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: The system and method for characterizing a tissue of interest may include navigating a needle device in proximity to the tissue of interest. The needle device can comprise a member including a plurality of electroconductive segments. The plurality of electroconductive segments can be electrically insulated from one another. The device can also include a first conductive path electrically coupled to a first electroconductive segment. A second conductive path can be coupled to a second electroconductive segment. The method can include contacting the tissue of interest with the first electrode and determining a tissue impedance of the tissue of interest from an electrical signal from the first electrode. The method can also include characterizing the tissue of interest as malignant or benign based on the tissue impedance.

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: 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: 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: In one embodiment, a probe apparatus includes a shaft having a distal end, a tube containing separate powder granules of a ferrite, the tube being fixed to the distal end of the shaft, a coil disposed around the tube, and electrical wires connected to the coil so as to read out a signal generated across the coil due to an externally-applied magnetic field.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an apparatus that includes a flexible electrically-insulating substrate, including an inner surface and an outer surface, and shaped to define (i) multiple narrower channels passing between the inner surface and the outer surface, and (ii) one or more wider channels passing between the inner surface and the outer surface. The apparatus further includes an outer layer of an electrically-conducting metal covering at least part of the outer surface, an inner layer of the electrically-conducting metal covering at least part of the inner surface, a plating layer of the electrically-conducting metal that plates the wider channels such as to connect the outer layer to the inner layer, and respective columns of the electrically-conducting metal that fill the narrower channels such as to connect the outer layer to the inner layer. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method, consisting of providing a metal wire having a wire diameter and an end, and positioning a conductor at a distance from the end of the wire. The method further includes creating an electrical discharge between the conductor and the end, while setting the distance and an electrical potential of the discharge, so as to create a bead of a predefined size on the end. The method also includes assembling the wire with the created bead into an invasive probe, so that the bead is positioned at an outer surface of the probe.

Abstract: A medical probe includes a shaft, an expandable membrane and a probe maneuvering assembly (PMA). The shaft is configured for insertion into a cavity of an organ of a patient. The PMA is located inside the expandable membrane and includes a first elastic element, which is fitted along a longitudinal axis of the PMA and is configured to expand the membrane by shortening the PMA, and to collapse the membrane by elongating the PMA. The PMA further includes a second elastic element, which surrounds at least a portion of the first elastic element and is configured to deflect the membrane relative to the longitudinal axis.

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 medical probe, including a flexible insertion tube having a proximal segment and a deflectable distal segment, and containing first and second proximal tubular structures, first and second distal lumens, and first and second wires. The first and second proximal tubular structures are twisted around each other in the proximal segment. The first and lumens are parallel to each other in the deflectable distal segment. The first and second wires run respectively through the first and second proximal tubular structures and the first and second distal lumens. The first and second wires have respective first and second proximal ends which deflect the deflectable distal segment when the respective proximal ends are pulled.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a shaft, a distal-end assembly and a puller-wire. The shaft is configured for insertion into a body of a patient. The distal-end assembly, which is coupled to the shaft, includes a telescopic assembly, configured to elongate so as to collapse the distal-end assembly, and to compress so as to expand the distal-end assembly. The distal-end assembly further includes an elastic element, coupled to self-elongate and thus elongate the telescopic assembly. The distal-end assembly also includes an inflatable balloon, which is coupled to the telescopic assembly and is configured to collapse by the telescopic assembly elongating, and to expand by the telescopic assembly compressing. The puller-wire runs through the shaft and is connected to a distal end of the telescopic assembly, and is configured, when pulled, to compress the telescopic assembly.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a medical probe including a tubular shaft, a contact force sensor assembly, a spine retention hub, and an expandable basket assembly. The contact force sensor can include a first bayonet mount portion and the spine retention hub can include a second bayonet mount portion to couple the spine retention hub to the contact force sensor by interlocking with the first bayonet mount portion. The expandable basket assembly can include a plurality of spines and at least one electrode coupled to each of the plurality of spines. Each of the plurality of spines can be configured to bow radially outward from the longitudinal axis when the expandable basket assembly is transitioned from a collapsed form to an expanded form.

