High-Density Electrode Catheters With Magnetic Position Tracking

A catheter comprising:

• a catheter shaft including a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter shaft defining a catheter shaft longitudinal axis;
• a flexible tip portion located adjacent to the distal end of the catheter shaft, wherein the flexible tip portion includes a flexible framework that includes a longitudinally extending first outboard arm, second outboard arm, first inboard arm, second inboard arm, and central arm;
• a proximal coupler from which the first and second outboard arms, the first and second inboard arms, and the central arm extend, wherein the first and second outboard arms and the first and second inboard arms exit the proximal coupler on a first plane that runs along a longitudinal axis of each of the first and second outboard and inboard arms and the central arm exits the proximal coupler offset from the first plane;
• a plurality of electrodes disposed on each of the first outboard arm, second outboard arm, first inboard arm, second inboard arm, and central arm;
• and
• a distal coupler that couples distal portions of the first and second outboard arms, first and second inboard arms, and the central arm on the first plane, wherein the distal coupler defines a keyed slot into which a distal end of the central arm is disposed.

A catheter comprising:

• a catheter shaft including a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter shaft defining a catheter shaft longitudinal axis;
• a flexible tip portion located adjacent to the distal end of the catheter shaft, wherein the flexible tip portion includes a flexible framework comprising:
• first and second longitudinally extending outboard arms;
• first and second longitudinally extending inboard arms;
• and
• a central arm that extends between the first and second longitudinally extending inboard arms;
• a proximal coupler from which the first and second outboard arms, the first and second inboard arms, and the central arm extend, wherein the first and second outboard arms and the first and second inboard arms exit the proximal coupler on a first plane that runs along a longitudinal axis of each of the first and second outboard and inboard arms and the central arm exits the proximal coupler offset from the first plane and extends distally away from the proximal coupler and toward the first plane;
• a flexible circuit disposed on the flexible framework, wherein the flexible circuit includes a plurality of electrodes disposed thereon;
• a tip magnetic position sensor disposed on a distal portion of the flexible framework;
• and
• a distal coupler that couples distal portions of the first and second outboard arms, first and second inboard arms, and the central arm on the first plane.