High density electrode structure

A catheter, comprising:

• a retaining cable, comprising a plurality of electrode cablings, each electrode cabling comprising:
• a hollow core;
• n wires coiled on an outer surface of the core, the n wires having n respective conductors and n respective insulating layers, the n wires consisting of a single closed-packed layer and in an arrangement topologically equivalent to an n-start thread configuration, each n respective insulating layer in the closed-packed layer being in continuous contact with at least one adjacent n respective insulating layer, wherein n is an integer greater than one;
• a sheath covering the n wires;
• and
• up to n ring electrodes, each having a location along the sheath and each respectively attached through a channel formed in the sheath at its location and a respective one of the n respective insulating layers to up to n different wires of the arrangement.

Cabling, comprising:

• a hollow core;
• n optical fibers coiled on an outer surface of the core, the n optical fibers consisting of a single closed-packed layer and in an arrangement topologically equivalent to an n-start thread configuration, an outer surface of a first n optical fiber in the closed-packed layer being in constant contact with the outside surface of at least one other n optical fiber, wherein n is an integer greater than one;
• a sheath covering the n optical fibers;
• and
• a sensor having a location along the sheath attached through a channel formed in the sheath at the location to a given optical fiber selected from the optical fibers.

Cabling, comprising:

• a hollow core;
• a plurality of active elements, the active elements comprising, n optical fibers coiled on the core, wherein n is an integer greater than zero;
• and m wires coiled on the core, wherein m is an integer greater than zero, and wherein the n optical fibers and the m wires consist of a single close-packed layer coiled on the hollow core and in an arrangement topologically equivalent to an (n+m)-start thread configuration, an outer surface of a first active element in the close packed layer being in contact with the outer surface of a second active element;
• and a sheath covering the n optical fibers and the m wires and having at least one channel formed therein.

A method for forming an electrode cabling comprising:

• coiling n wires on an outer surface of a hollow core, the n wires having n respective conductors an n respective insulating layers, wherein the n wires consist of a single closed-packed layer and in an arrangement topologically equivalent to an n-start thread configuration, each n respective insulating layer in the closed-packed layer being in continuous contact with at least one adjacent n respective insulating layer, wherein n is an integer greater than one;
• covering the n wires with a sheath;
• and
• attaching a ring electrode having a location along the sheath through a channel formed in the sheath at the location and a respective one of the n respective insulating layers to a given wire in the arrangement.

A method for producing a catheter, comprising:

• enclosing a plurality of electrode cablings within a retaining cable;
• and
• for each electrode cabling:
• coiling n wires on an outer surface of a hollow core, the n wires having n respective conductors and n respective insulating layers, the n wires consisting of a single closed-packed layer and in an arrangement topologically equivalent to an n-start thread configuration, each n respective insulating layer in the closed-packed layer being in continuous contact with at least one adjacent n respective insulating layer, wherein n is an integer greater than one;
• covering the n wires with a sheath;
• and
• respectively attaching up to n ring electrodes, each having a location along the sheath each through a channel formed in the sheath at its location and a respective one of the n respective insulating layers to up to n different wires in the arrangement.

A method, comprising:

• providing a plurality of active elements, the active elements having a plurality of optical fibers and a plurality of wires;
• coiling n optical fibers on a hollow core, wherein n is an integer greater than zero;
• coiling m wires coiled on the core, wherein m is an integer greater than zero, and wherein the n optical fibers and the m wires consist of a single closed-packed layer coiled on the hollow core and in an arrangement topologically equivalent to an (n+m)-start thread configuration, an outer surface of a first active element in the close packed layer being in contact with the outer surface of a second active element;
• covering the n optical fibers and the m wires with a sheath;
• and attaching a sensor having a location along the sheath through a channel formed in the sheath at the location to a given optical fiber selected from the optical fibers.