Catheter and method for mapping a pulmonary vein
AssigneeBiosense Webster, Inc.
InventorClaudio P. Plaza
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved catheter is provided that is particularly useful for mapping the pulmonary vein and other tubular regions of or near the heart. The catheter comprises an elongated catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. A mapping assembly is mounted at the distal end of the catheter body and comprises a stem and at least two spines. The spines are moveable between a collapsed position, where each spine has a distal end attached to the stem, and a free proximal end positioned generally against the stem, and an expanded position, where the free proximal end of each spine extends outwardly from the stem. Each spine carries at least one electrode.
Claims47
A catheter comprising:
- an elongated catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough;
- a mapping assembly mounted at the distal end of the catheter body and comprising a stem and at least two spines, the stem comprising a short tubing having an outer wall and a proximal end mounted at the distal end of the catheter body, wherein the short tubing of the stem is more rigid than the catheter body, wherein each spine has a distal end attached to the stem and a free proximal end positioned generally against the stem, and wherein each spine carries at least one electrode, the spines being moveable between a collapsed position and an expanded position where the free proximal end of each spine extends outwardly from the stem.
A method for mapping a tubular region of or near the heart comprising:
- introducing into the tubular region the distal end of a catheter comprising:
- an elongated catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough,
- a mapping assembly mounted at the distal end of the catheter body and comprising a stem and at least two spines moveable between a collapsed position, where each spine has a distal end attached to the stem and a free proximal end positioned generally against the stem, and an expanded position, where the free proximal end of each spine extends outwardly from the stem, and wherein each spine carries at least one electrode;
- positioning the mapping assembly so that at least electrode from each spine is near or in contact with tissue within the tubular region, wherein the positioning step comprises resistively heating a support member within each spine;
- and
- recording electrical data received from the at least one electrode in contact with the tissue.
A catheter comprising:
- an elongated catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough;
- a mapping assembly mounted at the distal end of the catheter body and comprising a stem and at least two spines moveable between a collapsed position, where each spine has a distal end attached to the stem and a free proximal end positioned generally against the stem, and an expanded position, where the free proximal end of each spine extends outwardly from the stem, wherein each spine carries at least one electrode, and wherein the stem has an outer diameter less than an outer diameter of the catheter body, such that when the mapping assembly is in the collapsed position, the stem and the spines together have a diameter similar to the outer diameter of the catheter body.
A catheter comprising
- an elongated catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough;
- a mapping assembly mounted at the distal end of the catheter body and comprising a stem and at least two spines moveable between a collapsed position, where each spine has a distal end attached to the stem and a free proximal end positioned generally against the stem, and an expanded position, where the free proximal end of each spine extends outwardly from the stem, and wherein each spine carries at least one electrode, each spine comprising a non-conductive covering having a support arm that has shape memory disposed therein, the catheter further comprising a spine mounting assembly mounted around the distal end of the stem, the spine mounting assembly comprising
- an outer mounting ring;
- a mounting structure provided coaxially within the outer mounting ring;
- a first non-conducting tube disposed between the outer mounting ring and the support arms;
- and
- a second non-conducting tube disposed between the support arms and the mounting structure,
- wherein the outer mounting ring and the mounted structure provide a channel in which the distal end of each support arm is mounted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.