Electrophysiological device for the isthmus

Abstract

An intravascular electrophysiology (EP) device for the mapping and/or formation of lesions along the isthmus region of a heart that has particular utility in the treatment of atrial flutter. The EP device of the invention has an elongated shaft with a proximal section, a compound-curved or modified pigtail-shaped distal section, and a plurality of at least partially exposed electrodes disposed on an outer surface of the distal section. The electrodes are spaced along a length of the distal section and may be interspersed with at least one temperature sensor located between electrodes. The shape of the distal end of the device enables manipulation of the device by inserting its distal end in the tricuspid valve and retracting the device to bias the section having electrodes along the isthmus to achieve acceptable contact with the region so high frequency (e.g., RF) electrical energy delivered to the electrodes on the distal section of the EP device will form a lesion. Sections of the isthmus where treatment is desired but not reached by the section of the device biased against tissue by retraction may be ablated by repeating the steps of hooking the tricuspid valve at a different end location of the device and retracting to bias the electrodes against different tissue, simply advancing the section with electrodes to the desired site or retracting the device so a tip connected to an RF source will drop into a desired site where ablation may occur.