# US 2010/0168548 A1 · Dual-Purpose Lasso Catheter with Irrigation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0168548 A1 - Document ID: US20100168548A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/345,720 - Filed: 2008-12-30 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-30 - Assignees: Biosense Webster, Inc. - Inventors: Assaf Govari; Athanassios Papaioannou; Christopher Beeckler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100168548A1 ## CPC - A61B 18/18: by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves - A61B 5/287: Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS] - A61B 5/6855: {with a distal curved tip} - A61B 18/1492: {having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence)} - A61B 18/20: using laser - A61B 2018/00029: {open} - A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation} - A61B 2018/1472: {for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes} - A61B 2034/2051: {Electromagnetic tracking systems} - A61N 1/056: {Transvascular endocardial electrode systems} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract Cardiac catheters, including a lasso catheter, are provided for use in a system for electrical mapping of the heart has an array of raised, perforated electrodes, which are in fluid communication with an irrigating lumen. There are position sensors on a distal loop section and on a proximal base section of the catheter. The electrodes are sensing electrodes that may be adapted for pacing or ablation. The raised electrodes securely contact cardiac tissue, forming electrical connections having little resistance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A catheter, comprising: an insertion tube having a distal end; and a resilient distal section fixed to the distal end of the insertion tube, the distal section having an outer surface and an inner irrigating lumen and comprises a plurality of electrodes that bulge above the outer surface, the electrodes having a plurality of perforations formed therethrough, the outer surface being in fluid communication with the irrigating lumen via the perforations. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the insertion tube is configured for insertion through a blood vessel into a heart of a subject, and wherein the resilient distal section defines an open loop when deployed within the heart. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The catheter according to claim 2, wherein the resilient distal section is at least 1 mm in diameter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The catheter according to claim 2, wherein the open loop has a radius of between 7 mm and 15 mm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes comprise at least three electrodes that are aligned as a linear array with a longitudinal axis of the distal section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes comprise at least 2 perforations. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes comprise between 2 and 100 perforations. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the perforations of the electrodes measure between 0.05 mm and 0.4 mm in diameter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The catheter according to claim 1, further comprising at least one electrically conductive wire that links the electrodes to a processor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes bulge between 0.05 mm and 0.5 mm above the outer surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The cardiac catheter according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes are circular in contour. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the distal section has a longitudinal axis and wherein the electrodes are elliptical in contour. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The catheter according to claim 12, wherein the electrodes have respective major axes that are aligned with the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The catheter according to claim 12, wherein the electrodes have respective minor axes that are aligned with the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The catheter according to claim 1, further comprising a proximal base section having a multi-coil position sensor for generating second position and orientation dimensions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The catheter according to claim 15, wherein the multi-coil position sensor is within 10 mm of the distal end of the base section. ### Claim 17 A method for locating an arrhythmogenic area in a heart of a living subject, comprising the steps of: inserting a catheter into a chamber of the heart, the catheter comprising an insertion tube having a distal end and a resilient distal section that has an outer surface and an inner irrigating lumen and is fixed to the distal end of the insertion tube and further comprises a plurality of electrodes that bulge above the outer surface, the electrodes having a plurality of perforations formed therethrough, the outer surface being in fluid communication with the irrigating lumen via the perforations; locating the catheter in proximity to a target in the chamber; analyzing electrical signals received from the target via the catheter to make a determination that the electrical signals are indicative of abnormal electrical conduction within the heart; and responsively to the determination conducting energy into the heart to thereby affect the abnormal electrical conduction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17 further comprising passing a fluid through the irrigating lumen and the perforations of the electrodes while conducting the energy into the heart. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17 further comprising the step of performing bi-polar ablation using two selected ones of the electrodes. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein conducting the energy into the heart comprises pacing said heart by transmitting a pacing signal through the catheter. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein and conducting the energy into the heart is performed until cardiac tissue within the target is ablated. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the resilient distal section is at least 1 mm in diameter. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein when deployed in the heart, the distal section forms an open loop having a radius of between 7 mm and 15 mm. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the electrodes comprise at least three electrodes that are aligned as a linear array with a longitudinal axis of the distal section. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the electrodes comprise between 2 and 20 perforations. ### Claim 26 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the perforations of the electrodes measure between 0.1 mm and 0.4 mm in diameter. ### Claim 27 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the electrodes bulge between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm above the outer surface. ### Claim 28 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the electrodes are circular in contour. ### Claim 29 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the distal section has a longitudinal axis and wherein the electrodes are elliptical in contour. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method according to claim 29, wherein the electrodes have respective major axes that are aligned with the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The method according to claim 29, wherein the electrodes have respective minor axes that are aligned with the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 32 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the catheter further comprises a proximal base section having a multi-coil position sensor for generating second position and orientation dimensions. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method according to claim 32, wherein the multi-coil position sensor is within 10 mm of the distal end of the base section.