The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 12, 2013
Filed:
Dec. 31, 2008
Brian Walter Kronstedt, Shoreview, MN (US);
Martin Maitre Grasse, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Brian Walter Kronstedt, Shoreview, MN (US);
Martin Maitre Grasse, Minneapolis, MN (US);
St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc., St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
Disclosed herein are various deflectable catheter systems that utilize materials having negative coefficients of thermal expansion to cause the catheter to deflect. A representative embodiment of the present invention includes a catheter having a heat-sensitive control member located outside the distal end of the catheter, but which is in mechanical communication with the distal end of the catheter such that heat may be applied to the control member to cause the distal portion to deflect. The applied heat, however, does not introduce any significant heat into the distal end of the catheter. The system may also include a processor to estimate an amount by which the catheter has been deflected based in part on temperature information of the control member, or even resistance measurements for the control member. The system may also include calibration systems and methods. Also disclosed herein are methods of use and methods of manufacturing system that utilize materials having negative coefficients of thermal expansion as control members.