Electrophysiology/ablation catheter having lariat configuration of variable radius

An electrophysiology/ablation catheter comprising:

• a) an elongated flexible tubular casing having a proximal end and at least one electrode disposed at a distal end thereof, said tubular casing having a pre-formed bend therein adjacent a proximal side of the at least one electrode;
• b) a catheter deflection assembly disposed in said casing and including a pair of tension/compression members extending through said casing, wherein said tension/compression members have a transversely resilient spacer disposed there between in the distal portion thereof;
• c) an electrical lead connected to each of said electrodes and extending through the tubular casing to the proximal end thereof, said lead adapted for external connection thereof;
• and
• d) an actuator connected to the proximal end of the catheter deflection assembly and operable upon movement to effect lateral displacement of the distal end in a curvature greater than 360 degrees and in a plane nonparallel to a longitudinal extent of the catheter.

An electrophysiology/ablation catheter comprising:

• a) an elongated flexible tubular casing having a proximal end and at least one electrode disposed at a distal end thereof, said tubular casing having a pre-formed bend therein adjacent a proximal side of the at least one electrode;
• b) a catheter deflection assembly disposed in said casing;
• c) an electrical lead connected to each of said electrodes and extending through the tubular casing to the proximal end thereof, said lead adapted for external connection thereof;
• and
• d) an actuator connected to the proximal end of the catheter deflection assembly and operable upon movement to effect lateral displacement of the distal end in a curvature greater than 360 degrees and in a plane nonparallel to a longitudinal extent of the catheter, wherein said lateral displacement comprises a curvature having a radius as small as five multiples of a transverse dimension of said casing.

A method of disposing an electrophysiology/ablation catheter in an associated body cavity comprising the steps of:

• a) providing an elongated tubular catheter, disposing at least one electrode on a distal end thereof, and pre-forming a bend in the tubular catheter adjacent a proximal side of the at least one electrode;
• b) disposing a pair of tension/compression members in the tubular catheter adjacent to the distal end and extending the members to adjacent a proximal end of said catheter;
• c) connecting an actuator to the tension compression members adjacent the proximal end of the catheter;
• d) moving the actuator and tensioning one member of the pair of tension/compression members and simultaneously compressing the other member of the pair and curling the distal end of the tubular catheter in a lariat having a curvature greater than 360 degrees and in a plane nonparallel to a longitudinal extent of the catheter;
• e) disposing the lariat in the associated body cavity to orient the electrodes in a circumferential direction about an inner periphery of the associated body cavity;
• and
• (f) opening the lariat after the lariat disposing step.

A method of disposing an electrophysiology/ablation catheter in an associated body cavity comprising the steps of:

• a) providing an elongated tubular catheter, disposing at least one electrode on a distal end thereof, and pre-forming a bend in the tubular catheter adjacent a proximal side of the at least one electrode;
• b) disposing a pair of tension/compression members in the tubular catheter adjacent to the distal end and extending the members to adjacent a proximal end of said catheter;
• c) connecting an actuator to the tension compression members adjacent the proximal end of the catheter;
• d) moving the actuator and tensioning one member of the pair of tension/compression members and simultaneously compressing the other member of the pair and curling the distal end of the tubular catheter in a lariat having a curvature greater than 360 degrees and in a plane nonparallel to a longitudinal extent of the catheter;
• and
• e) disposing the lariat in the associated body cavity to orient the electrodes in a circumferential direction about an inner periphery of the associated body cavity, wherein the lariat curving step includes curving the distal end of the tubular catheter in a radius of curvature as small as five multiples of a transverse dimension of the tubular catheter.

A method of disposing an electrophysiology/ablation catheter in an associated body cavity comprising the steps of:

• a) providing an elongated tubular catheter, disposing at least one electrode on a distal end thereof, and pre-forming a bend in the tubular catheter adjacent a proximal side of the at least one electrode;
• b) disposing a pair of tension/compression members in the tubular catheter adjacent to the distal end and extending the members to adjacent a proximal end of said catheter;
• c) connecting an actuator to the tension compression members adjacent the proximal end of the catheter;
• d) moving the actuator and tensioning one member of the pair of tension/compression members and simultaneously compressing the other member of the pair and curling the distal end of the tubular catheter in a lariat having a curvature greater than 360 degrees and in a plane nonparallel to a longitudinal extent of the catheter, wherein the curvature of the distal end is reduced such that the lariat has a radius smaller than the radius of an inner periphery of the associated body cavity;
• e) disposing the lariat in the associated body cavity to orient the electrodes in a circumferential direction about the inner periphery of the associated body cavity;
• and
• (f) opening the lariat after the lariat disposing step to a final curvature that is generally equal to the radius of the inner periphery.

A method of mapping/ablating an associated pulmonary vein/artery in a heart comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a catheter having a plurality of spaced electrodes disposed on a distal end thereof;
• b) inserting the distal end of the catheter in one of the associated vein/artery in the heart;
• c) curling the catheter in the heart normal to the direction of elongation of the catheter and forming a lariat having a curvature of radius Rv;
• and
• d) opening the lariat to a curvature having a radius Rf to orient the electrodes circumferentially about the inner periphery of the associated vein/artery.