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: A catheter adapted for mapping and/or ablation in the atria has a basket-shaped electrode array with two or more location sensors with a deflectable expander. The catheter has comprises a catheter body, a basket electrode assembly at a distal end of the catheter body, and a control handle at a proximal end of the catheter body. The basket electrode assembly has a plurality of electrode-carrying spines and an expander that is adapted for longitudinal movement relative to the catheter body for expanding and collapsing the assembly via a proximal end portion extending past the control handle that can be pushed or pulled by a user. The expander is also adapted for deflection in responsive to an actuator on the control handle that allows a user to control at least one puller wire extending through the catheter body and the expander.

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. Each spine is deflectable outwards into an expanded configuration, so that the basket-shaped electrode assembly has a proximal basket area and a distal basket area with different equatorial diameters.

Abstract: A catheter with basket-shaped electrode assembly with spines configured for hyper-flexing in a predetermined, predictable manner when a compressive force acts on the assembly from either its distal end or its proximal end. At least one spine has at least one region of greater (or hyper) flexibility that allows the electrode assembly to deform, for example, compress, for absorbing and dampening excessive force that may otherwise cause damage or injury to tissue wall in contact with the assembly, without compromising the structure and stiffness of the remaining regions of the spine, including its distal and proximal regions. The one or more regions of greater flexibility in the spine allow the spine to flex into a generally V-shape configuration or a generally U-shape configuration.

Abstract: A catheter adapted for mapping and/or ablation in the atria has a basket-shaped electrode array with two or more location sensors with a deflectable expander. The catheter has comprises a catheter body, a basket electrode assembly at a distal end of the catheter body, and a control handle at a proximal end of the catheter body. The basket electrode assembly has a plurality of electrode-carrying spines and an expander that is adapted for longitudinal movement relative to the catheter body for expanding and collapsing the assembly via a proximal end portion extending past the control handle that can be pushed or pulled by a user. The expander is also adapted for deflection in responsive to an actuator on the control handle that allows a user to control at least one puller wire extending through the catheter body and the expander.

Abstract: A catheter with basket-shaped electrode assembly with spines configured for hyper-flexing in a predetermined, predictable manner when a compressive force acts on the assembly from either its distal end or its proximal end. At least one spine has at least one region of greater (or hyper) flexibility that allows the electrode assembly to deform, for example, compress, for absorbing and dampening excessive force that may otherwise cause damage or injury to tissue wall in contact with the assembly, without compromising the structure and stiffness of the remaining regions of the spine, including its distal and proximal regions. The one or more regions of greater flexibility in the spine allow the spine to flex into a generally V-shape configuration or a generally U-shape configuration.

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.

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: 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: A catheter and method for the treatment of a patient having atrial flutter or other arrhythmia comprises an elongated catheter body having an outer wall, proximal and distal ends, and at least one lumen extending therethrough. Further it has a distal tip section comprising a flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end and a plurality of lumens extending therethrough. The proximal end of the tip section is fixedly attached to the distal end of the catheter body. The tip section further comprises a nitinol tube having slots formed therein which causes the distal tip section to deflect using the same puller-wire action used to cause the deflectable catheter to deflect at a point proximal to the distal tip section.

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: A catheter and method for the treatment of a patient having atrial flutter or other arrhythmia comprises an elongated catheter body having an outer wall, proximal and distal ends, and at least one lumen extending therethrough. Further it has a distal tip section comprising a flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end and a plurality of lumens extending therethrough. The proximal end of the tip section is fixedly attached to the distal end of the catheter body. The tip section further comprises a nitinol tube having slots formed therein which causes the distal tip section to deflect using the same puller-wire action used to cause the deflectable catheter to deflect at a point proximal to the distal tip section.

Abstract: A catheter adapted for mapping and/or ablation in the atria has a basket-shaped electrode array with two or more location sensors with a deflectable expander. The catheter has comprises a catheter body, a basket electrode assembly at a distal end of the catheter body, and a control handle at a proximal end of the catheter body. The basket electrode assembly has a plurality of electrode-carrying spines and an expander that is adapted for longitudinal movement relative to the catheter body for expanding and collapsing the assembly via a proximal end portion extending past the control handle that can be pushed or pulled by a user. The expander is also adapted for deflection in responsive to an actuator on the control handle that allows a user to control at least one puller wire extending through the catheter body and the expander.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a catheter having an ellipsoidal basket-shaped electrode assembly at the distal end of the catheter body formed from a plurality of spines with electrodes. The ellipsoidal basket-shaped electrode assembly has a first deployed expanded configuration having a first area of electrode coverage and a first electrode density, a second deployed expanded configuration having a second area of electrode coverage less than the first area and a second electrode density higher than the first density, and a collapsed configuration wherein the spines are arranged generally along a longitudinal axis of the catheter body.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a catheter having a dual node multiray electrode assembly at the distal end of the catheter body. The dual node multiray electrode assembly includes a proximal multiray array with a plurality of spines connected at one end, each spine having at least one ablation electrode, and a distal node. The dual node 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. The distal node may be configured to be deployed within a vessel and the proximal multiray array may be configured to engage tissue forming an ostium of the vessel with the ablation electrodes. In some embodiments, the relative distance between the proximal multiray array and the distal node is adjustable.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a catheter having a dual node multiray electrode assembly at the distal end of the catheter body. The dual node multiray electrode assembly includes a proximal multiray array with a plurality of spines connected at one end, each spine having at least one ablation electrode, and a distal node. The dual node 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. The distal node may be configured to be deployed within a vessel and the proximal multiray array may be configured to engage tissue forming an ostium of the vessel with the ablation electrodes. In some embodiments, the relative distance between the proximal multiray array and the distal node is adjustable.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a catheter having a dual node multiray electrode assembly at the distal end of the catheter body. The dual node multiray electrode assembly includes a proximal multiray array with a plurality of spines connected at one end, each spine having at least one ablation electrode, and a distal node. The dual node 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. The distal node may be configured to be deployed within a vessel and the proximal multiray array may be configured to engage tissue forming an ostium of the vessel with the ablation electrodes. In some embodiments, the relative distance between the proximal multiray array and the distal node is adjustable.

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: This disclosure is directed to a catheter having a basket-shaped electrode assembly formed from a plurality of spines, each with a plurality of electrodes. The spines are connected at their distal ends and extend through the catheter body to its proximal end. Each spine may be independently controlled, such as by adjusting its longitudinal position relative to the catheter body to causes it to bow outwards to a greater or lesser degree.

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. Each spine is deflectable outwards into an expanded configuration, so that the basket-shaped electrode assembly has a proximal basket area and a distal basket area with different equatorial diameters.