tip electrode have the following problems (1) to (3).

(1) When an opening is provided on the surface of the tip electrode, an edge is inevitably formed at the opening edge or the like. When cauterization is performed with the tip electrode having such an edge, the current density in the edge portion becomes extremely high, and an abnormal temperature rise occurs in this portion, so that a thrombus may be rapidly formed. .
(2) Even if physiological saline is injected from the opening formed on the surface of the tip electrode, sufficient irrigation cannot be performed on the surface of the tip electrode (the surface is covered with a liquid). The surface cannot be sufficiently cooled, and the formation of thrombus on the surface cannot be sufficiently prevented or suppressed. In particular, in the catheters described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 that inject physiological saline in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the tip electrode, the saline can be sufficiently brought into contact with the surface of the tip electrode. Therefore, the effect of cooling the electrode surface and the effect of suppressing thrombus formation are extremely low.
(3) By forming a plurality of openings on the electrode surface, it is impossible to ensure a sufficient surface area of the tip electrode, and efficient cauterization treatment cannot be performed.

The present invention has been made based on the above situation.
The purpose of the present invention is to produce an abnormal temperature rise (high temperature part) in a part of the tip electrode during cauterization, and is excellent in the cooling effect of the tip electrode surface and the thrombus formation suppression effect on the tip electrode surface, It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrode catheter equipped with an irrigation mechanism capable of performing efficient cauterization treatment.

(1) An electrode catheter of the present invention includes a catheter shaft having at least one lumen serving as a liquid flow path;
An insulating irrigation member connected to the distal end of the catheter shaft;
A tip electrode connected to the tip side of the insulating irrigation member,
In the insulating irrigation member, a plurality of irrigation openings for irrigating the surface of the tip electrode with liquid supplied from the catheter shaft are arranged at equiangular intervals along the outer periphery of the insulating irrigation member. ,
The insulating irrigation member has a storage space for the liquid supplied from the catheter shaft and an outer side (radial direction of the insulating irrigation member) that communicates with the storage space and reaches each of the irrigation openings. A plurality of branch channels extending in the distal direction while being inclined to the outside)
At the tip of the insulating irrigation member, a liquid guide groove extending in the tip direction is formed continuously to each of the branch channels,
A liquid guide groove that is continuous with each of the guide grooves of the insulating irrigation member is formed at the base end of the tip electrode.

According to the electrode catheter having such a configuration, since the irrigation opening is formed in the insulating irrigation member, it is not necessary to form an opening in the tip electrode. As a result, since there is no edge associated with the formation of the opening in the tip electrode, an abnormal temperature rise does not occur in a part of the tip electrode during cauterization, thereby suppressing thrombus formation.
Even if an edge due to the formation of the opening is present in the insulating irrigation member, since the edge portion is insulative, current does not concentrate on the portion and the temperature does not increase.
Therefore, the electrode catheter of the present invention is remarkably superior in the thrombus formation suppressing effect on the tip electrode surface as compared with a conventionally known catheter having an irrigation mechanism.

  Further, according to the electrode catheter having such a configuration, the liquid is irrigated from the plurality of irrigation openings arranged at the distal end portion of the insulating irrigation member to the surface of the distal electrode. An amount of liquid can be contacted, and the liquid that irrigates the surface of the distal electrode flows along the surface of the distal electrode from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion of the distal electrode. As compared with the conventional catheter having the above, the effect of cooling the surface of the tip electrode is excellent, and the blood near the tip electrode surface is sufficiently agitated and diluted so that the effect of suppressing thrombus formation is also excellent.

  In addition, since the plurality of irrigation openings are arranged at equiangular intervals along the outer periphery of the insulating irrigation member, the surface of the tip electrode can be irrigated over the entire circumferential direction.

  Moreover, since it is not necessary to form an opening in the tip electrode, a sufficient surface area can be ensured, and an efficient ablation treatment can be performed.

  In addition, a storage space for the liquid supplied from the catheter shaft inside the insulating irrigation member, and a plurality of branches extending in the distal direction while inclining outward so as to reach each of the irrigation openings, communicating with the storage space Since the flow path is formed, the liquid supplied from the catheter shaft to the inside of the insulating irrigation member is irrigated through each of the plurality of branch flow paths extending in the distal direction after the flow is adjusted in the storage space. Since there is no variation in the amount of liquid injected between multiple irrigation openings arranged at equiangular intervals, uniform injection (irrigation) is performed in the circumferential direction of the insulating irrigation member. This makes it possible to irrigate the surface of the tip electrode evenly over the entire circumferential direction.

