Abstract: A flexible probe has an assembly in its distal end that includes a nitinol spring disposed in the distal end. The nitinol spring is configured to deform in response to pressure exerted on the distal tip when the distal tip engages a wall of the body cavity. The assembly also includes within the nitinol spring, a transmitter, receiver and single coil between the transmitter and receiver. The receiver is configured to receive signals from the transmitter for sensing a position of the receiver relative to the transmitter. The single coil spring is configured to deform commensurate with the nitinol spring in response to pressure exerted on the distal tip when the distal tip engages a wall of the body cavity and reduce the distance between the transmitter and the receiver as the nitinol spring and single coil spring deform.

Abstract: A flexible probe has an assembly in its distal end. The assembly has a distal side and a proximal side. The assembly includes first and second flat spring coils having internal edges that mate with first and second retainers, respectively. The first and second flat coils are disposed in the probe distal end proximal to the electrode and separated by a spacer. The first and second flat coils are configured to deform in response to pressure exerted on the distal tip when the tip engages a wall of the body cavity. A transmitter is disposed on one of the distal side or the proximal side of the assembly and a receiver is disposed on the opposite side. The receiver is configured to receive signals from the transmitter for sensing a position of the receiver relative to the transmitter.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a measurement of an electrogram voltage between a first electrode and a second electrode disposed within a body of a subject. The method further includes, while obtaining the measurement, causing (i) a first current, which has a first frequency, to flow between the first electrode and one or more reference electrodes, and (ii) a second current, which has a second frequency, to flow between the second electrode and the reference electrodes, such that a beat voltage, which has a third frequency that is a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency and is within a frequency band of the electrogram voltage, is seen at the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode and second electrode are coated with an output-impedance-reducing coating that facilitates obtaining the measurement despite the beat voltage.

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: A catheter includes a shaft, an expandable frame, a first set of electrodes, and a second set of electrodes. The shaft is configured for insertion into an organ of a patient. The expandable frame is fitted at a distal end of the shaft. The first set of electrodes is disposed over a distal portion of the expandable frame, and configured to be placed in contact with a tissue in the organ. The second set of electrodes is disposed on a proximal portion of the expandable frame, and configured to be inter-connected to form a common electrode.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft and a folding fan catheter. The shaft is configured for insertion through a sheath into a cavity of an organ of a patient. The folding fan catheter is fixed to a distal end of the shaft and includes (a) a resilient foldable frame, which is fixed to the distal end of the shaft and is configured to be unfolded so as to assume a fan shape, (b) one or more flexible surfaces, coupled to the frame to form a fan-shaped surface when the frame is unfolded, and (c) a plurality of electrodes that are disposed over the one or more flexible surfaces and are configured to contact tissue.

Abstract: A phacoemulsification system includes a phacoemulsification probe and one or more signal generators. The phacoemulsification probe includes (i) a piezoelectric actuator, (ii) a segmented electrode, including multiple electrode segments attached to respective angular sections of a face of the piezoelectric actuator, (iii) a common ground electrode attached to the piezoelectric actuator, and (iv) a needle configured to be inserted into a lens capsule of an eye and to be vibrated by the piezoelectric actuator. The one or more signal generators are configured to vibrate the piezoelectric actuator by applying multiple drive signals between the multiple respective electrode segments and the common ground electrode.

Abstract: A catheter includes a shaft for insertion into an organ of a patient, an expandable distal-end assembly, and one or more electrodes. The expandable distal-end assembly is coupled to the shaft and to an apex of the catheter, and includes multiple splines. In at least a given spline among the multiple splines, at least sixty percent of a length of the given spline is non-insulated and is configured to make contact with tissue of the organ and to apply radiofrequency (RF) pulses to the tissue. The one or more electrodes are coupled to at least one of (i) an insulated section of one or more of the splines, and (II) the apex, and, when placed in contact with the tissue, the one or more electrodes are configured to sense electrical signals in the tissue.

Abstract: A catheter includes a shaft for insertion into an organ of a patient, and an expandable distal-end assembly, which is coupled to the shaft and to an apex of the catheter, and includes multiple splines. In at least a given spline among the multiple splines, at least sixty percent of a length of the given spline is non-insulated and is configured to make contact with tissue of the organ and to apply radiofrequency (RF) pulses to the tissue.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a medical system includes a catheter configured to be inserted into a body part of a living subject, and including a deflectable element having a distal end, an expandable distal end assembly disposed at the distal end of the deflectable element, and comprising a plurality of assembly electrodes, and configured to expand from a collapsed form to an expanded deployed form, a proximal electrode disposed at the distal end of the deflectable element proximally to the expandable distal end assembly, and extending circumferentially around the deflectable element, at least one electrical connection configured to electrically connect together at least two of the assembly electrodes to act as a combined assembly electrode, and an ablation power generator configured to be connected to the catheter, and apply an electrical signal between the combined assembly electrode and a selected electrode.

