Abstract: A medical probe is presented including an expandable basket assembly coupled to a distal end of a tubular shaft. The basket assembly includes a cloverleaf cutout structure at its distal end and spines extending proximally from the cloverleaf structure and coupling to the tubular shaft. The cloverleaf structure includes a sinusoidal-like member extending from one spine to an adjacent spine in a direction around the longitudinal axis. The sinusoidal-like member meanders around a first, second and third virtual circle such that the first and third virtual circles are approximately the same distance from a longitudinal axis of the medical probe and approximately the same size and the second virtual circle is between the first and second virtual circles, closer to the longitudinal axis, and having approximately 90% of the first open area of the first and third virtual circles.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes an irrigation hub for an ablation catheter comprising a cylindrical member extending along a longitudinal axis. The cylindrical member can comprise a proximal end having a first outer diameter and a recess extending inwardly along the longitudinal axis forming an interior portion, a distal end having a second outer diameter, the second outer diameter being less than the first outer diameter, and an irrigation inlet chamber disposed proximate the interior portion and configured to receive fluid from an irrigation supply. The cylindrical member can further comprise a plurality of irrigation openings disposed generally transverse to the longitudinal axis from a distal portion of the irrigation inlet chamber and a flow diverter extending into the distal portion of the irrigation inlet chamber to block fluid flow and redirect fluid flow out of the plurality of irrigation openings in a direction generally transverse relative to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An example expandable basket assembly for a medical probe may include a plurality of spines extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal central proximal spine portion to a distal spine portion. The distal spine portion may define a cloverleaf structure disposed radially around the longitudinal axis. The cloverleaf structure may define a central cutout with a central area disposed about the longitudinal axis. The cloverleaf structure may include a sinusoidal-like member extending from one spine to an adjacent spine in a direction around the longitudinal axis. The sinusoidal-like member may include a plurality of distal facing portions, a plurality of proximal facing portions, and at least one side connector connecting two adjacent distal facing portions to one another. The at least one side connector may strengthen a distal end of the expandable basket.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a medical probe including a tubular shaft, a contact force sensor assembly, a spine retention hub, and an expandable basket assembly. The contact force sensor can include a first bayonet mount portion and the spine retention hub can include a second bayonet mount portion to couple the spine retention hub to the contact force sensor by interlocking with the first bayonet mount portion. The expandable basket assembly can include a plurality of spines and at least one electrode coupled to each of the plurality of spines. Each of the plurality of spines can be configured to bow radially outward from the longitudinal axis when the expandable basket assembly is transitioned from a collapsed form to an expanded form.

Abstract: A medical system includes a catheter including an insertion tube having a distal end, an elongated resilient distal section fixed to the distal end of the insertion tube, the distal section having an outer surface, and a plurality of electrode structures, each electrode structure being disposed on, and bulging above the outer surface of the distal section, each electrode structure including a respective primary electrode and at least one respective secondary electrode extending around the outer surface, and respective electrically insulating material disposed around the outer surface and between the respective primary electrode and the at least one respective secondary electrode, the respective primary electrode bulging further above the outer surface than the at least one respective secondary electrode and the electrically insulating material.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed which involve a catheter having a distal end that includes electrically and thermally conducting inner and outer layers, a polymer layer between the inner and outer layers, thermal bridges selectively positioned between the inner and outer layers through the polymer layer to transfer heath between the two layers through the polymer layer. An ablation method includes inserting the distal end into a body of a subject, contacting tissue with the outer layer, passing ablation current via the outer layer into tissue such that heat is transferred to the inner layer via the thermal bridges, and passing irrigation fluid through irrigation channels through the inner layer, outer layer, and polymer layer to evacuate heath from the inner layer into blood.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a catheter apparatus is configured to be inserted into a body part of a living subject, and including an elongated deflectable element including a distal end, an expandable basket assembly disposed at the distal end and comprising a plurality of splines and a plurality of electrodes disposed on the splines, an irrigation channel disposed in the elongated deflectable element, and an inflatable balloon disposed in the expandable basket assembly and including a plurality of irrigation holes in fluid connection with the irrigation channel.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a catheter including an insertion tube and a first position sensor, a pusher including a second position sensor, and an expandable assembly including flexible strips disposed circumferentially around a distal portion of the pusher, with first ends of the strips connected to the distal end of the insertion tube and second ends of the strips connected to the distal portion of the pusher, the flexible strips bowing radially outward when the pusher is retracted, processing circuitry to receive a respective position signal from the first and second position sensors, compute location and orientation coordinates for the position sensors subject to a constraint that the position sensors are coaxial and have a same orientation, compute a distance between the computed location coordinates of the position sensors, and find position coordinates of the flexible strips responsively to at least the computed distance.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an apparatus that includes an intrabody probe and an electrode coupled to a distal end of the intrabody probe. The electrode includes a flexible electrically-insulating substrate, comprising a substrate surface. The electrode further includes a layer of an electrically-conducting metal covering at least part of the substrate surface. The electrode further includes a metallic sheet, comprising an inner sheet surface, and an outer sheet surface shaped to define multiple depressions. The electrode further includes an adhesive, which fills the depressions and bonds the outer sheet surface to the layer of the electrically-conducting metal. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A system includes a probe, a processor, and a bubble detector. The probe is configured for insertion into a lumen of a patient and is coupled to an irrigation pump. The processor is configured to control delivery of irrigation fluid to the probe by turning on and controlling the irrigation pump. The bubble detector is coupled to a proximal portion of the probe. In response to the irrigation pump being turned on, the bubble detector is configured to automatically start detection of gas bubbles in the irrigated fluid, and transmit fail-safe signals indicating fail-safe bubble detection is operational. The processor is further configured to monitor the fail-safe signals and, in absence of fail-safe signals, to automatically disable delivery of the irrigation fluid.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a shaft, a distal-end assembly and a puller-wire. The shaft is configured for insertion into a body of a patient. The distal-end assembly, which is coupled to the shaft, includes a telescopic assembly, configured to elongate so as to collapse the distal-end assembly, and to compress so as to expand the distal-end assembly. The distal-end assembly further includes an elastic element, coupled to self-elongate and thus elongate the telescopic assembly. The distal-end assembly also includes an inflatable balloon, which is coupled to the telescopic assembly and is configured to collapse by the telescopic assembly elongating, and to expand by the telescopic assembly compressing. The puller-wire runs through the shaft and is connected to a distal end of the telescopic assembly, and is configured, when pulled, to compress the telescopic assembly.

