Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a catheter, an end effector, a first actuator, and a second actuator. The catheter extends distally from the body and defines a longitudinal axis. The end effector defines an end effector plane. The first actuator is operable to rotate the end effector about the longitudinal axis between a first angular position and a second angular position. The second actuator is operable to deflect the end effector away from the longitudinal axis along a deflection plane that is parallel with the end effector plane when the end effector is in the first angular position about the longitudinal axis. The second actuator is operable to deflect the end effector away from the longitudinal axis along a deflection plane that is offset from the end effector plane when the end effector is in the second angular position about the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A method is used to manufacture a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument includes a catheter and an end effector extending distally from the catheter. The method includes forming at least one electrode, sensor, or thermocouple onto the catheter or the end effector of the surgical instrument by etching or vapor depositing a three-dimensional structure onto a non-conductive material that is layered over a super elastic material.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter, a sensor, a first pair of wire segments, an artifact reduction feature, and a correction module. The sensor is positioned at a distal end of the catheter and is configured to generate a sensor signal. The first pair of wire segments is coupled with the sensor and extends along the length of the catheter. The artifact reduction feature is positioned proximate to the sensor and includes a second pair of wire segments. The correction module is configured to subtract motion-induced artifacts from signals received from the first pair of wire segments, based on motion-induced artifacts from signals received from the second pair of wire segments, to thereby provide a corrected sensor signal.

Abstract: A catheter for electrophysiology includes a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis to a distal end and an end effector coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The end effector includes a first loop member disposed on a first side of the longitudinal axis, a second loop member disposed on a second side of the longitudinal axis, and a third loop member. The third loop member includes a first spine disposed on the first side of the longitudinal axis. The first spine includes a first plurality of electrodes. The first spine is positioned radially outwardly of the first loop member relative to the longitudinal axis. The third loop member further includes a second spine disposed on the second side of the longitudinal axis. The second spine includes a second plurality of electrodes and is positioned radially outwardly of the second loop member relative to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter, a sensor, a first pair of wire segments, an artifact reduction feature, and a correction module. The sensor is positioned at a distal end of the catheter and is configured to generate a sensor signal. The first pair of wire segments is coupled with the sensor and extends along the length of the catheter. The artifact reduction feature is positioned proximate to the sensor and includes a second pair of wire segments. The correction module is configured to subtract motion-induced artifacts from signals received from the first pair of wire segments, based on motion-induced artifacts from signals received from the second pair of wire segments, to thereby provide a corrected sensor signal.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter shaft assembly, an end effector, a coupling member, and a position sensor assembly. The end effector includes at least one electrode. The coupling member is positioned at the distal end of the catheter shaft assembly and at the proximal end of the end effector. The coupling member includes a body having an exterior. The position sensor assembly includes at least one coil. The at least one coil is configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of the at least one coil in response to an alternating magnetic field. At least a portion of the position sensor assembly is positioned about the exterior of the coupling member such that the portion of the position sensor assembly positioned about the exterior of the coupling member is external to the coupling member.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter shaft assembly and an end effector. The end effector is configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration. The end effector is configured to fit within an outer sheath in the first configuration. The end effector is configured to expand outwardly away from the longitudinal axis in the second configuration when exposed distally relative to the distal end of the outer sheath. The end effector includes a resilient frame assembly that is configured to resiliently bias the end effector toward the second configuration. The end effector further includes a first flex circuit assembly secured to the resilient frame assembly. The first flex circuit assembly includes a first flexible substrate and a first plurality of electrodes positioned on the first flexible substrate. The electrodes are configured to pick up electrical potentials from tissue or blood or ablate tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter shaft assembly and an end effector. The end effector includes a first flex circuit assembly, which includes a base member extending distally from the distal end of the catheter shaft assembly. The first flex circuit assembly further includes a plurality of obliquely extending members extending obliquely from the base member. The obliquely extending members are configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration. The obliquely extending members are configured to fit within an outer sheath in the first configuration. The obliquely extending members are configured to expand outwardly away from the longitudinal axis in the second configuration when exposed distally relative to the distal end of the outer sheath. The first flex circuit assembly further includes a plurality of electrodes positioned on at least some of the obliquely extending members, the electrodes being positioned to contact tissue or blood.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter shaft assembly and an end effector. The catheter shaft assembly includes an outer sheath with a distal end. The end effector is associated with a distal end of the catheter shaft assembly. The end effector includes a plurality of leaflets. The leaflets are configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration. The leaflets are configured to fit within the outer sheath in the first configuration. The leaflets are configured to expand outwardly away from the longitudinal axis in the second configuration in response to being exposed distally relative to the distal end of the outer sheath. Each leaflet includes a flexible body and a plurality of electrodes. Each flexible body defines a plurality of openings. The electrodes are positioned on the flexible body.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter body and an end effector. The catheter body has a distal end and is sized and configured to fit within regions of a cardiovascular system. The end effector is at the distal end of the catheter body and is sized and configured to fit within regions of a cardiovascular system. The end effector includes an end effector body, an electrode, and a sensor. The end effector body has an outer surface. The electrode has a tissue contact surface. The sensor has a tissue contact surface. The sensor is configured to sense at least one condition associated with tissue contacting the tissue contact surface of the sensor. The tissue contact surface of the sensor is configured to protrude relative to one or both of the outer surface of the end effector body member or the tissue contact surface of the electrode.

