# US 10,945,626 B2 · Catheter with staggered electrodes spine assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,945,626 B2 - Document ID: US10945626B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/890,309 - Filed: 2018-02-06 - Published: 2019-08-08 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-06 - Assignees: Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd. - Applicants: Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd. - Inventors: Cesar Fuentes-Ortega; Jamie Malinaric; Lior Botzer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945626B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/287: Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS] - A61B 5/283: Invasive - A61B 5/6852: {Catheters} - A61B 5/6859: {with multiple distal splines} - A61B 5/062: {using magnetic field} - A61B 2018/00267: {having a basket shaped structure} - A61B 2018/1467: {using more than two electrodes on a single probe} - A61M 25/0147: {with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract An electrophysiology catheter with a distal electrode assembly having covered spine carrying a plurality of microelectrodes. The position of the microelectrodes on each spine is staggered relative to microelectrodes on adjacent spines so as to minimize the risk of electrodes on adjacent spines touching each other during use of the catheter. The staggered electrode configuration provides the distal electrode assembly with a greater effective contact surface because the effective concentric electrode arrays is increased or at least doubled. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrophysiology catheter comprising: an elongated body; a distal electrode assembly distal of the elongated body and comprising a support body having: a unibody support member having a proximal stem with an inner lumen, and a plurality of spines with diverging distal ends, the spines spanning outwardly from the stem, wherein each spine has a plurality of microelectrodes, each microelectrode defines a concentricity, and the concentricities of the microelectrodes on one spine are different from the concentricities of microelectrodes on adjacent spines; and an insert affixed in the inner lumen of the proximal stem, the insert having at least a noncircular lumen through which microelectrode lead wires extend. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein the distal electrode assembly comprises at least four first spines and four second spines, and each spine carries six microelectrodes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The catheter of claim 2, wherein the microelectrodes on the first spines have a first separation distance from each other, and the microelectrodes on the second spines have a second separation distance, wherein the first and second separation distances are about the same. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The catheter of claim 2, wherein the microelectrodes on the first spines have a first separation distance from each other, and the microelectrodes on the second spines have a second separation distance, wherein the first and second separation distances are different. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein the microelectrodes are configured as monopoles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein the microelectrodes are configured as bipoles. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electrophysiology catheter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microelectrodes carried on each spine is the same. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electrophysiology catheter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microelectrodes carried on adjacent spines is different. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electrophysiology catheter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spines is eight. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electrophysiology catheter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microelectrodes on each spine is six. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The electrophysiology catheter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spines ranges between about six and eight. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electrophysiology catheter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microelectrodes ranges between about six and eight. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein the microelectrodes on each spine are separated by a distance ranging between about 1 mm and 3 mm, as measured between leading edges of the microelectrodes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The catheter of claim 13, wherein the distance is about 2 mm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein the microelectrodes on each spine are arranged as bipole pairs, with leading edges of microelectrodes within a pair separated by a first distance ranging between about 1 mm and 3 mm, and with leading edges of leading microelectrodes between pairs separated by a second distance ranging between 1 mm and 6 mm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The catheter of claim 15, wherein the first distance is about 2 mm and the second distance is about 6 mm. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microelectrodes equals about 64. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microelectrodes equals about 72. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The electrophysiology catheter of claim 1, wherein the noncircular lumen has a generally C-shaped cross-section. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The electrophysiology catheter of claim 1, wherein the noncircular lumen has a generally kidney-bean-shaped cross section.