Abstract: A medical probe, including a flexible insertion tube having a proximal segment and a deflectable distal segment, and containing first and second lumens running longitudinally through the insertion tube, wherein the first and second lumens are twisted around each other in the proximal segment, and run parallel to each other in the deflectable distal segment. The medical probe also includes first and second wires running respectively through the first and second lumens and having respective first and second distal ends, which are anchored within the deflectable distal segment of the insertion tube.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a catheter tip that includes an outer layer of a thermally-conducting metal; an inner layer of a thermally-conducting metal; a polymer layer between the inner and outer layer; and a plurality of thermal bridges selectively positioned between the inner and outer layers and through the polymer layer thereby significantly increasing the heat transfer of the catheter tip through the polymer layer. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A catheter includes an insertion tube, a flexible substrate and one or more electrical devices. The insertion tube is configured for insertion into a patient body. The flexible substrate is configured to wrap around a distal end of the insertion tube and includes electrical interconnections. The electrical devices are coupled to the flexible substrate and are connected to the electrical interconnections.

Abstract: A medical probe, consisting of an insertion tube having a distal end configured for insertion into a body of a patient and containing a lumen having an electrical conductor for conveying electrical energy. The probe also has a conductive cap attached to the distal end of the insertion tube and coupled electrically to the electrical conductor, the cap including a side wall having multiple longitudinal bores therein. There are a plurality of thermocouples disposed in respective ones of the longitudinal bores, and an electrically conductive cement at least partially fills the longitudinal bores so as to secure the thermocouples in the bores while making electrically conductive contact between the thermocouples and the conductive cap.

Abstract: In one exemplary mode, a medical system includes a catheter to be inserted into a chamber of a heart of a living subject, and including a distal end including catheter electrodes to contact tissue at respective locations within the chamber of the heart, at least one position sensor to provide at least one position signal indicative of at least one position of the distal end, a display, and processing circuitry to assess respective qualities of contact of the catheter electrodes with the tissue, compute positions of respective ones of the catheter electrodes responsively to the at least one position signal, generate a 3D anatomical map of at least part of the chamber of the heart responsively to the assessed respective qualities of contact and the computed positions of the respective ones of the catheter electrodes and render to the display the generated 3D anatomical map.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a tube, a tip electrode coupled to a distal end of the tube and shaped to define at least one cavity, a microelectrode disposed within the cavity and including an outer surface that is of lesser convexity than that of a portion of the tip electrode surrounding the cavity, and a conductive polymeric coating that coats the outer surface. Other examples are also described.

Abstract: A catheter includes: (i) a shaft for insertion into an organ of a patient, (ii) an expandable distal-end assembly, which is coupled to the shaft and includes multiple splines, (iii) at least an ablation electrode, which is configured: (a) to be coupled to a spline of the splines, and (b) when placed in contact with tissue of the organ, to apply an ablation signal to the tissue, and the ablation electrode includes a slot, and (iv) a temperature sensor, which is contained within the slot and is configured, when the ablation electrode is placed in contact with the tissue, to produce a thermal signal indicative of a temperature of the tissue.

Abstract: A catheter includes, a shaft for insertion into an organ, an expandable distal-end assembly coupled to the shaft and includes splines, at least one of the splines includes a flexible substrate, configured to conform to tissue of the organ, and a sensing electrode, configured: (a) to be coupled to the flexible substrate, and (b) when in contact with the tissue, to produce a electrically signal indicative of an electrocardiogram signal sensed in the tissue, the sensing electrode including: (i) a gold substrate, formed over the flexible substrate and configured to conduct the electrically signal, (ii) a first polymer layer, formed over a first section of the gold substrate and configured to electrically isolate between the tissue and the gold substrate, and (iii) a second polymer layer, formed over a second, different, section of the gold substrate, and configured to conduct the electrocardiogram signal between the tissue and the gold substrate.

Abstract: In one exemplary mode, a catheter apparatus includes an elongated deflectable element including a distal end, a flexible puller including a distal portion, and configured to be retracted through the deflectable element, and an expandable assembly including a plurality of resilient splines, each resilient spline including at least one electrode disposed thereon, the resilient splines being disposed circumferentially around the distal portion of the puller, with first ends of the splines being coupled with the distal end of the deflectable element and second ends of the splines coupled with the distal portion of the puller, the splines being configured to bow radially outward in a relaxed form of the expandable assembly and bow further radially outward when the puller is retracted expanding the expandable assembly from the relaxed form to an expanded form.