# US 2024/0197231 A1 · Catheter end effector with woven flex circuit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0197231 A1 - Document ID: US20240197231A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/510,466 - Filed: 2023-11-15 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-15 - Applicants: Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd. - Inventors: Kevin Rorick - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240197231A1 ## CPC - A61B 5/287: Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS] - A61B 5/367: Electrophysiological study [EPS], e.g. electrical activation mapping or electro-anatomical mapping - A61B 18/1492: {having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence)} - A61B 2018/0016: {Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array} - A61B 2018/00196: {reciprocating lengthwise} - A61B 2018/00267: {having a basket shaped structure} - A61B 2018/00357: {Endocardium} - A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation} - A61B 2018/00839: {Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG} - A61B 2018/00904: {Automatic detection of target tissue} - A61B 2018/1407: {Loop} - A61B 2018/1465: {Deformable electrodes} - A61B 2018/1467: {using more than two electrodes on a single probe} - A61B 2562/164: the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A catheter for electrophysiology applications includes a shaft and an end effector. The shaft extends along a longitudinal axis to a distal end. The end effector is coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The end effector includes at least one loop member including a pair of spines. The end effector further includes a plurality of first electrodes affixed to at least one spine of the at least one loop member. The end effector further includes at least one flex circuit secured to the at least one spine of the at least one loop member. The at least one flex circuit includes a plurality of second electrodes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A catheter for electrophysiology applications, comprising: (a) a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis to a distal end; and (b) an end effector coupled to the distal end of the shaft, the end effector including: (i) at least one loop member including a pair of spines, (ii) a plurality of first electrodes affixed to at least one spine of the at least one loop member, and (iii) at least one flex circuit secured to the at least one spine of the at least one loop member, the at least one flex circuit including a plurality of second electrodes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, the at least one loop member including three loop members. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The catheter of claim 2, the at least one loop member including a pair of outer loop members and an inner loop member positioned radially inwardly of the pair of outer loop members relative to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The catheter of claim 2, the at least one loop member including a pair of inner loop members and an outer loop member positioned radially outwardly of the pair of inner loop members relative to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, the at least one loop member including an elongate structural member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The catheter of claim 5, the elongate structural member including a metallic material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The catheter of claim 5, the elongate structural member of the at least one at least one loop member including a plurality of apertures. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The catheter of claim 7, the at least one flex circuit being woven through the plurality of apertures. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, the plurality of first electrodes including a plurality of front first electrodes disposed on a front of the at least one spine and a plurality of rear first electrodes disposed on a rear of the at least one spine. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The catheter of claim 9, the plurality of front first electrodes being longitudinally offset from the plurality of rear first electrodes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, the flex circuit including a flexible substrate, the plurality of second electrodes being affixed to the flexible substrate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The catheter of claim 11, the plurality of second electrodes including a plurality of front second electrodes disposed on a front of the flexible substrate and a plurality of rear second electrodes disposed on a rear of the flexible substrate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The catheter of claim 12, the plurality of front second electrodes being longitudinally offset from the plurality of rear second electrodes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, the plurality of first electrodes alternating longitudinally with the plurality of second electrodes on at least one side of the at least one spine. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, each of the plurality of first electrodes being directly laterally opposed by a corresponding one of the plurality of second electrodes. ### Claim 16 An end effector of a catheter, the end effector comprising: (a) at least one loop member including a pair of spines, the spines of each loop member extending parallel to a longitudinal axis; (b) a plurality of first electrodes affixed to at least one spine of the at least one loop member, and (c) at least one flex circuit secured to the at least one spine of the at least one loop member, the at least one flex circuit including a plurality of second electrodes. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The end effector of claim 16, the plurality of first electrodes alternating longitudinally with the plurality of second electrodes on at least one side of the at least one spine. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The end effector of claim 16, each of the plurality of first electrodes being directly laterally opposed by a corresponding one of the plurality of second electrodes. ### Claim 19 An end effector of a catheter, the end effector comprising: (a) at least one loop member including a pair of spines, the spines of each loop member extending parallel to a longitudinal axis, at least one spine of the at least one at least one loop member including a plurality of apertures; (b) a plurality of first electrodes affixed to the at least one spine of the at least one loop member, and (c) at least one flex circuit woven through the plurality of apertures, the at least one flex circuit including a plurality of second electrodes. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The end effector of claim 19, the flex circuit including a flexible substrate, the plurality of second electrodes including a plurality of front second electrodes disposed on a front of the flexible substrate and a plurality of rear second electrodes disposed on a rear of the flexible substrate. ### Claim 21 A catheter for electrophysiology applications, comprising: (a) a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis to a distal end; and (b) an end effector coupled to the distal end of the shaft, the end effector including: (i) a loop member including a spine, (ii) a flex circuit secured to the spine, the flex circuit comprising: (1) an elongated substrate with a first substrate side and a second substrate side opposing the first substrate side, and (2) a plurality of first substrate electrodes disposed on the first substrate side and a plurality of second substrate electrodes disposed on the second substrate side, each first substrate electrode being laterally offset from each second substrate electrode. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The catheter of claim 21, wherein the spine is configured with slots and the flex circuit is woven through the slots. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The catheter of claim 22, wherein the spine has a first spine side and a second spine side opposing the first spine side, and the flex circuit is woven through the slots such that the first substrate side is exposed on the first spine side and the second substrate side is exposed on the second spine side. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The catheter of claim 22, wherein the spine has a first spine side and a second spine side opposing the first spine side, and the flex circuit is woven through the slots such that the first substrate electrodes are exposed on the first spine side and the second substrate electrodes are exposed on the second spine side. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The catheter of claim 24, wherein the spine includes a plurality of first spine electrodes on the first spine side and a plurality of second spine electrodes on the second spine side. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The catheter of claim 25, wherein the flex circuit is woven through the slots such that the first substrate electrodes are exposed on the first spine side and the second substrate electrodes are exposed on the second spine side, and the first substrate electrodes alternate with the first spine electrodes on the first spine side and the second substrate electrodes alternate with the second spine electrodes on the second spine side. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The catheter of claim 26, wherein each electrode of the first and second substrate electrodes is directly opposite of a different electrode of the first and second spine electrodes. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The catheter of claim 26, wherein each first substrate electrode is directly opposite of a different second spine electrode, each second substrate electrode is directly opposite of a different first spine electrode. ### Claim 29 (depends on 22) The catheter of claim 22, wherein the flex circuit is loosely woven through the slots such that one or more air gaps are defined between the substrate and the spine. ### Claim 30 (depends on 22) The catheter of claim 22, wherein the flex circuit is loosely woven through the slots such that at least one of the plurality of first substrate electrodes is not parallel with the spine. ### Claim 31 (depends on 22) The catheter of claim 22, wherein the spine includes nitinol. ### Claim 32 (depends on 21) The catheter of claim 21, wherein the loop member generally lies in a plane.