Abstract: A method is used to manufacture a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument includes a catheter and an end effector extending distally from the catheter. The method includes forming at least one electrode, sensor, or thermocouple onto the catheter or the end effector of the surgical instrument by etching or vapor depositing a three-dimensional structure onto a non-conductive material that is layered over a super elastic material.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a cylindrical shaft and an outwardly flared feature. The cylindrical shaft is sized for insertion into an insertion port of a cardiovascular catheter guiding sheath. The cylindrical shaft includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The lumen is sized to receive an end effector and catheter of a cardiovascular catheter instrument. The outwardly flared feature is at the proximal end of the cylindrical shaft. The outwardly flared feature defines an angled surface leading into the lumen.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter and an end effector. At least a portion of the catheter is sized and configured to fit within a lumen of a cardiovascular system. The end effector is positioned at a distal end of the catheter. The end effector includes a panel, a plurality of mapping electrodes positioned on a first surface of the panel, and a plurality of ablation electrodes positioned on the first surface of the panel. The mapping electrodes are configured to sense electrical potentials in tissue contacting the mapping electrodes. The ablation electrodes are operable to ablate tissue contacting the ablation electrodes.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter and an end effector. The end effector includes an expandable body and a plurality of electrodes deposited on the outer surface of the expandable body. The expandable body is configured to transition between a non-expanded state and an expanded state. The expandable body has an inner surface and an outer surface. The expandable body defines a plurality of openings extending from the inner surface to the outer surface. The electrodes are configured to expand with the expandable body from the non-expanded state to the expanded state. The electrodes including one or more electrodes selected from the group consisting of mapping electrodes that are configured to sense electrical potentials in tissue contacting the mapping electrodes and ablation electrodes that are operable to ablate tissue contacting the ablation electrodes.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter shaft assembly and an end effector. The catheter shaft assembly includes an outer sheath with a distal end. The end effector is associated with a distal end of the catheter shaft assembly. The end effector includes a plurality of leaflets. The leaflets are configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration. The leaflets are configured to fit within the outer sheath in the first configuration. The leaflets are configured to expand outwardly away from the longitudinal axis in the second configuration in response to being exposed distally relative to the distal end of the outer sheath. Each leaflet includes a flexible body and a plurality of electrodes. Each flexible body defines a plurality of openings. The electrodes are positioned on the flexible body.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector has a distal end and a proximal end with a longitudinal intermediate point between the distal and proximal ends. The end effector is sized to fit in an anatomical passageway within a cardiovascular system. The end effector includes at least one sensor electrode and a reference electrode. The at least one sensor electrode is configured to contact cardiovascular tissue and thereby pick up potentials. The reference electrode is configured to pick up a potential from fluid in contact with the reference electrode. The reference electrode is located proximal to the longitudinal intermediate point of the end effector. The end effector is configured to prevent the reference electrode from contacting tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter, a sensor, a first pair of wire segments, an artifact reduction feature, and a correction module. The sensor is positioned at a distal end of the catheter and is configured to generate a sensor signal. The first pair of wire segments is coupled with the sensor and extends along the length of the catheter. The artifact reduction feature is positioned proximate to the sensor and includes a second pair of wire segments. The correction module is configured to subtract motion-induced artifacts from signals received from the first pair of wire segments, based on motion-induced artifacts from signals received from the second pair of wire segments, to thereby provide a corrected sensor signal.