Asymmetric multiple electrode support structures
First Claim
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1. A structure for deployment within an interior body cavity, comprising:
- a distal hub having an axis, a proximal base, spline elements extending between the hub and the base in a circumferentially spaced relationship about the hub axis defining angular intervals between adjacent spline elements, the spline elements adapted to contact tissue within the interior body cavity, and two of the angular intervals being different by at least 20°
to create a radially asymmetric geometry about the hub axis, wherein the distal hub has a side wall located about the axis, the hub including slots circumferentially spaced about the axis defining angular intervals between adjacent slots, the saline elements received in and retained by the slots.
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Abstract
Multiple electrode support structures have asymmetric geometries, either axially, or radially, or both. The asymmetric support structures are assembled from spline elements that extend between a distal hub and a proximal base. In one embodiment, the spline elements are circumferentially spaced about the distal hub in a radially asymmetric fashion, creating a greater density of spline elements in one region of the structure than in another region. In the same or another embodiment, the spline elements are preformed in an axially asymmetric fashion along their lengths, creating a different geometry in their distal regions than in their proximal regions.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A structure for deployment within an interior body cavity, comprising:
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a distal hub having an axis, a proximal base, spline elements extending between the hub and the base in a circumferentially spaced relationship about the hub axis defining angular intervals between adjacent spline elements, the spline elements adapted to contact tissue within the interior body cavity, and two of the angular intervals being different by at least 20°
to create a radially asymmetric geometry about the hub axis,wherein the distal hub has a side wall located about the axis, the hub including slots circumferentially spaced about the axis defining angular intervals between adjacent slots, the saline elements received in and retained by the slots. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An electrode support structure, comprising:
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a distal hub having an axis, a proximal base, a spline element extending between the hub and the base, the spline element including a geometric midpoint between the hub and the base, and the spline element having a preformed memory normally biasing the spline element into a shape along the elongated axis that is asymmetric about the geometric midpoint, thereby creating an axially asymmetric geometry along the elongated axis, wherein the distal hub has a side wall located about the axis, the hub including slots circumferentially spaced about the axis defining angular intervals between adjacent slots, the spline elements received in and retained by the slots. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An electrode support structure comprising a hub having an axis and a side wall located about the axis, the hub including a slot that extends across the axis through the hub, and
at least two diametrically opposed spline elements connected to the hub, the spline elements each having a terminal end spaced from the hub and a geometric midpoint between the hub and the respective terminal end, the spline elements being integrally joined by an intermediate body that passes through the slot while the opposed spline elements radiate free of the slot, the intermediate body being constrained within the slot against movement out of the slot, and at least one of the spline elements having a preformed memory normally biasing the spline element into a shape that is asymmetric about the geometric midpoint of the at least one flexible spline element.
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15. An electrode support structure, comprising:
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a distal hub having an axis, a proximal base, a plurality of spline elements extending between the hub and the base in a circumferentially spaced relationship about the hub axis defining angular intervals between adjacent spline elements, each spline element including a geometric midpoint between the hub and the base, at least one of the spline elements having a preformed memory normally biasing the spline element into a shape along the elongated axis that is asymmetric about the geometric midpoint, thereby creating an axially asymmetric geometry along the elongated axis, and two of the angular intervals being different by at least 20°
to also create a radially asymmetric geometry about the hub axis,wherein the distal hub has a side wall located about the axis, the hub including slots circumferentially spaced about the axis defining angular intervals between adjacent slots, the spline elements received in and retained by the slots. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A structure for deployment within an interior body cavity, comprising:
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a distal hub having an axis, a proximal base, first and second spline elements extending between the hub and the base along an elongated axis, each spline element including a geometric midpoint between the hub and the base, each spline element adapted to contact tissue within the interior body cavity, the first spline element having a preformed memory normally biasing the spline element into a first shape along the elongated axis that is asymmetric about the geometric midpoint, thereby creating a first axially asymmetric geometry along the elongated axis, and the second spline element having a preformed memory biasing the spline element into a second shape along the elongated axis, different than the first shape, that is asymmetric about the geometric midpoint, thereby creating a second axially asymmetric geometry along the elongated axis that is different than the first axially asymmetric geometry, wherein the distal hub has a side wall located about the axis, the hub including slots circumferentially spaced about the axis defining angular intervals between adjacent slots, the spline elements received in and retained by the slots. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification