Systems for tissue stimulation and associated methods

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for pacing tissue are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the devices, systems, and methods position a tip section of a catheter adjacent tissue within an anatomical structure. The tip section is attached to a distal end portion of a catheter shaft, has a maximum radial dimension that is larger than a maximum radial dimension of the catheter shaft, and includes a plurality of electrodes spatially distributed about the tip section. The devices, systems, and methods further select one or more groupings of individual ones of the plurality of electrodes and deliver stimulating energy to or through the adjacent tissue via the selected groupings of electrodes. The stimulating energy is sufficient to activate nerve tissue proximate the tip section but is insufficient to ablate the adjacent tissue. In this manner, devices, systems, and methods disclosed herein can be used to locate nerve tissue proximate the tip section.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.