# US 2019/0167347 A1 · Catheter adapted for direct tissue contact > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0167347 A1 - Document ID: US20190167347A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/273,098 - Filed: 2019-02-11 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-01 - Assignees: Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd. - Applicants: Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd. - Inventors: Debby Grunewald Highsmith; Meir Bar-Tal - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167347A1 ## CPC - A61B 18/1492: {having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence)} - A61B 18/1482: {having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy} - A61B 18/1477: {Needle-like probes} - A61B 2018/00029: {open} - A61B 2018/00702: {Power or energy} - A61B 2018/00797: {measured by multiple temperature sensors} - A61B 2018/00821: {measured by a thermocouple} - A61B 2018/00839: {Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG} - A61B 2018/00875: {Resistance or impedance} - A61B 2218/002: Irrigation - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An irrigated ablation catheter adapted for direct tissue contact has micro-elements that provide more accurate sensing of tissue, including thermal and electrical properties for temperature and impedance measurements. The micro-elements extend through a hollow chamber of an irrigated ablation electrode, and distal ends thereof can protrude outside of electrode or be flush with the electrode. The micro-elements have a protective guide tube in which components enabling temperature sensing or electrical sensing are encased. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A catheter, comprising: an elongated body; a distal electrode assembly, including an electrode having a shell configured with an inner chamber, the shell having a wall defining a proximal portion and a distal portion, the wall of the distal portion having at least two apertures; one or more electrode micro-elements and one or more temperature sensing micro-elements extending through the inner chamber between the proximal portion and the distal portion, each of the one or more electrode micro-elements and the one or more temperature sensing micro-elements having a distal end fixedly received in a separate one of the at least two apertures of the wall of the distal portion, each of the one or more electrode micro-elements and the one or more temperature sensing micro-elements is configured to directly contact tissue; and a control handle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein the inner chamber of the shell is adapted to receive fluid and the inner chamber has a plurality of irrigation apertures configured to allow fluid to flow from inside the inner chamber to outside the inner chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The catheter of claim 2, wherein the distal end of each of the one or more electrode micro-elements and the one or more temperature sensing micro-elements includes an exposed portion outside of the wall of the shell. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more electrode micro-elements includes a tube with a distal end, a lumen and at least one wire extending through the lumen, the at least one wire having a distal end attached to a micro-electrode at the distal end of the respective electrode micro-element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more temperature sensing micro-element has a tube with a distal end, a lumen and at least two wires extending through the lumen, the at least two wires being configured for temperature sensing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein: the one or more electrode micro-elements comprises a plurality of electrode micro-elements, the distal ends of the electrode micro-elements being arranged in a radial pattern in the distal portion of the electrode about a longitudinal axis of the electrode; and/or the one or more temperature sensing micro-elements comprises a plurality of temperature sensing micro-elements, wherein the distal ends of the temperature sensing micro-elements are arranged in a radial patter in the distal portion of the electrode about the longitudinal axis of the electrode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The catheter of claim 6, wherein: the plurality of electrode micro-elements comprises two to six electrode micro-elements; and/or the plurality of temperature sensing micro-elements comprises two to six temperature sensing micro-elements. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The catheter of claim 6, wherein: the plurality of electrode micro-elements comprises three electrode micro-elements; and/or the plurality of temperature sensing micro-elements comprises three temperature sensing microelements. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The catheter of claim 6, wherein the plurality of temperature sensing micro-elements comprises three temperature sensing micro-elements arranged generally equi-distant from each other in a radial pattern about a longitudinal axis of the electrode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The catheter of claim 9, wherein the distal ends of the three temperature sensing micro-elements are arranged generally at 0 degrees, 120 degrees and 240 degrees about the longitudinal axis of the electrode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The catheter of claim 6, wherein the plurality of electrode micro-elements comprises three electrode micro-elements arranged generally equi-distant from each other in a radial pattern about a longitudinal axis of the electrode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The catheter of claim 11, wherein the distal ends of the three electrode micro-elements are arranged generally at 60 degrees, 180 degrees and 300 degrees about the longitudinal axis of the electrode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The catheter of claim 6, wherein: the plurality of electrode micro-elements comprises six electrode micro-elements; and/or the plurality of temperature sensing micro-elements comprises six electrode micro-elements. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrode micro-elements comprises a plurality of electrode micro-elements configured for impedance sensing, and the one or more temperature sensing micro-elements comprises a plurality of temperature sensing micro-elements configured for temperature sensing, wherein each of the electrode micro-elements has a tube housing a micro-electrode and a lead wire; and wherein each of the temperature sensing micro-elements has a tube housing a pair of wires configured for temperature sensing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The catheter of claim 14, wherein distal ends of the electrode micro-elements are arranged in a radial pattern along a circumference of the distal portion of the shell about a longitudinal axis of the electrode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The catheter of claim 15, wherein the distal ends of the temperature sensing micro-elements are also arranged in a radial pattern along the circumference, interspersed between the distal ends of the electrode micro-elements. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The catheter of claim 15, wherein the distal ends of the temperature sensing micro-elements are arranged in a radial pattern along a different circumference of the distal portion of the shell about the longitudinal axis of the electrode. ### Claim 18 (depends on 3) The catheter of claim 3, wherein the exposed portion extends at an angle having a distal component and a radial component relative to the longitudinal axis of the electrode. ### Claim 19 (depends on 3) The catheter of claim 3, wherein the exposed portion has a length of about 0.2 mm to about 1.0 mm. ### Claim 20 (depends on 3) The catheter of claim 3, wherein the exposed portion has an atraumatic configuration configured to form a micro-depression in tissue without breaching the tissue.