St Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc

Sacha C Hall

Dale Eric Just

Troy Terrance Tegg

Theodore Arthur Johnson

Alan De La Rama

Cary K Hata

Huisun Wang

James V Kauphusman

Jeffrey Michael Fish

Brian M Monahan

Salome A Gonzalez

A family of catheter electrode assemblies includes a flexible circuit having a plurality of electrical traces and a substrate; a ring electrode surrounding the flexible circuit and electrically coupled with at least one of the plurality of electrical traces; and an outer covering extending over at least a portion of the electrode. A non-contact electrode mapping catheter includes an outer tubing having a longitudinal axis, a deployment member, and a plurality of splines, at least one of the plurality of splines comprising a flexible circuit including a plurality of electrical traces and a substrate, a ring electrode surrounding the flexible circuit and electrically coupled with at least one of the plurality of electrical traces; and an outer covering extending over at least a portion of the ring electrode. A method of constructing the family of catheter electrode assemblies is also provided.

Catheter electrode assemblies and methods of construction thereof

The invention relates to ablation catheter electrodes that solve in part the problem of tissue charring during radiofrequency ablation. The electrode assemblies of the invention include passageways that lead from the inner lumen of the assemblies to the surface of the assemblies, wherein the passageways have a smooth conjunction with the outer surface. These smooth conjunctions comprise rounded edges or are chamfered. In the case of rounded edges, the rounded edges can have fixed radii of about 0.002″ to about 0.008″.

Irrigated ablation electrode having smooth edges to minimize tissue char

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.

Bendable catheter arms having varied flexibility

The invention relates to ablation catheter electrodes that solve in part the problem of tissue charring during radiofrequency ablation. The electrode assemblies of the invention include passageways that lead from the inner lumen of the assemblies to the surface of the assemblies, wherein the passageways have a smooth conjunction with the outer surface. These smooth conjunctions comprise rounded edges or are chamfered. In the case of rounded edges, the rounded edges can have fixed radii of about 0.002&#x2033; to about 0.008&#x2033;.

Catheter electrode assemblies and methods of construction therefor

A distal tip assembly for an elongate medical device having an axis comprises a shaft having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, a wall, and a central lumen extending axially between said proximal end portion and said distal end portion. The distal tip assembly further comprises a position sensor disposed in an outer sleeve such that the sensor can shift relative to the sleeve. The sleeve is disposed at least in part in the wall and is substantially fixed thereto.

Sensor assembly tethered within catheter wall

Catheter electrode assemblies and methods for construction therefor

An electrophysiology catheter includes an elongate catheter body having an elastically-deformable distal region predisposed to assume a spiral shape and a first plurality of electrodes disposed thereon. Each of the first plurality of electrodes includes an electrically active region limited to the inner surface of the spiral shape for use in non-contact electrophysiology studies. A second plurality of electrodes may also be disposed on the distal region interspersed (e.g., alternating) with the first plurality of electrodes, with each of the second plurality of electrodes having an electrically active region extending into the outer surface of the spiral shape for use in contact electrophysiology studies. The distal region may be deformed into a straight configuration for insertion into and navigation through the patient's vasculature, for example via use of a tubular introducer. As the distal region deploys beyond the distal end of the introducer, it resumes the spiral shape.

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Westborough, MA, United States of America

Sacha C Hall