  In addition, the branch channel formed inside the insulating irrigation member is formed so as to be inclined outward (outside in the radial direction of the insulating irrigation member), so that the irrigation opening (the branch channel opening) Can be placed on the outside, so that it is possible to irrigate the surface of a tip electrode having a certain size (for example, a tip electrode having a diameter equal to or larger than the tube diameter of the catheter shaft).

  In addition, a liquid guide groove extending in the distal direction continuously to each of the branch channels is formed at the tip of the insulating irrigation member, so that the liquid ejected from the irrigation opening (through the branch channel) Thus, the liquid that has reached the irrigation opening) can be reliably guided (guided) toward the tip electrode.

  Furthermore, a liquid guide groove continuous with each of the guide grooves of the insulating irrigation member is formed at the proximal end portion of the tip electrode, so that the tip electrode passes through the guide groove formed in the insulating irrigation member. The liquid that has reached the proximal end can be guided (guided) to the distal end of the distal electrode, whereby the liquid can be supplied to the entire surface of the distal electrode.

(2) In the electrode catheter of the present invention, it is preferable that a plurality of lumens serving as liquid flow paths are arranged on the catheter shaft along the outer periphery of the catheter shaft.

(3) In this case, the liquid storage space formed in the insulating irrigation member is a jacket space formed along the outer periphery of the insulating irrigation member and having no partition wall in the circumferential direction. Is preferred.

  According to the electrode catheter having such a configuration, liquids supplied from a plurality of lumens to the insulating irrigation member can be merged in a storage space without a partition wall in the circumferential direction.

(4) In the electrode catheter of the present invention, the tip of the tip electrode bulges, and when the maximum diameter of the tip electrode is D1 and the tube diameter of the catheter shaft is D2, the value of D1 / D2 is 1. It is preferably 0 or more.

  According to the electrode catheter having such a configuration, a sufficient surface area for ablation treatment can be secured at the distal electrode.

(5) In the electrode catheter of the present invention, it is preferable that the insulating irrigation member is formed with an insertion path for a tension wire for performing a tip deflection operation.

  According to the electrode catheter of the present invention, an abnormal temperature rise does not occur in a part of the tip electrode during cauterization, it is excellent in the effect of cooling the surface of the tip electrode and the effect of suppressing thrombus formation on the surface of the tip electrode, Can perform efficient cauterization treatment.

It is a front view of the ablation catheter which concerns on one Embodiment of the electrode catheter of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the front-end | tip part of the ablation catheter shown in FIG. It is a cross-sectional view (III-III sectional view of FIG. 1) of the catheter shaft which comprises the ablation catheter shown in FIG. It is a cross-sectional perspective view (IV-IV cross-sectional view of FIG. 3) which shows the inside of the front-end | tip part of the ablation catheter shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view (IV-IV cross-sectional view of FIG. 3) showing the inside of the distal end portion of the ablation catheter shown in FIG. 1, and shows a state when the tension wire shown in FIG. 4 is removed. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view (VI-VI sectional view of FIG. 3) which shows the front-end | tip part of the ablation catheter shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the irrigation member which comprises the ablation catheter shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the irrigation member which comprises the ablation catheter shown in FIG. It is a cross-sectional perspective view which shows the inside of the irrigation member which comprises the ablation catheter shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an electrode catheter of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The electrode catheter shown in FIG. 1 is an ablation catheter used for the treatment of arrhythmia in the heart.

  The ablation catheter 100 of this embodiment includes a catheter shaft 10 having eight lumens 11 serving as liquid flow paths, an insulating irrigation member 20 connected to the distal end side of the catheter shaft 10, and the irrigation member 20. A distal electrode 30 connected to the distal end side, a ring-shaped electrode 40 attached to the distal end portion of the catheter shaft 10, a control handle 70 connected to the proximal end side of the catheter shaft 10, and a liquid injection tube 80. The catheter shaft 10 is provided with a lumen 13 through which a conducting wire or the like is passed, and ten lumens (liquid passages) arranged at equal angular intervals (36 ° intervals) around the lumen 13. Eight lumens 11 and two lumens 12) that serve as insertion passages for the pulling wire are formed. Eight irrigation openings 25A for injecting (irrigating) the liquid supplied from the lumen 11 of the shaft 10 onto the surface of the tip electrode 30 are arranged along the outer periphery of the irrigation member 20 at equiangular intervals (45 ° intervals). The irrigation member 20 has a jacket space 24 (a storage space for liquid supplied from the catheter shaft 10) without a partition wall in the circumferential direction, and communicates with the storage jacket space 24 and includes eight irrigation openings 25A. Eight branch channels 25 extending in the distal direction are formed so as to reach each of them.

