Multi-functional medical catheter and methods of use

A method of precisely positioning a catheter within a patient, the method comprising:

• inserting a catheter into a patient, the catheter comprising:
• a flexible elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a plurality of spaced apart electrodes operably attached to the flexible body near the distal end, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes is adapted only for mapping a tissue such that said at least one electrode adapted only for mapping a tissue has an exposed outer surface area smaller than a similarly configured ablation electrode;
• and
• a plurality of transducers disposed between at least some of the electrodes;
• mapping a tissue of the patient, using at least some of the plurality of spaced apart electrodes, to produce a tissue profile;
• identifying a tissue region to be treated using the tissue profile;
• positioning the elongate body using the transducers so that at least one of the plurality of electrodes is proximate the tissue region;
• and
• ablating the tissue region using at least one of the plurality of electrodes when at least one of the transducers is ing contact with the tissue region.

A method of diagnosing and treating cardiac rhythm disturbances, the method comprising:

• inserting a catheter into a patient, the catheter comprising:
• a flexible elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a plurality of spaced apart electrodes operably attached to the flexible body near the distal end, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes is adapted only for mapping a tissue such that said at least one electrode adapted only for mapping a tissue has an exposed outer surface area smaller than a similarly configured ablation electrode;
• and
• a plurality of spaced apart tissue orientation detectors attached to the flexible body near the distal end;
• mapping a tissue of the patient, using at least some of the plurality of spaced apart electrodes, to produce a tissue profile;
• identifying a tissue to be treated using the tissue profile;
• positioning the elongate body using the tissue orientation detectors so that at least one of the plurality of electrodes is proximate the tissue to be treated;
• and
• ablating the tissue using at least one of the electrodes when at least one of the tissue orientation detectors is in contact with the tissue.

A method of precisely positioning a medical catheter with respect to a tissue, the method comprising:

• providing a medical catheter system comprising:
• a flexible elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a plurality of spaced apart electrodes operably attached to the flexible body near the distal end;
• a plurality of tissue orientation detectors disposed on the flexible body between at least some of the electrodes;
• and
• a controller electrically coupled to the plurality of electrodes and the plurality of tissue orientation detectors;
• inserting the flexible elongate body into a patient;
• mapping an electrical profile of the tissue using at least some of the plurality of electrodes;
• positioning the elongate body to be proximate a tissue using the plurality of tissue orientation detectors and based in part on the electrical profile of the tissue;
• and
• activating at least one of the electrodes to ablate a desired region of the tissue if the controller detennines that the tissue orientation detectors closest to the electrode in both the proximal and distal directions are in contact with the tissue.

A method of precisely positioning a medical catheter with respect to a tissue, the method comprising:

• providing a medical catheter system comprising:
• a flexible elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;
• at least one electrode operably attached to the flexible body near the distal end and adapted for mapping a tissue;
• at least one tissue orientation detector disposed on the flexible body adjacent the electrode;
• and
• a controller electrically coupled to the at least one electrode adapted for tissue mapping;
• inserting the flexible elongate body into a patient;
• mapping an electrical profile of the tissue using the at least one electrode adapted for tissue mapping;
• positioning the elongate body to be proximate a tissue using the tissue orientation detector and based in part on the electrical profile of the tissue;
• and
• activating at least one electrode to ablate a desired region of the tissue if the controller determines that the tissue orientation detector is in contact with the desired region.

A medical catheter system comprising:

• a flexible elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a plurality of spaced apart electrodes operably attached to the flexible body near the distal end and adapted for mapping a tissue;
• a plurality of tissue orientation detectors disposed on the flexible body, wherein at least one of the tissue orientation detectors is disposed between two of the electrodes adapted for tissue mapping;
• at least one electrode adapted for ablating tissue disposed on the flexible body and adjacent one of the tissue orientation detectors;
• a controller coupled to the electrodes adapted for mapping a tissue and coupled to the tissue orientation detectors wherein the controller is adapted for tissue mapping;
• and
• an indicator light adapted to indicate when the tissue orientation detector is in contact with tissue.