Abstract: A medical probe includes an insertion tube for insertion into a patient body, at least an arm, which is attached to a distal end of the insertion tube, at least a reference electrode coupled to the arm, and multiple electrodes, which are coupled to the arm, surround the reference electrode and are configured to sense electrical signals of body tissues that, when measured relatively to the reference electrode, are indicative of anatomical signals in the patient body.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an apparatus that includes an electrically-conductive layer, including a first face and a second face that are opposite one another, a first electrically-insulative layer that is shaped to define a plurality of apertures and that covers the first face without covering portions of the first face that are aligned with the apertures, and a second electrically-insulative layer that covers the second face. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a medical system includes a catheter to be inserted into a body part, and including an elongated deflectable element including a distal end, a proximal coupler connected to the distal end, an expandable assembly comprising flexible polymer circuit strips, each flexible polymer circuit strip including strip electrodes and a respective contact pad disposed thereon, the flexible polymer circuit strips having respective proximal ends connected to, and disposed circumferentially around, the proximal coupler, and surface mountable electrodes electrically connected to respective ones of the flexible polymer circuit strips, wherein each surface mountable electrode is electrically connected to the respective contact pad of a respective one of the flexible polymer circuit strips using at least one electrically conductive retainer.

Abstract: A medical probe, including a flexible insertion tube having proximal and distal ends, and a basket assembly at the distal end of the flexible insertion tube. In embodiments of the present invention, the basket assembly includes a plurality of spines and a plurality of electrodes, each of the electrodes having a lumen therethrough fitting a given spine.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a medical system includes a catheter configured to be inserted into a body part of a living subject, and including a deflectable element having a distal end, an expandable distal end assembly disposed at the distal end of the deflectable element, and including a plurality of electrodes, and configured to expand from a collapsed form to an expanded deployed form, a proximal electrode disposed at the distal end of the deflectable element proximally to the expandable distal end assembly, and extending circumferentially around the deflectable element, and including irrigation holes through which to irrigate the body part, and an irrigation tube disposed in the deflectable element and configured to be in fluid communication with the irrigation holes of the proximal electrode.

Abstract: A catheter apparatus includes an elongated deflectable element including a distal end, a coupler connected to the distal end, a pusher including a distal portion, and configured to be advanced and retracted through the deflectable element, and an expandable assembly including flexible polymer circuit strips, each strip including electrodes disposed thereon. The strips can be configured to bow radially outward when the pusher is retracted expanding the expandable assembly from a collapsed form to an expanded form. A covering can at least partially enclose the flexible polymer circuit strip and the multiple electrodes. The covering can include a plurality of apertures at each electrode so that a portion of the conductive surface of each electrode is exposed through each aperture.

Abstract: A catheter includes an expandable frame for insertion into an organ of a patient, one or more first electrodes, and a second electrode. The one or more first electrodes are disposed on the expandable frame at one or more first positions for placing in contact with a target tissue of the organ, and are configured to perform one or both of: (i) sensing one or more electrical signals from the target tissue, and (ii) applying one or more ablation pulses to the target tissue. The second electrode is disposed within an internal volume of the expandable frame, at a second position that is not in contact with the target tissue while the one or more first electrodes contact the target tissue, and is configured to serve as a return or common electrode for the electrical signals.

Abstract: A balloon catheter includes a shaft, a balloon made of an expandable membrane, a flexible substrate, one or more electrodes, and one or more radiopaque flags. The shaft is configured for insertion into a heart of a patient. The balloon is fitted at a distal end of the shaft. The flexible substrate is disposed on the membrane. The one or more electrodes are disposed over the flexible substrate and have a fishbone configuration. The one or more radiopaque flags are coupled to the expandable membrane, wherein the one or more radiopaque flags include a serpentine pattern so that the radiopaque flags fold in conformance with flexible substrate as the balloon is collapsed into a compressed or folded configuration.

Abstract: A catheter shaft is produced by forming a first polymeric layer onto a flexible inner core while maintaining the inner core in a solid state, and solidifying the first polymeric layer, wherein the solidified first polymeric layer fails to bond with the inner core and is slidable thereon upon flexion of the shaft. A second polymeric layer may be formed over the first polymeric layer, and is slidable thereon when the shaft bends.

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.