  The infusion tube 80 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the catheter shaft 10 through the inside of the control handle 70, and liquid is supplied to the lumen 11 of the catheter shaft 10 through the infusion tube 80. Here, as the “liquid”, physiological saline can be exemplified.

  The control handle 70 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the proximal end side of the catheter tube 10 and includes a rotating plate 75 for performing a distal end deflection operation of the catheter.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a catheter shaft 10 constituting the ablation catheter 100 is provided with a lumen 13 through which a lead wire or the like (not shown) connected to a tip electrode or a ring electrode is passed, and around the lumen 13. Ten lumens arranged at equal intervals (36 ° = 360 ° / 10) are formed.

  Ten lumens formed at equal intervals around the lumen 13 have the same outer diameter. Two of the ten lumens 12 are inserted through pulling wires 61 and 62 for performing a catheter tip deflection operation. The eight lumens 11 through which the pulling wires 61 and 62 are not inserted serve as liquid flow paths.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 15 denotes a rigid body embedded in the catheter shaft 10 in order to surely perform the deflection operation by the pulling wires 61 and 62.
The rigid body 15 is made of a metal bar spring, such as a Ni—Ti alloy, and has different bending directions due to the rigid bodies 15, 15 arranged in a direction perpendicular to the bending direction (arrangement direction of the tension wires 61, 62). The direction can be secured.

  The catheter shaft 10 may be made of a material having the same characteristics along the axial direction, but is preferably formed integrally using materials having different rigidity (hardness) along the axial direction. Specifically, it is preferable that the constituent material on the proximal end side has relatively high rigidity, and the constituent material on the distal end side has relatively low rigidity.

  The catheter shaft 10 is made of a synthetic resin such as polyolefin, polyamide, polyether polyamide, polyurethane, nylon, or PEBAX (polyether block amide). The proximal end side of the catheter shaft 10 may be a blade tube obtained by braiding a tube made of these synthetic resins with a stainless steel wire.

The outer diameter of the catheter shaft 10 is preferably 1.0 to 3.0 mm, more preferably 1.6 to 2.7 mm, and 2.36 mm as a suitable example.
The length of the catheter shaft 10 is preferably 600 to 1500 mm, and more preferably 900 to 1200 mm.

The irrigation member 20 constituting the ablation catheter 100 has a double tube structure as shown in FIG.
The irrigation member 20 is made of a molded product of insulating resin. Thereby, even if it is a complicated shape and structure, it can be manufactured at low cost, and even when the irrigation member 20 has an edge, current is concentrated on the edge portion when the ablation catheter 100 is used (cauterization). And never get hot.

  7 to 9 showing the irrigation member 20, 21 is an outer tube thin portion, 22 is an outer tube thick portion, 23 is an inner tube portion, 24 is a liquid storage jacket space, and 25 is a storage jacket space 24. Eight branch channels that communicate with each other and extend in the distal direction, 25A, each opening (irrigation opening) of the branch channel 25, and 26 are liquids that extend in the distal direction continuously to each branch channel 25. A guide groove, 27 is an insertion path for a pulling wire, 28A is a central opening, and 29 is a convex portion for retaining.

  In the irrigation member 20, eight branch channels 25, irrigation openings 25A, and liquid guide grooves 26 are provided at intervals of 45 ° along the outer periphery of the irrigation member 20, respectively. In FIG. 9, only a part of it is visible.

  The storage jacket space 24 partitioned by the outer tube (thin wall portion 21 / thick wall portion 22) and the inner tube portion 23 is a space for joining the liquid supplied from each lumen 11 of the catheter shaft 10 to the irrigation member 20. It is. Since the storage jacket space 24 has no circumferential partition, the liquid flowing into the storage jacket space 24 can freely flow in the circumferential direction.

