Deflectable loop electrode array mapping and ablation catheter for cardiac chambers

A cardiac arrhythmia ablation catheter comprising:

• a main catheter comprising an elongated, flexible plastic tube having a proximal end and a distal end, and an outside diameter small enough to pass through a vascular system from an introducer site into a desired cardiac chamber, the main catheter further describing a main lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the main catheter having the capability required to enable routing through the vascular system;
• a mapping and ablation system attached to the distal end of the tube of the main catheter and further comprising,
• an adjustable tubular distal electrode array loop having generally oppositely disposed sides configured to address a tricuspid annulus carrying an electrode array including a plurality of externally conductive, individually connected mapping/ablation electrodes arranged in serial spaced relation along the adjustable tubular loop,
• insulated conductor means connecting the electrodes electrically with one input/output device outside the catheter for mapping electrical activity of a chamber wall contacted and ablating tissue as indicated,
• a pair of tensioning drawstring wires for adjusting and controlling shape and posture of the adjustable array loop;
• control handle means for controlling the mapping and ablation system connected to the proximal end of the main catheter;
• a pair of tension control means in the control handle means for separately controlling tension in each drawstring wire of the pair;
• and
• wherein the pair of drawstring wires are threaded in opposed relation along the oppositely disposed sides of the loop and extend through the loop and the main catheter lumen and are each connected separately to a respective one of the pair of tension control means.

A method of mapping and ablating tissue in a cardiac chamber of interest comprising the steps of:

• introducing a cardiac mapping and ablation catheter system into a vascular system at an introducer site, the catheter system having,
• a main catheter comprising an elongated, flexible plastic tube having aproximal end and a distal end, and an outside diameter small enough to pass through the vascular system from an introducer site into a cardiac chamber of interest and having the capability required to enable routing of the main catheter through the vascular system, the main catheter further describing main internal lumen of a relatively large size extending from the proximal end to the distal end;
• a mapping and ablation catheter system attached to the distal end of the main catheter and further comprising,
• an adjustable tubular distal loop having generally oppositely disposed sides carrying an electrode array including a plurality of externally conductive, individually connected mapping/ablation electrodes arranged in spaced relation along the adjustable distal loop,
• insulated conductor means connecting each electrode electrically with an input/output device outside the catheter for mapping electrical activity of a chamber wall contacted and ablating tissue as indicated, and
• control means for adjusting and controlling shape and posture or deflection of the adjustable array loop comprising a pair of tension control members each associated with a side of the adjustable tubular distal loop to apply an amount of tension or slack thereto as desired;
• navigating the main catheter system along in a vascular system from an introducer site to access a heart chamber of interest and inserting the mapping and ablation catheter system into the chamber of interest;
• using the pair of tension control members, each connected to one of the pair of tension control members to adjust an associated side of the adjustable tubular distal loop and loop deflection to conform to a shape of inner wall in the chamber of interest as required and using the electrodes to map electrical activity thereof;
• using the electrodes of the tubular loop to ablate sites of early activity as required.