Abstract: A deployment control apparatus to control deployment of an array at an end of a catheter includes a pair of walls, a slider assembly, and a deployment shaft. The walls project from a first surface of the interior of a handle. The slider assembly includes a rigid body, an elastomeric element, a tab, and a knob. The elastomeric element is connected to the rigid body and at least partially disposed between the walls to frictionally engage with a surface of each wall. The knob is connected to the rigid body and is configured to maintain the elastomeric element between the walls. The deployment shaft connects the rigid body to the array, wherein a force applied to the knob sufficient to overcome the frictional engagement between the elastomeric element and the surface of each wall causes movement of the slider assembly and the deployment shaft to control deployment of the array.

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: An ablation catheter comprises a shaft having a proximal end portion, and a distal end portion having a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis of the ablation catheter. An ablation electrode is located at the distal end of the shaft. A mapping region including a plurality of mini-electrode sets disposed about the shaft is located proximal to the ablation electrode. Each of the mini-electrode sets includes a plurality of mini-electrodes. The ablation catheter further includes a deflection region proximate to or within the mapping region.

Abstract: A steering control apparatus includes a first wire and a second wire extending from a distal end of a catheter to a steering assembly. The steering assembly includes a steering knob disposed at an exterior of the handle, a cylindrical steering shaft projecting from the steering knob and into the interior of the handle, a first cylindrical drum disposed within the handle and connected to the first wire, and a second cylindrical drum within the handle and connected to the second wire. The first drum is configured to engage the steering shaft to produce tension on the first wire. The first drum is coaxial with the steering shaft. The second drum is configured to engage the steering shaft to produce tension on the second wire. The second drum is coaxial with the steering shaft and axially adjacent to the first drum.

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 deployment control apparatus to control deployment of an array at an end of a catheter includes a pair of walls, a slider assembly, and a deployment shaft. The walls project from a first surface of the interior of a handle. The slider assembly includes a rigid body, an elastomeric element, a tab, and a knob. The elastomeric element is connected to the rigid body and at least partially disposed between the walls to frictionally engage with a surface of each wall. The knob is connected to the rigid body and is configured to maintain the elastomeric element between the walls. The deployment shaft connects the rigid body to the array, wherein a force applied to the knob sufficient to overcome the frictional engagement between the elastomeric element and the surface of each wall causes movement of the slider assembly and the deployment shaft to control deployment of the array.

Abstract: A steering control apparatus includes a first wire and a second wire extending from a distal end of a catheter to a steering assembly. The steering assembly includes a steering knob disposed at an exterior of the handle, a cylindrical steering shaft projecting from the steering knob and into the interior of the handle, a first cylindrical drum disposed within the handle and connected to the first wire, and a second cylindrical drum within the handle and connected to the second wire. The first drum is configured to engage the steering shaft to produce tension on the first wire. The first drum is coaxial with the steering shaft. The second drum is configured to engage the steering shaft to produce tension on the second wire. The second drum is coaxial with the steering shaft and axially adjacent to the first drum.

Abstract: A system and method for recording writing performed on a surface includes a stylus and a detector assembly having a base appliance and a personality module removably attachable to the base appliance. The detector assembly includes a storage medium which allows the system of the present invention to track and record writing while not connected to a processing device such as a computer, printer, wireless device or hand-held device.

Abstract: A system and method for recording writing performed on a surface includes a stylus and a detector assembly having a base appliance and a personality module removably attachable to the base appliance. The detector assembly includes a storage medium which allows the system of the present invention to track and record writing while not connected to a processing device such as a computer, printer, wireless device or hand-held device.

Abstract: An edge detecting system for detecting an edge on a wavy surface includes a stylus for tracking across the surface; a transducer, responsive to the stylus, for producing a signal representative of surface transitions sensed by the stylus; a support for suspending the stylus over the surface with the stylus contacting the surface in which the support has a natural frequency which isolates the stylus from the low-frequency wavy surface contours and compels the stylus to respond only to the higher frequency surface transitions. Further included is a detector, responsive to the transducer, for detecting a signal representative of an edge amidst other high-frequency surface transitions. Also disclosed is a system in which the signal of the transducer is averaged and then compared to a reference level to determine the orientations of the fibers in the material of the surface.