Eight branch channels 25 are formed at the distal end (inside) of the irrigation member 20 at regular intervals (45 ° = 360 ° / 8) along the outer periphery thereof.
Each of the branch channels 25 communicates with the storage jacket space 24 on the base end side, extends in the distal direction, and reaches the irrigation opening 25 </ b> A at the distal end portion of the irrigation member 20. As a result, the irrigation openings 25A at the tip of the irrigation member 20 are arranged along the outer periphery of the irrigation member 20 at an equal angle (45 °) interval.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, each of the branch flow paths 25 is formed so as to be inclined outward (outside in the radial direction of the irrigation member 20) with respect to the axial direction of the irrigation member 20.
As a result, the irrigation opening 25A can be arranged on the outer side (arranged along the outer periphery of the irrigation member 20) as compared with the case where the irrigation opening 25A is not inclined, and the irrigation opening 25A passes through the branch flow channel 25 inclined outward. The liquid that has reached the irrigation opening 25A is ejected from the irrigation opening 25A toward the outside in the distal direction (on the distal end side in the axial direction of the irrigation member 20 and outside in the radial direction). For this reason, it is possible to irrigate the surface of the tip electrode 30 that is somewhat large in size.

  Eight irrigation openings 25A (openings of the branch flow path 25) arranged at equiangular (45 °) intervals along the outer periphery of the irrigation member 20 allow the liquid supplied from the catheter shaft 10 (lumen 11) to receive the tip electrode. It is an injection port for irrigating 30 surfaces.

A liquid guide groove 26 extending in the distal direction (from the irrigation opening 25A) is formed in the distal end portion (outside) of the irrigation member 20 continuously from each of the branch flow paths 25.
By this guide groove 26, the liquid ejected from the irrigation opening 25 </ b> A (liquid that has reached the irrigation opening 25 </ b> A through the branch channel 25) can be reliably guided (guided) toward the tip electrode 30. .

In addition, an insertion path 27 for a pulling wire for performing a tip deflection operation is formed at the tip of the irrigation member 20.
The pull wires 61, 62 are connected at their proximal ends to the rotating plate 75 (see FIG. 1) of the control handle 70, and as shown in FIG. 4 (FIG. 5), the lumens 12, 12 of the catheter shaft 10 are shown. The distal end of each irrigation member 20 is fixed at the tip of the irrigation member 20 through the storage jacket space 24 and the insertion passages 27, 27 of the irrigation member 20.
Thereby, for example, when the rotating plate 75 is rotated in the A1 direction shown in FIG. 1, the pulling wire 61 is pulled, the distal end portion of the catheter 100 is deflected in the arrow A direction, and the rotating plate is rotated in the B1 direction shown in FIG. When 75 is rotated, the pulling wire 62 is pulled, and the distal end portion of the catheter 100 is deflected in the direction of arrow B.

  The constituent material of the irrigation member 20 is not particularly limited as long as it is an insulating resin used in the medical field, but an aromatic polyether ketone such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is preferable.

The length of the irrigation member 20 (including the portion to be embedded when connected to the catheter shaft 10) is, for example, 1 to 5 mm, and is 2 mm if a suitable example is shown.
The outer diameter of the irrigation member 20 (the outer diameter of the outer tube thick portion 22) is preferably the same as the outer diameter of the catheter shaft 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, a region including the lumen 11 and the lumen 12 in the distal end portion (about 1 to 5 mm from the distal end) of the catheter shaft 10 is cut out (resin portion surrounding the outer layer of the catheter shaft 10 and the lumen 13. A circumferential groove is formed, and the proximal end portions (the outer tube thin portion 21 and the inner tube portion 23) of the irrigation member 20 are inserted and fixed in the groove (at this time, the lumen of the catheter shaft 10). 13 is inserted into the inner tube portion 23. At this time, the distal end surface of the shaft 10 and the rear end surface of the outer tube thick portion 22 come into contact with each other, whereby the catheter shaft 10 The irrigation member 20 is connected to the distal end of the irrigation member, and the lumen 11 and the lumen 12 of the catheter shaft 10 communicate with the storage jacket space 24 of the irrigation member 20.

  The tip electrode 30 constituting the ablation catheter 100 has a hemispherical tip bulge portion 31, a neck portion 32, and a cylindrical portion 33.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the tip electrode 30 has its cylindrical portion 33 inserted and fixed to the inside of the irrigation member 20 (inside the inner tube portion 23) from the central opening 28 </ b> A shown in FIG. 7. Thus, the irrigation member 20 is connected to the distal end side.

  The diameter of the tip bulging portion 31 of the tip electrode 30 is preferably 1.0 to 3.3 mm, more preferably 2.2 to 2.6 mm, particularly preferably 2.3 to 2.5 mm. An example is 2.36 mm.

