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Mapping and/or ablation catheter with coilable distal extremity and method for using same

  • US 5,680,860 A
  • Filed: 10/31/1995
  • Issued: 10/28/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A mapping and/or ablation catheter for introduction into a chamber formed by a wall of a heart of a human body comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having proximal and distal extremities and extending along a longitudinal axis, the flexible elongate tubular member provided with a lumen extending between the proximal and distal extremities and having a length so that when the distal extremity is disposed in the chamber of the heart the proximal extremity is outside of the body, a flexible elongate member slidably carried within the lumen and having a distal end portion with a free end, means carried by the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member for moving the distal end portion between a first position disposed in the lumen in the flexible elongate tubular member and a second position extending distally of the flexible elongate tubular member, the distal end portion including an element of a shape memory alloy having a predetermined coil-like configuration in which the distal end portion extends substantially in a plane at an angle to the longitudinal axis when in the second position, the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member serving as means for moving the distal end portion to a substantially straightened configuration when the distal end portion is disposed in the lumen and a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart electrodes carried by the distal end portion for permitting high density mapping and/or ablating of a portion of the wall inside the chamber of the heart.

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