Abstract: A medical probe is presented including an expandable basket assembly coupled to a distal end of a tubular shaft. The basket assembly includes a cloverleaf cutout structure at its distal end and spines extending proximally from the cloverleaf structure and coupling to the tubular shaft. The cloverleaf structure includes a sinusoidal-like member extending from one spine to an adjacent spine in a direction around the longitudinal axis. Dimensions of the sinusoidal-like member can be configured to provide a lateral stiffness of the expandable basket assembly within a predetermined range and a maximum peak stress during retraction of the expandable basket assembly into an intermediate catheter such that the maximum peak stress is less than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a medical probe including a tubular shaft, a contact force sensor assembly, a spine retention hub, and an expandable basket assembly. The contact force sensor can include a first bayonet mount portion and the spine retention hub can include a second bayonet mount portion to couple the spine retention hub to the contact force sensor by interlocking with the first bayonet mount portion. The expandable basket assembly can include a plurality of spines and at least one electrode coupled to each of the plurality of spines. Each of the plurality of spines can be configured to bow radially outward from the longitudinal axis when the expandable basket assembly is transitioned from a collapsed form to an expanded form.

Abstract: An example expandable basket assembly for a medical probe may include a plurality of spines extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal central proximal spine portion to a distal spine portion. The distal spine portion may define a cloverleaf structure disposed radially around the longitudinal axis. The cloverleaf structure may define a central cutout with a central area disposed about the longitudinal axis. The cloverleaf structure may include a sinusoidal-like member extending from one spine to an adjacent spine in a direction around the longitudinal axis. The sinusoidal-like member may include a plurality of distal facing portions, a plurality of proximal facing portions, and at least one side connector connecting two adjacent distal facing portions to one another. The at least one side connector may strengthen a distal end of the expandable basket.

Abstract: A medical probe is presented including an expandable basket assembly coupled to a distal end of a tubular shaft. The basket assembly includes a cloverleaf cutout structure at its distal end and spines extending proximally from the cloverleaf structure and coupling to the tubular shaft. The cloverleaf structure includes a sinusoidal-like member extending from one spine to an adjacent spine in a direction around the longitudinal axis. The sinusoidal-like member meanders around a first, second and third virtual circle such that the first and third virtual circles are approximately the same distance from a longitudinal axis of the medical probe and approximately the same size and the second virtual circle is between the first and second virtual circles, closer to the longitudinal axis, and having approximately 90% of the first open area of the first and third virtual circles.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes an irrigation hub for an ablation catheter comprising a cylindrical member extending along a longitudinal axis. The cylindrical member can comprise a proximal end having a first outer diameter and a recess extending inwardly along the longitudinal axis forming an interior portion, a distal end having a second outer diameter, the second outer diameter being less than the first outer diameter, and an irrigation inlet chamber disposed proximate the interior portion and configured to receive fluid from an irrigation supply. The cylindrical member can further comprise a plurality of irrigation openings disposed generally transverse to the longitudinal axis from a distal portion of the irrigation inlet chamber and a flow diverter extending into the distal portion of the irrigation inlet chamber to block fluid flow and redirect fluid flow out of the plurality of irrigation openings in a direction generally transverse relative to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed which involve a catheter having a distal end that includes electrically and thermally conducting inner and outer layers, a polymer layer between the inner and outer layers, thermal bridges selectively positioned between the inner and outer layers through the polymer layer to transfer heath between the two layers through the polymer layer. An ablation method includes inserting the distal end into a body of a subject, contacting tissue with the outer layer, passing ablation current via the outer layer into tissue such that heat is transferred to the inner layer via the thermal bridges, and passing irrigation fluid through irrigation channels through the inner layer, outer layer, and polymer layer to evacuate heath from the inner layer into blood.

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.