Further, when the diameter of the tip bulging portion 31 (the maximum diameter of the tip electrode 30) is D1 and the tube diameter of the catheter shaft 10 is D2, the value of D1 / D2 is preferably 1.0 or more, and more preferably. Is 1.0 to 1.5, and 1.0 (D1 / D2 = 2.36 mm / 2.36 mm) is shown as a preferable example.
When the value of D1 / D2 is too small, it is difficult to perform efficient cauterization treatment with a catheter provided with such a tip electrode.
On the other hand, if the value of D1 / D2 is excessive, irrigate a sufficient amount of liquid to the surface of such a tip electrode (sufficient cooling effect / thrombus formation inhibiting effect). It becomes difficult.

  Note that a sufficient amount of liquid can be irrigated with respect to the surface of the tip electrode 30 having a value of D1 / D2 of 1.0 or more because the branch flow path 25 of the irrigation member 20 is inclined outward. This is because the irrigation opening 25 </ b> A is positioned on the outer side as compared with the case where it is not inclined. Also in this point, it is meaningful to interpose the irrigation member 20.

In addition, a liquid guide groove 36 that is continuous with each of the guide grooves 26 of the irrigation member 20 is formed at the proximal end portion (neck portion 32) of the distal electrode 30.
By forming the guide groove 36, the liquid that has reached the proximal end portion of the distal electrode 30 through the guide groove 26 formed in the irrigation member 20 is guided (guided) to the distal end portion of the distal electrode 30. Accordingly, the liquid can be supplied to the entire surface of the tip electrode 30 including the tip bulge portion 31.
Since the guide groove 36 formed in the tip electrode 30 has a gentle R shape, an abnormal temperature rise does not occur in this portion even during cauterization.

According to the ablation catheter 100 of this embodiment, the irrigation opening 25A is formed in the insulating irrigation member 20, and the conductive tip electrode 30 has no edge, so that the ablation catheter 100 is used (cautery). never part abnormal temperature rise of the tip electrode 30 (high-temperature portion) occurs in time), the formation of thrombus of blood is formed in contact is suppressed to such high-temperature portion.
Therefore, the ablation catheter 100 is remarkably superior in the thrombus formation suppressing effect on the surface of the tip electrode 30 as compared with a conventionally known catheter in which an irrigation opening is formed in the tip electrode.

Further, according to the ablation catheter 100 of this embodiment, the liquid is ejected (irrigated) from the eight irrigation openings 25A arranged at the distal end portion of the irrigation member 20 onto the surface of the distal electrode 30. A sufficient amount of liquid can be brought into contact with the surface of the electrode 30. Moreover, the liquid sprayed onto the surface of the tip electrode 30 flows along the surface of the tip electrode 30 from the base end portion (neck portion 32) of the tip electrode 30 toward the tip portion (tip bulge portion 31). (The blood around the tip electrode 30 is sufficiently stirred and diluted).
Therefore, the ablation catheter 100 has an excellent cooling effect on the surface of the tip electrode 30 and sufficient blood around the tip electrode 30 as compared with a conventionally known catheter in which an irrigation opening is formed in the tip electrode. By stirring and diluting, a further excellent thrombus formation inhibitory effect is exhibited.

  In addition, since the eight irrigation openings 25A are arranged at equiangular (45 °) intervals along the outer periphery of the irrigation member 20, it is possible to irrigate the surface of the tip electrode 30 over the entire region in the circumferential direction (360 °). it can.

  Further, the liquid supplied to the irrigation member 20 from each of the eight lumens 11 arranged along the outer periphery of the catheter shaft 10 merges in the storage space 24 without a partition wall in the circumferential direction, and the outer periphery of the irrigation member 20 Since the irrigation opening 25A is ejected (irrigated) through each of the eight branch flow paths 25 arranged at equiangular (45 °) intervals along the same, the irrigation member 20 is supplied from the catheter shaft 10. Despite the variation in the amount of liquid in the circumferential direction (the variation caused by the formation of the lumen 12 that does not serve as a liquid flow path and the formation of the lumen 11 that is a liquid flow path over the entire circumference), There is no variation in the amount of liquid ejected between the eight irrigation openings 25A, and the surface of the tip electrode 30 can be uniformly irrigated over the entire region in the circumferential direction (360 °).

  In addition, since each of the branch channels 25 is formed so as to be inclined outward with respect to the axial direction of the irrigation member 20, a tip electrode having a somewhat large size (a tip electrode having a D1 / D2 value of 1.0) It is possible to sufficiently irrigate the surface of 30).

