Abstract: An electrophysiology catheter with a distal electrode assembly having covered spine carrying a plurality of microelectrodes. One or more spines have preformed configurations including at least a first portion with a first curvature and a second portion with a second curvature, and may include a linear portion. The linear portion may be between the first and second portions. The linear portion may be distal of the first and second portions. One or more spines have a narrower portion so that different portions of the spine can have different flexibility with a degree of independence in flexibility from adjacent portions.

Abstract: A catheter with a variable circular loop is responsive to a contraction wire for increasing the coiling of the circular loop. The shape of the loop is supported by an elongated member, wherein a radially constrictive sleeve confines the contraction wire to extends immediately alongside the length of elongated member so as to improve uniformity and minimize misshaping of the loop during contraction.

Abstract: A catheter with a variable circular loop is responsive to a contraction wire for increasing the coiling of the circular loop. The shape of the loop is supported by an elongated member, wherein a radially constrictive sleeve confines the contraction wire to extends immediately alongside the length of elongated member so as to improve uniformity and minimize misshaping of the loop during contraction.

Abstract: An electrophysiology catheter with a distal electrode assembly having covered spine carrying a plurality of microelectrodes. One or more spines have preformed configurations including at least a first portion with a first curvature and a second portion with a second curvature, and may include a linear portion. The linear portion may be between the first and second portions. The linear portion may be distal of the first and second portions. One or more spines have a narrower portion so that different portions of the spine can have different flexibility with a degree of independence in flexibility from adjacent portions.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector is sized to fit in an anatomical passageway within a subject's cardiovascular system. The end effector includes at least one electrode pair that is configured to contact cardiovascular tissue and thereby pick up electrocardiogram signals. Each electrode pair includes first and second electrodes spaced apart along a longitudinal axis from each other by a gap area located between the electrodes, the gap area having a gap length with respect to the longitudinal axis such that a length of one of the electrodes along the longitudinal axis is equal to or greater than the gap length; and a ratio of an area defined by the gap area to one electrode area is equal to or less than one.

Abstract: A multi-electrode catheter is presented herein having a puller wire with a distal end bonded to a coupler tube between a catheter shaft body and end effector. Because the puller wire is bonded to the coupler tube, a distal portion of the catheter body shaft, at least up to a proximal end of the coupler tube, can be deflected when the puller wire is retracted. The coupler tube may also be flexible and be deflectable when the puller wire is retracted. The coupler tube may bend with a radius of curvature that is greater than, equal to, or less than a radius of curvature of the distal portion of the catheter body shaft, depending on design considerations of the catheter. The coupler tube may be made from a flexible material and/or may include sidewall slits which facilitate bending of the coupler tube.

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 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: An apparatus includes a shaft and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector is sized to fit in an anatomical passageway within a subject's cardiovascular system. The end effector includes at least one electrode pair that is configured to contact cardiovascular tissue and thereby pick up electrocardiogram signals. Each electrode pair includes first and second electrodes spaced apart along a longitudinal axis from each other by a gap area located between the electrodes, the gap area having a gap length with respect to the longitudinal axis such that a length of one of the electrodes along the longitudinal axis is equal to or greater than the gap length; and a ratio of an area defined by the gap area to one electrode area is equal to or less than one.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter, a sensor, a first pair of wire segments, an artifact reduction feature, and a correction module. The sensor is positioned at a distal end of the catheter and is configured to generate a sensor signal. The first pair of wire segments is coupled with the sensor and extends along the length of the catheter. The artifact reduction feature is positioned proximate to the sensor and includes a second pair of wire segments. The correction module is configured to subtract motion-induced artifacts from signals received from the first pair of wire segments, based on motion-induced artifacts from signals received from the second pair of wire segments, to thereby provide a corrected sensor signal.

Abstract: A catheter probe configured with a capability to present a larger tissue contact area or “footprint” for larger, deeper lesions, without increasing the french size of the catheter, especially its distal section, includes an elastically deformable electrode configured to adopt a neutral configuration and a tissue contact configuration. The deformable electrode comprising a hollow porous tube with a distal portion having a closed distal end, and a proximal portion defining an opening to an interior of the tube, where the distal tip end is received in the tube through the opening and the distal section is generally surrounded by tube, with the proximal portion being affixed to an outer surface of the distal section. In some embodiments, the closed distal end is shaped with a bulbous portion that can spread and widen to provide a larger surface contact area.

Abstract: A catheter with a variable circular loop is responsive to a contraction wire for increasing the coiling of the circular loop. The shape of the loop is supported by an elongated member, wherein a radially constrictive sleeve confines the contraction wire to extends immediately alongside the length of elongated member so as to improve uniformity and minimize misshaping of the loop during contraction.

Abstract: A catheter with a variable circular loop is responsive to a contraction wire for increasing the coiling of the circular loop. The shape of the loop is supported by an elongated member, wherein a radially constrictive sleeve confines the contraction wire to extends immediately alongside the length of elongated member so as to improve uniformity and minimize misshaping of the loop during contraction.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter, a sensor, a first pair of wire segments, an artifact reduction feature, and a correction module. The sensor is positioned at a distal end of the catheter and is configured to generate a sensor signal. The first pair of wire segments is coupled with the sensor and extends along the length of the catheter. The artifact reduction feature is positioned proximate to the sensor and includes a second pair of wire segments. The correction module is configured to subtract motion-induced artifacts from signals received from the first pair of wire segments, based on motion-induced artifacts from signals received from the second pair of wire segments, to thereby provide a corrected sensor signal.

Abstract: A catheter probe configured with a capability to present a larger tissue contact area or “footprint” for larger, deeper lesions, without increasing the french size of the catheter, especially its distal section, includes an elastically deformable electrode configured to adopt a neutral configuration and a tissue contact configuration. The deformable electrode comprising a hollow porous tube with a distal portion having a closed distal end, and a proximal portion defining an opening to an interior of the tube, where the distal tip end is received in the tube through the opening and the distal section is generally surrounded by tube, with the proximal portion being affixed to an outer surface of the distal section. In some embodiments, the closed distal end is shaped with a bulbous portion that can spread and widen to provide a larger surface contact area.

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 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 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 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: An electrophysiology catheter with a distal electrode assembly having covered spine carrying a plurality of microelectrodes. One or more spines have preformed configurations including at least a first portion with a first curvature and a second portion with a second curvature, and may include a linear portion. The linear portion may be between the first and second portions. The linear portion may be distal of the first and second portions. One or more spines have a narrower portion so that different portions of the spine can have different flexibility with a degree of independence in flexibility from adjacent portions.

Abstract: An electrophysiology catheter with a distal electrode assembly having covered spine carrying a plurality of microelectrodes. The spines have nonconductive covers that are reinforced with tensile members, e.g., wires or fibers, that extend (or have portions that extend) longitudinally so as to minimize any elongation of the covers and the microelectrodes carried thereon. The tensile members may also have a length greater than the length of the spines so the proximal portions extend proximally from the spines, through the catheter and at least into the control handle for actuation by an operator for deflecting and moving the spines, like “fingers.

Abstract: An electrophysiology catheter with a distal electrode assembly having covered spine carrying a plurality of microelectrodes. One or more spines have preformed configurations including at least a first portion with a first curvature and a second portion with a second curvature, and may include a linear portion. The linear portion may be between the first and second portions. The linear portion may be distal of the first and second portions. One or more spines have a narrower portion so that different portions of the spine can have different flexibility with a degree of independence in flexibility from adjacent portions.

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.