US-12622700-B2 - System comprising an elongated catheter and an implant detachably attached to a distal end of the elongated catheter

US12622700B2US 12622700 B2US12622700 B2US 12622700B2US-12622700-B2

Abstract

A system includes an elongated catheter including a proximal end configured for operative coupling to an electrical power source, a distal end with a first electrical connector and a first conducting wire, an implant including a tissue energising module and a proximal connecting hub configured to detachably couple with the distal end of the elongated catheter. The proximal connecting hub includes a second electrical connector configured to mate with the first electrical connector and electrically couple the first electrical connector with the tissue energising module through a second conducting wire. A latch system to lock the distal end of the catheter to the proximal connecting hub arm includes an arm attached to the distal end of the catheter that is resiliently deformable such that the arm engages a sidewall of the proximal connecting hub and a locking element that is axially adjustable.

Inventors

Tony O'Halloran
John Thompson
Shane REGAN
Kevin DONAGHEY
John Kelly
Conor ALLEN

Assignees

AURIGEN MEDICAL LIMITED

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20220712
Priority Date: 20210713

Claims (15)

1 . A system comprising: an elongated catheter comprising a proximal end configured for operative coupling to an electrical power source, a distal end with a first electrical connector and a first conducting wire to electrically couple the electrical power source with the first electrical connector; an implant comprising a tissue energising module and a proximal connecting hub configured to detachably couple with the distal end of the elongated catheter by axial movement of the elongated catheter relative to the proximal connecting hub, the proximal connecting hub comprising a second electrical connector configured to mate with the first electrical connector and electrically coupled the first electrical connector with the tissue energising module through a second conducting wire; and a latch system to lock the distal end of the catheter to the proximal connecting hub comprising: an arm attached to the distal end of the catheter that is resiliently deformable from a radially outward or radially inward unlatched configuration to a tensioned latched configuration in which the arm engages a sidewall of the proximal connecting hub; and a locking element that is axially adjustable from a retracted orientation to a distally extended orientation in which the locking element retains the arm in the latched configuration.
2 . A system according to claim 1 , in which the locking element comprises a locking bolt disposed in the distal end of the catheter that is axially adjustable from a retracted orientation to a distally extended orientation in which the bolt engages the arm in the latched configuration.
3 . A system according to claim 2 , in which the proximal connecting hub comprising the sidewall including an aperture, and the arm comprises a grab part with a socket configured to protrude through the aperture when the arm is in the tensioned radially inward or radially outward latched configuration, wherein the locking bolt is configured to engage the socket when in the distally extended orientation.
4 . A system according to claim 1 , including a first latch disposed on one side of the distal end of the catheter and a second latch disposed on an opposite side of the distal end of the catheter.
5 . A system according to claim 1 , in which the arm is curved radially outwardly and resiliently deformable to a tensioned straight configuration.
6 . A system according to claim 1 , in which the sidewall of the proximal connecting hub comprises a recess to receive the arm whereby when the arm is in the tensioned radially inward latched configuration, an external surface of the arm is flush with an external surface of the sidewall.
7 . A system according to claim 1 , in which the distal end of the catheter comprises a distal face and the proximal end of the proximal connecting hub comprises a proximal face, wherein distal and proximal faces abut when the catheter and proximal connecting hub are coupled together, and wherein the distal face comprises electrical pins and the proximal face comprises corresponding electrical sockets configured to receive the electrical pins.
8 . A system according to claim 7 , in which the first electrical connector comprises a first section disposed on one side of the distal face and a second section disposed on an opposite side of the distal face and the second electrical connector comprises a first section disposed on one side of the distal face and a second section disposed on an opposite side of the distal face.
9 . A system according to claim 1 , in which the tissue energising module comprises a tissue ablation electrode.
10 . A system according to claim 1 , in which the implant is a radially expansible occlusion apparatus for occluding a body lumen and is adjustable between a contracted orientation suitable for transluminal delivery and a deployed orientation configured to occlude the body lumen.
11 . A system according to claim 10 , in which the implant is a radially expansible occlusion apparatus for occluding a left atrial appendage of the heart.
12 . A system according to claim 1 , in which the proximal connecting hub of the implant comprises an annular sidewall that defines an open proximal end and two wing elements mounted to the sidewall on opposed sides of the open proximal end that are configured for movement from an at rest closed configuration in which the wing elements are folded over the open proximal end of the raised connecting hub to an open tensioned configuration.
