Abstract: A catheter has a multifunctional “virtual” tip electrode with a porous substrate and a multitude of surface microelectrodes. The surface microelectrodes are in close proximity to each other and in a variety of configurations so as to sense tissue for highly localized intracardiac signal detection, and high density local electrograms and mapping. The porous substrate allows for flow of conductive fluid for ablating tissue. The surface microelectrodes can be formed via a metallization process that allows for any shape or size and close proximity, and the fluid “weeping” from the porous substrate provides more uniform irrigation in the form of a thin layer of saline. The delivery of RF power to the catheter tip is based on the principle of “virtual electrode,” where the conductive saline flowing through the porous tip acts as the electrical connection between the tip electrode and the heart surface.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a physiological recording device and, more particularly, to a physiological recording device that can be used without skin preparation or the use of electrolytic gels. The invention is further directed to an encouragement ring which stabilizes and helps situate the physiological recording device on a subject's skin to help provide a better electrical signal, increase surface area, and reduce and minimize noise and artifacts during the process of recording or monitoring a physiological signal. The invention is still further directed to surface features on a surface of the physiological recording device with a size and shape that will not substantially bend or break, which limits the depth of application of the recording device, and/or anchors the recording device during normal application. The invention is even further directed to a method for manufacturing a physiological recording device, and minimizing cost of manufacture.

Abstract: A mapping catheter including an elongate catheter body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, a handle connected to the proximal end of the catheter body, an electrode array connected to the distal end, a deployment shaft, and an irrigation system. The catheter body includes at least one lumen. The irrigation system includes a manifold and a thin, polymeric irrigation tube. The manifold is disposed within the handle and is connectable to a source of irrigation fluid. The irrigation tube is connected to the manifold and extends around the deployment shaft from the manifold to the distal end of the catheter through the catheter body lumen. The irrigation tube forms an annular lumen between an inner surface of the irrigation tube and an outer surface of the deployment shaft. The annular lumen is configured to carry irrigation fluid from the manifold to the array.

Abstract: A device for gathering data has first and second electrodes. The first electrode is coupled to a surface of interest, and the second electrode is coupled to “everything else” or “the air”. The first electrode is shielded from the second, and from most sources of parasitic capacitance, by a shield that is driven by an active driver that drives the shield to track, and ideally to match, the instantaneous potential of the electrode. The second electrode is likewise shielded in a similar way from most sources of parasitic capacitance. These shields likewise help to limit the extent to which RFI from the device electronics couples with either of the electrodes. In this way the sensing device achieves a markedly better signal-to-noise ratio at frequency bands of interest.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing contact between a medical device and tissue may comprise an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to be coupled to a medical device, the medical device comprising a first electrode and a second electrode. The ECU may be further configured to select the first electrode as an electrical source and the second electrode as an electrical sink, to cause an electrical signal to be driven between the source and sink, to detect respective electric potentials on the first electrode and the second electrode while the electrical signal is driven, and to determine an impedance respective of one of the first electrode and the second electrode according to both of the respective electric potentials.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a bioelectric sensor device for sensing bioelectric data from a human body are disclosed. The device can include a flexible substrate, a plurality of sensors arranged in a sensor array on a sensor array portion of the substrate, an electrically conductive network located on the substrate, and a plurality of lines of weakness formed in the sensor array portion of the substrate. In one or more embodiments, each line of weakness is configured to enhance separation of the sensor array portion of the substrate along a separation line that extends between at least two sensors of the plurality of sensors. The device can also include a left reference electrode proximate a distal end of a left reference electrode arm of the substrate and a right reference electrode proximate a distal end of a right reference electrode arm of the substrate.

Abstract: An implanted neural micro interface device is provided. The device comprises microfilaments of various materials and forms embedded within a body. The microfilaments form interaction sites with surrounding neural tissue at their exit points from the implantable body. The body and filaments are configurable in a multitude of positions to provide increased engagement of a given neural tissue section as well as interaction and closed loop feedback between the microfilament sites. Such configurations allow for a range of recording, stimulating, and treatment modalities for the device within research and clinical settings.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a catheter having a basket-shaped electrode assembly at the distal end of the catheter body formed from a plurality of spines with electrodes. The basket-shaped electrode assembly structural elements at the proximal and distal ends. The structural elements may maintain the spines in a desired spatial relationship with each other and/or may couple the distal ends of the spines to a pulling member. The basket-shaped electrode assembly has expanded arrangement in which the spines bow outwards and a collapsed arrangement in which the spines are arranged generally along a longitudinal axis of the catheter body.

Abstract: This disclosure includes a catheter with an electrode array formed by an interconnected framework. The framework may have a plurality of elements interconnected by a plurality of junctions at locations intermediate the proximal and distal ends of the electrode array assembly. The electrodes may be printed on a polymeric layer of the interconnected framework.

Abstract: A catheter for diagnosing and ablating tissue is disclosed that has a stabilized spine electrode assembly. The stabilized spine electrode assembly has at least two spines secured to the catheter body at their proximal ends and at least one tether, secured between locations distal of the proximal ends of adjacent spines. The spines have a collapsed arrangement in which the spines are arranged generally along a longitudinal axis of the catheter body and an expanded arrangement in which at least a portion of each spine bows radially outwards from the longitudinal axis and the at least one tether exerts tension on the adjacent spines.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a catheter having a dual multiray electrode assembly at the distal end of the catheter body formed from a plurality of spines with electrodes and a dual multiray electrode assembly at the distal end of the catheter body. The dual multiray electrode assembly may have a proximal multiray array and a distal multiray array, each array comprising a plurality of spines connected at one end. The dual multiray electrode assembly may have an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration wherein the spines are arranged generally along a longitudinal axis of the catheter body.

