Abstract: A catheter adapted for mapping and ablating epicardial tissue from the pericardial cavity includes a catheter body and an electrode assembly that has a tip section and a loop member lying generally within a plane, wherein the tip section includes an ablation electrode exposed on one side of the loop member and an insulation member exposed on an opposite side of the loop member. The catheter also includes a intermediate section between the catheter body and the electrode assembly, wherein the intermediate deflects the loop member and the tip section bi-directionally within the same plane. So arranged, the catheter can be safely maneuvered in the pericardial sac and swept in a side to side motion over the epicardium with the ablation electrode reliably facing and making contact with the epicardium. The tip section can include a balloon that is inflatable to push away surrounding pericardial tissue.

Abstract: A catheter is provided with improved position and/or location sensing with the use of single axis sensors that are mounted directly along a length or portion of the catheter whose position/location is of interest. The magnetic based, single axis sensors are provided on a single axis sensor (SAS) assembly, which can be linear or nonlinear as needed. A catheter of the present invention thus includes a catheter body and a distal member of a particular 2D or 3D configuration that is provided by a support member on which at least one, if not at least three single axis sensors, are mounted serially along a length of the support member. In one embodiment, the magnetic-based sensor assembly including at least one coil member that is wrapped on the support member, wherein the coil member is connected via a joint region to a respective cable member adapted to transmit a signal providing location information from the coil member to a mapping and localization system.

Abstract: A catheter adapted for mapping and ablating epicardial tissue from the pericardial cavity includes a catheter body and an electrode assembly that has a tip section and a loop member lying generally within a plane, wherein the tip section includes an ablation electrode exposed on one side of the loop member and an insulation member exposed on an opposite side of the loop member. The catheter also includes a intermediate section between the catheter body and the electrode assembly, wherein the intermediate deflects the loop member and the tip section bi-directionally within the same plane. So arranged, the catheter can be safely maneuvered in the pericardial sac and swept in a side to side motion over the epicardium with the ablation electrode reliably facing and making contact with the epicardium. The tip section can include a balloon that is inflatable to push away surrounding pericardial tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a narrow elongate probe is adapted for insertion into the body of a living subject. The probe may be flexible and has a plurality of sensors consisting of single coils of very fine wire wound about a backbone of the probe, which transmit signals proximally via fine connecting wires to a position processor. The position processor analyzes the signals to determine position coordinates at multiple points along the length of the probe.