Abstract: A catheter system to record and map electrical signals by cardiac tissues before, during, and/or after the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias in a group of patients. The system can include an elongated body; a distal electrode assembly comprising a proximal stem, a plurality of spines emanating from the stem; and a plurality of nonconductive spine covers, each surrounding a respective spine. Each spine can cover one or more tensile members of the respective spine cover. The system can be configured to achieve clinically improved performance and safety of catheter configurations as to accessibility into target areas of a beating heart.

Abstract: A catheter adapted or high density mapping and/or ablation of tissue surface has a distal electrode matrix having a plurality of spines arranged in parallel configuration on which a multitude of electrodes are carried in a grid formation for providing uniformity and predictability in electrode placement on the tissue surface. The matrix can be dragged against the tissue surface upon deflection (and/or release of the deflection) of the catheter. The spines generally maintain their parallel configuration and the multitude of electrodes generally maintain their predetermined relative spacing in the grid formation as the matrix is dragged across the tissue surface in providing very high density mapping signals. The spines may have free distal ends, or distal ends that are joined to form loops for maintaining the spines in parallel configuration.

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 adapted or high density mapping and/or ablation of tissue surface has a distal electrode matrix having a plurality of spines arranged in parallel configuration on which a multitude of electrodes are carried in a grid formation for providing uniformity and predictability in electrode placement on the tissue surface. The matrix can be dragged against the tissue surface upon deflection (and/or release of the deflection) of the catheter. The spines generally maintain their parallel configuration and the multitude of electrodes generally maintain their predetermined relative spacing in the grid formation as the matrix is dragged across the tissue surface in providing very high density mapping signals. The spines may have free distal ends, or distal ends that are joined to form loops for maintaining the spines in parallel configuration.

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 apparatus includes a catheter body and an end effector. The catheter body has a distal end and is sized and configured to fit within regions of a cardiovascular system. The end effector is at the distal end of the catheter body and is sized and configured to fit within regions of a cardiovascular system. The end effector includes an end effector body, an electrode, and a sensor. The end effector body has an outer surface. The electrode has a tissue contact surface. The sensor has a tissue contact surface. The sensor is configured to sense at least one condition associated with tissue contacting the tissue contact surface of the sensor. The tissue contact surface of the sensor is configured to protrude relative to one or both of the outer surface of the end effector body member or the tissue contact surface of the electrode.

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.

Abstract: A method is used to manufacture a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument includes a catheter and an end effector extending distally from the catheter. The method includes forming at least one electrode, sensor, or thermocouple onto the catheter or the end effector of the surgical instrument by etching or vapor depositing a three-dimensional structure onto a non-conductive material that is layered over a super elastic material.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter shaft assembly and an end effector. The end effector includes a plurality of strips and a plurality of electrodes. The strips are configured to fit within an outer sheath of the catheter shaft assembly in a first configuration. The strips are configured to expand outwardly away from a longitudinal axis defined by the catheter shaft assembly in a second configuration when exposed distally relative to the distal end of the outer sheath. The electrodes are positioned on at least some of the strips. The electrodes are positioned relative to each other such that groups of four of the electrodes define a substantially square configuration.

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: An apparatus includes a catheter and an end effector. The end effector includes an expandable body and a plurality of electrodes deposited on the outer surface of the expandable body. The expandable body is configured to transition between a non-expanded state and an expanded state. The expandable body has an inner surface and an outer surface. The expandable body defines a plurality of openings extending from the inner surface to the outer surface. The electrodes are configured to expand with the expandable body from the non-expanded state to the expanded state. The electrodes including one or more electrodes selected from the group consisting of mapping electrodes that are configured to sense electrical potentials in tissue contacting the mapping electrodes and ablation electrodes that are operable to ablate tissue contacting the ablation electrodes.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter and an end effector. At least a portion of the catheter is sized and configured to fit within a lumen of a cardiovascular system. The end effector is positioned at a distal end of the catheter. The end effector includes a panel, a plurality of mapping electrodes positioned on a first surface of the panel, and a plurality of ablation electrodes positioned on the first surface of the panel. The mapping electrodes are configured to sense electrical potentials in tissue contacting the mapping electrodes. The ablation electrodes are operable to ablate tissue contacting the ablation electrodes.

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 apparatus includes a catheter shaft assembly and an end effector. The catheter shaft assembly includes an outer sheath with a distal end. The end effector is associated with a distal end of the catheter shaft assembly. The end effector includes a plurality of leaflets. The leaflets are configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration. The leaflets are configured to fit within the outer sheath in the first configuration. The leaflets are configured to expand outwardly away from the longitudinal axis in the second configuration in response to being exposed distally relative to the distal end of the outer sheath. Each leaflet includes a flexible body and a plurality of electrodes. Each flexible body defines a plurality of openings. The electrodes are positioned on the flexible body.

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 system to record and map electrical signals by cardiac tissues before, during, and/or after the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias in a group of patients. The system can include an elongated body; a distal electrode assembly comprising a proximal stem, a plurality of spines emanating from the stem; and a plurality of nonconductive spine covers, each surrounding a respective spine. Each spine can cover one or more tensile members of the respective spine cover. The system can be configured to achieve clinically improved performance and safety of catheter configurations as to accessibility into target areas of a beating heart.

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 catheter system to record and map electrical signals by cardiac tissues before, during, and/or after the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias in a group of patients. The system can include an elongated body; a distal electrode assembly comprising a proximal stem, a plurality of spines emanating from the stem; and a plurality of nonconductive spine covers, each surrounding a respective spine. Each spine can cover one or more tensile members of the respective spine cover. The system can be configured to achieve clinically improved performance and safety of catheter configurations as to accessibility into target areas of a beating heart.

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.