Abstract: A method of diagnosing and treating the human or animal body comprises feeding a flexible guide wire, dimensioned to be inserted into human coronary arteries, along a blood vessel in the human or animal body and epicardially mapping the electrocardiographic signals by means of electrodes secured to the guide wire. The method of diagnosing and treating the human or animal body may include the step of ablating selected body tissue by establishing a DC or radio frequency current through the body tissue between a pair of electrodes in which at least one of the electrodes is located on the guide wire. The method may also include passing flowable material to or from selected tissue by means of a catheter passed over the guide wire. The method may optionally include sensing the velocity of blood flow in the blood vessel by means of a velocity sensor mounted on the guide wire, or the temperature of selected body tissue by means of a temperature sensor mounted on the guide wire.

Abstract: Rotary connector for use with a small diameter flexible elongate member having electrical capabilities and having a proximal extremity with at least first and second spaced-apart conductive sleeves thereon. The rotary connector is comprised of a housing and at least first and second spaced-apart contact members mounted in the housing. The housing and the first and second contact members have passages therein through which the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate member can extend to place the first and second conductive sleeves in contact with the contact members. A clamping assembly means is carried by the housing for retaining the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate member in the housing while permitting rotation of the flexible elongate member with respect to the housing. The first and second contact members each have a base portion having proximal and distal sides.