Abstract: An electrophysiology catheter includes: a catheter with a movable catheter tip; electrodes provided on or in an electrode region in a most distal portion of the catheter tip; sensing and amplification circuitry communicated with the electrodes, the sensing and amplification circuitry communicated with digitizing circuitry disposed in a circuitry region in a least distal portion of the catheter tip for locally sensing tissue-based electrophysiological signals and for bidirectionally communicating digital data signals to and from the circuitry; a flexible bending region of the catheter tip between the most and least distal portions of the catheter tip; a flexible sheath communicated to the sensing and amplification circuitry and digitizing circuitry for transmission of signals thereon; and a handle communicated with the sheath for bidirectionally communicating signals through the sheath between the catheter tip and external mapping station, and for controlling movement of the catheter tip.

Abstract: The embodiments include an apparatus used in combination with a computer for sensing biopotentials. The apparatus includes a catheter in which there is a plurality of sensing electrodes, a corresponding plurality of local amplifiers, each coupled to one of the plurality of sensing electrodes, a data, control and power circuit coupled to the plurality of local amplifiers, and a photonic device bidirectionally communicating an electrical signal with the data, control and power circuit. An optical fiber optically communicated with the photonic device. The photonic device bidirectionally communicates an optical signal with the optical fiber. An optical interface device provides optical power to the optical fiber and thence to the photonic device and receives optical signals through the optical fiber from the photonic device. The optical interface device bidirectionally communicates an electrical data, control and power signal to the computer.