Planar catheter with sensing loops and electrodes on the same flexible circuit

A flexible circuit for an end effector of a medical probe, the flexible circuit comprising:

• a flexible substrate defining a plurality of tines extending along a longitudinal axis;
• a plurality of electrodes disposed on each of the plurality of tines;
• and
• first and second sensing loops disposed on the flexible substrate,
• each of the first and second sensing loop forming one or more coils configured to generate a current that is indicative of a position of the one or more coils when the one or more coils is subjected to a magnetic field,
• the first sensing loop comprising two segments disposed on respective tines, of the plurality of tines, extending along the longitudinal axis and converging towards each other on a tine, of the plurality of tines, offset from the longitudinal axis, and
• the second sensing loop comprising two segments disposed on respective tines, of the plurality of tines, extending along the longitudinal axis and converging towards each other on another tine, of the plurality of tines, offset from the longitudinal axis.

An end effector for a medical probe, the end effector comprising:

• an insulative material;
• a framework disposed in the insulative material, the framework being approximately planar along a longitudinal axis;
• and
• a first flexible circuit disposed in the insulative material such that the first flexible circuit is spaced apart from the framework along a vertical axis, the first flexible circuit comprising:
• a first flexible substrate defining a first plurality of tines extending along the longitudinal axis;
• a first plurality of electrodes disposed on each of the first plurality of tines;
• and
• first and second sensing loops disposed on the first flexible substrate,
• each of the first and second sensing loop forming one or more coils configured to generate a current that is indicative of a position of the one or more coils when the one or more coils is subjected to a magnetic field,
• the first sensing loop comprising two segments disposed on respective tines, of the first plurality of tines, extending along the longitudinal axis and converging towards each other on a tine, of the first plurality of tines, offset from the longitudinal axis, and
• the second sensing loop comprising two segments disposed on respective tines, of the first plurality of tines, extending along the longitudinal axis and converging towards each other on another tine, of the first plurality of tines, offset from the longitudinal axis.