Multi-polar electrode arrangement

• US 20010005792A1
• Filed: 12/14/2000
• Published: 06/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biotronik Mess-Und Therapiegeraete GmbH & Company Ingenieurbuero Berlin (Biotronik SE & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: Biotronik Mess-Und Therapiegeraete GmbH & Company Ingenieurbuero Berlin (Biotronik SE & Company KG)
• Inventors: Steglich, Carsten
• Granted Patent: US 6,498,943 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems

Abstract

A multipolar electrode arrangement having a plurality of electrodes (14, 14′, 14″) with an electrical feed line, wherein the electrodes (14, 14′, 14″) are connected to an electrode carrier (10) which is adapted to be insertable together with the electrodes (14, 14′, 14″) into the lumen of a catheter.

Claims

1. A multipolar electrode arrangement having a plurality of electrodes (14, 14′

, 14″

) with an electrical feed line, characterized in that the electrodes (14, 14′

, 14″

) are connected to an electrode carrier (10) which is adapted to be insertable together with the electrodes (14, 14′

, 14″

) into the lumen of a catheter.

2. An electrode arrangement as set forth in

claim 1

characterized in that the electrode carrier (10) is elastically deformable.

3. An electrode arrangement as set forth in

claim 2

characterized in that the electrode carrier (10) is elastically deformable substantially in a first plane while it is substantially stiffer in the second plane which is perpendicular to the first plane.

4. An electrode arrangement as set forth in one of claims 1 through 3 characterized in that the electrode carrier (10) includes an insulating leaf spring element (12).

5. An electrode arrangement as set forth in

claim 4

characterized in that the leaf spring element (12) is of a flat cross-sectional profile.

6. An electrode arrangement as set forth in one of claims 1 through 5 characterized in that the electrode carrier and in particular the leaf spring element at least partially comprise a polymer material.

7. An electrode arrangement as set forth in one of claims 1 through 6 characterized by a control means (26) which is guided longitudinally slidably along the electrode carrier (10) relative thereto and at the distal end (24) is connected to the electrode carrier (10) in such a way that deflection of the electrode carrier (10) at the distal end (24) thereof can be implemented by longitudinal displacement of the control means (26) relative to the electrode carrier (10).

8. An electrode arrangement as set forth in one of claims 1 through 7 characterized by a catheter having a lumen which is adapted to receive the electrode carrier (10), wherein the catheter has openings (22) which extend from the lumen and which are of such an arrangement and configuration that the electrodes (14) connected to the electrode carrier (10) can pick up or output electrical signals outside the catheter.

9. An electrode arrangement as set forth in one of claims 1 through 8 characterized in that the electrodes are arranged in mutually displaced relationship in the longitudinally and peripheral directions of the catheter in such a way as to afford at least one electrode matrix (30, 30′

) which makes it possible to determine the direction and speed of a signal to be picked up, from the time displacement with which the signal reaches various ones of the electrodes or to define the direction and speed of a signal to be outputted.

10. An electrode arrangement as set forth in

claim 9

characterized in that an electrode matrix (30, 30′

) includes at least three electrodes (14′

, 14″

).

11. An electrode arrangement as set forth in

claim 9

or

claim 10

characterized in that the center points of the surface areas of the electrodes (14′

, 14″

) of an electrode matrix (30, 30′

) are arranged on the corners of notional triangles or quadrangles.

12. An electrode arrangement as set forth in one of claims 1 through 11 characterized in that the electrodes (14′

, 14″

) include conductive plastic material.

13. An electrode arrangement as set forth in

claim 12

characterized in that electrodes (14′

, 14″

) are arranged in depressions of a non-conductive base material of the electrode carrier (10).