Abstract: An adjustable ECG sensor is attachable to a patient to sense cardiac signals and includes an adjustable leadwire having a flexible substrate, a conductor extending along the flexible substrate, and a connector end connectable to a receiver associated with an ECG monitor. The adjustable ECG sensor further includes an electrode having an electrode pad, a clip connected to the electrode pad and attachable to any one of multiple locations on the adjustable leadwire, and a pin that punctures the flexible substrate and electrically connects to the conductor of the adjustable leadwire. The adjustable ECG sensor is fitted to the patient by attaching the clip of the electrode to one of the multiple locations on the adjustable leadwire.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medical electrode, which comprises an annular adhesive pad (203) to be attached to a living being, a conductive pad (205) disposed in the central hole (207) of the annular adhesive pad, a first conductive snap element (209), a conductive element (211) and a sealing film (213). The conductive element (211) is configured to establish electrical communication between the conductive pad (205) and the first conductive snap element (209) and the sealing film (213) is attached to the annular adhesive pad (203) and to fix at least a portion of the conductive element (211) between the annular adhesive pad (203) and the sealing film (213). The flexibility and/or length of the conductive element is chosen to be large enough so as to allow the first conductive snap element (209) to move without causing the conductive pad (205) to move, resulting in reliable electrical contact between the conductive pad and the skin of the living being.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for making electrocardiogram measurements includes a substrate and at least two electrodes. The substrate includes at least one electronic item sealed therewithin and is laminated or otherwise constructed so as to facilitate removal of the electronic item from the substrate prior to disposal. The electronic item may therefore be re-used in the manufacture of new electrode assemblies.

Abstract: An electrophysiologic catheter with a distal electrode assembly carrying very closely-spaced bipole microelectrodes on a plurality of divergent spines that can flexibly spread over tissue surface area minimized detection of undesirable noise, including far-field signals. Each spine has a flexible microelectrode panel having a substrate, at least one pair of microelectrodes, a trace for each microelectrode, and a soldering pad. Adjacent microelectrodes of a bipole pair are separated by a space gap distance ranging between about 50-300 microns. Each microelectrode may have a width of about 200 or 300 microns.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a catheter having an asymmetric basket-shaped electrode assembly at the distal end of the catheter body formed from a plurality of spines with electrodes. The plurality of spines are radially distributed across a first circumferential portion. One or more counter spines are radially distributed across a remaining second circumferential portion. Diagnostic electrodes are arrayed across the spines, while the counter spines may have one or more reference electrodes.

Abstract: A method, including selecting a first maximum radiofrequency (RF) power to be delivered by an electrode within a range of 70 W-100 W, and selecting a second maximum RF power to be delivered by the electrode within a range of 20 W-60 W. The method also includes selecting an allowable force on the electrode within a range of 5 g-50 g, selecting a maximum allowable temperature, of tissue to be ablated, within a range of 55° C.-65° C., and selecting an irrigation rate for providing irrigation fluid to the electrode within a range of 8-45 ml/min. The method further includes performing an ablation of tissue using the selected values by initially using the first power, switching to the second power after a predefined time between 3 s and 6 s, and terminating the ablation after a total time for the ablation between 10 s and 20 s.

Abstract: A pad for electrodes (1) including a first conductive adhesive sheet (2) for connection with an electrode, a second conductive adhesive sheet (4) for connection with another electrode, the second conductive adhesive sheet positioned to be spaced apart from the first conductive adhesive sheet in a planar direction of each conductive adhesive sheet, and a base (10) supporting the first conductive adhesive sheet and the second conductive adhesive sheet. At least one surface of each of the first conductive adhesive sheet and the second conductive adhesive sheet is exposed, and each of the first conductive adhesive sheet and the second conductive adhesive sheet has a thickness compressibility of 10% or less and a thickness recovery ratio of 95% or more. The base is a non-electroconductive base having a water absorption capacity of 1 to 1.5 times, and the pad has a moisture permeability of 1,000 g/m2/24 h or more.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a microelectrode for measuring EMG signals of a laboratory microfauna. The present disclosure includes a metal plate with an insulating plate deposited on a surface, a plurality of silicon substrates disposed on the insulating plate, the silicon substrates being electrically connected to the metal plate, covered with an insulator, and adjacent to one another, and a plurality of needle electrodes, each formed on the respective silicon substrates as an integral part thereof, wherein the needle electrodes have the same predetermined length, have a tapered shape from the respective silicon substrates, are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, and wherein a metallic layer is formed on each of the needle electrodes by depositing metal materials, the insulator is formed on the metallic layer, and a portion of the metallic layer at a tip is exposed.

Abstract: A method, including selecting a first maximum radiofrequency (RF) power to be delivered by an electrode within a range of 70 W-100 W, and selecting a second maximum RF power to be delivered by the electrode within a range of 20 W-60 W. The method also includes selecting an allowable force on the electrode within a range of 5 g-50 g, selecting a maximum allowable temperature, of tissue to be ablated, within a range of 55° C.-65° C., and selecting an irrigation rate for providing irrigation fluid to the electrode within a range of 8-45 ml/min. The method further includes performing an ablation of tissue using the selected values by initially using the first power, switching to the second power after a predefined time between 3 s and 6 s, and terminating the ablation after a total time for the ablation between 10 s and 20 s.