13 . A system according to claim 12 , in which a radially outer wall of the distal end of the catheter comprises surface recesses configured to receive the wing elements of the proximal connecting hub in a nested flush configuration when the distal end of the catheter and proximal connecting hub are connected together.
14 . A system according to claim 1 , in which one of the first electrical connector and second electrical connector comprises a housing with one or more electrical sockets and another of the first electrical connector and second electrical connector comprises a housing with one or more electrical pins corresponding to the one or more electrical sockets.
15 . A system according to claim 14 , in which the housing of the electrical connector comprising the or each electrical pin comprises a resiliently deformable sidewall in which the or each electrical pin projects proud of the resiliently deformable sidewall.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority from European Patent Application 21185453.4, filed on Jul. 13, 2021, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a system comprising an elongated catheter and an implant detachably attached to a distal end of the elongated catheter. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Catheter systems comprising elongated catheters and an implant detachably attached to a distal end of the elongated catheter are described in the literature—see for example WO2018185256, WO2018185255 and WO2020074738 in which the implant is an occlusion device for occluding a body lumen such as the left atrial appendage, and in which the catheter is employed to deliver the implant percutaneously to a target site, the implant is deployed and then released from the catheter. The implants often include electrically active modules, for example tissue ablation electrodes or sensors, that require an electrical supply, and in most cases the catheter is configured for electrically coupling the electrode or sensor with an external power supply. This requires that the distal end of the catheter can mechanically connect to the implant in a secure manner, and also electrically connect to the implant. As the implant is used in the vasculature which is a wet environment, the electrical connection is best provided in the form of pins at the end of the catheter (or implant) and corresponding sockets for receiving the pins on the implant (or catheter) that electrically couple and decouple by axial movement of the catheter relative to the implant. This means that the use of threaded engagement between the catheter and implant is not practical, as when the pins are engaged in corresponding sockets, relative rotational movement between the catheter and implant is not possible. It is an objective of the invention to overcome at least one of the above-referenced problems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objective is met by the provision of a catheter with a distal end comprising a first electrical connector (with e.g. one of pins or sockets), and an implant with a proximal connecting hub comprising a second electrical connector (with e.g. another of pins or sockets), in which the connectors are configured to electrically couple and decouple by axial movement of the catheter relative to the implant. In addition, the end of the catheter comprises one or more latching arms that in an un-tensioned configuration extend distally and radially outwardly (See FIG. 1) and are resiliently deformable into a tensioned latched configuration in which the arms engage the hub (See FIG. 4). A locking element is provided that is adjustable to lock the arm in the latched configuration. In one embodiment, the locking element is a bolt or element that is axially movable from an extended configuration in which an end of the bolt/element engages the arm in the latched configuration (See FIG. 5) and a retracted configuration in which the end of the bolt/element does not engage the arm allowing the arm return to the unlatched and un-tensioned configuration (See FIG. 3). The arm generally includes a terminal grab section with a bolt receiving socket, and the hub comprises an aperture configured to receive the grab section such that the bolt engages the socket of the grab section generally inside the hub. The system allows the device to be assembled outside the body with the catheter mechanically coupled and electrically connected to the hub of the implant, and the device is then used to treat or sense parameters of tissue, for example to ablate tissue in a body lumen. During these stages, the arm is locked in the tensioned latched configuration by the locking bolt(s) which is/are extended. Once the treatment is completed, the locking bolts can be retracted (generally using a controller on a handle of the catheter) which allows the arms return to the un-tensioned outwardly biased shape, and the catheter is then released from the implant and can be retracted to leave the implant in situ. Although the embodiments described herein show the latching arm having a radially outward un-tensioned configuration, it will be appreciated that the same technical effect can be achieved with a latching arm having a radially inward un-tensioned configuration that is adjustable to a tensioned configuration in which the arm engages an inside of the hub. In this embodiment, during assembly, the radially inward arm or arms can be forced into engagement with the inside of the hub sidewall by inserting an expander into the hub to force the arms into engagement with the inside of the hub as illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6C. FIGS. 7-9 illustrate a deployed implant with a proximal connecting hub disposed in a recess in a proximal end of the implant. In a first aspect, there is provided a system comprising: an elongated catheter comprising a proximal end configured for operative coupli