  In addition, since there is no need to form an opening in the tip electrode 30, a sufficient surface area for cauterization can be ensured, and efficient cauterization treatment can be performed.

As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these, A various change is possible.
For example, the number of branch channels (irrigation openings) in the irrigation member does not have to be 8, and can be appropriately selected within a range of 3 to 12, for example.
Further, the internal structure of the catheter shaft is not particularly limited as long as it has at least one lumen serving as a liquid flow path.
The shape of the tip electrode is not particularly limited, and may be a shell shape. However, it is necessary that a sharp edge where current is concentrated is not formed when the electrode catheter is used (cauterization).

100 Ablation catheter 10 Catheter shaft 11 Lumen (liquid flow path)
12 lumens (Tension wire insertion path)
13 lumens 15 rigid body (wire)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Irrigation member 21 Outer-pipe thin part 22 Outer-pipe thick part 23 Inner pipe part 24 Storage jacket space 25 Branch flow path 25A Irrigation opening 26 Liquid guide groove 27 Tension wire insertion path 29 Retraction prevention part 30 Tip electrode DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 31 Tip bulging part 32 Neck part 33 Cylindrical part 36 Liquid guide groove 40 Ring-shaped electrode 61 Tension wire 62 Tension wire 70 Control handle 75 Rotating plate 80 Liquid injection tube

(1) The electrode catheter of the present invention includes a catheter shaft having a lumen serving as a liquid flow path,
An insulating irrigation member connected to the distal end of the catheter shaft;
A tip electrode connected to the tip side of the insulating irrigation member,
In the insulating irrigation member, a plurality of irrigation openings for irrigating the surface of the tip electrode with liquid supplied from the catheter shaft are arranged at equiangular intervals along the outer periphery of the insulating irrigation member. ,
The insulating irrigation member has a storage space for the liquid supplied from the catheter shaft and an outer side (radial direction of the insulating irrigation member) that communicates with the storage space and reaches each of the irrigation openings. A plurality of branch channels extending in the distal direction while being inclined to the outside)
At the tip of the insulating irrigation member, a liquid guide groove extending in the tip direction is formed continuously to each of the branch channels,
A liquid guide groove that is continuous with each of the guide grooves of the insulating irrigation member is formed at the proximal end of the tip electrode ,
In the catheter shaft, a plurality of lumens serving as liquid flow paths are arranged along the outer periphery of the catheter shaft .

(2) In the electrode catheter of the present invention, the liquid storage space formed in the insulating irrigation member is a jacket space formed along the outer periphery of the insulating irrigation member and having no partition wall in the circumferential direction. It is preferable that

(3) In the electrode catheter of the present invention, the tip of the tip electrode bulges, and when the maximum diameter of the tip electrode is D1 and the tube diameter of the catheter shaft is D2, the value of D1 / D2 is 1. It is preferably 0 or more.

(4) In the electrode catheter of the present invention, it is preferable that the insulating irrigation member is formed with an insertion path for a tensile wire for performing a tip deflection operation.

Claims (5)

A catheter shaft having at least one lumen serving as a liquid flow path;
An insulating irrigation member connected to the distal end of the catheter shaft;
A tip electrode connected to the tip side of the insulating irrigation member,
In the insulating irrigation member, a plurality of irrigation openings for irrigating the surface of the tip electrode with liquid supplied from the catheter shaft are arranged at equiangular intervals along the outer periphery of the insulating irrigation member. ,
The insulating irrigation member has a storage space for liquid supplied from the catheter shaft, and extends in the distal direction while inclining outward so as to reach each of the irrigation openings. A plurality of branch channels are formed,
At the tip of the insulating irrigation member, a liquid guide groove extending in the tip direction is formed continuously to each of the branch channels,
An electrode catheter characterized in that a liquid guide groove is formed in the proximal end portion of the distal electrode, which is continuous with each of the guide grooves of the insulating irrigation member.   The electrode catheter according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of lumens serving as liquid flow paths are arranged on the catheter shaft along an outer periphery of the catheter shaft.   The electrode catheter according to claim 2, wherein the liquid storage space is a jacket space formed along the outer periphery of the insulating irrigation member and having no partition wall in the circumferential direction.   The tip of the tip electrode bulges, and the value of D1 / D2 is 1.0 or more, where D1 is the maximum diameter of the tip electrode and D2 is the tube diameter of the catheter shaft. The electrode catheter according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The electrode catheter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the insulating irrigation member is formed with an insertion passage for a pulling wire for performing a tip deflection operation.

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