Methods and apparatus for assessing and improving electrode contact with cardiac tissue
First Claim
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1. An electrophysiology catheter comprising:
- a handle;
a shaft coupled to a distal end of the handle; and
a braided conductive member coupled to a distal end of the shaft,wherein the braided conductive member comprises a plurality of pressure sensitive wires and a plurality of sectors including a first sector and a second sector,wherein the first sector comprises at least a first pressure sensitive wire for sensing a first degree of pressure between the first sector and first adjacent tissue, andwherein the second sector comprises at least a second pressure sensitive wire for sensing a second degree of pressure between the second sector and second adjacent tissue.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention relate to methods for assessing and/or improving contact between an electrophysiology catheter and tissue, and catheters for performing the methods. One embodiment relates to a catheter comprising a braided conductive member coupled to the distal end of a shaft, wherein the braided conductive member comprises a plurality of pressure sensitive wires. Another embodiment relates to a catheter comprising a braided conductive member having a plurality of sectors and coupled to the distal end of a shaft, and a balloon assembly constructed and arranged to selectively apply distal pressure to one or more sectors of the braided conductive member.
56 Citations
36 Claims
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1. An electrophysiology catheter comprising:
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a handle; a shaft coupled to a distal end of the handle; and a braided conductive member coupled to a distal end of the shaft, wherein the braided conductive member comprises a plurality of pressure sensitive wires and a plurality of sectors including a first sector and a second sector, wherein the first sector comprises at least a first pressure sensitive wire for sensing a first degree of pressure between the first sector and first adjacent tissue, and wherein the second sector comprises at least a second pressure sensitive wire for sensing a second degree of pressure between the second sector and second adjacent tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method, comprising:
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introducing a catheter having a braided conductive member into a heart, the braided conductive member comprising a plurality of sectors including a first sector comprising at least a first pressure sensitive wire and a second sector comprising at least a second pressure sensitive wire; positioning the braided conductive member at a desired location for performing ablation or mapping; sensing a first degree of pressure between the first sector of the braided conductive member and first adjacent tissue at least in part by using the first pressure sensitive wire; sensing a second degree of pressure between the second sector of the braided conductive member and second adjacent tissue at least in part by using the second pressure sensitive wire; and providing an indication of contact between at least one sector of the braided conductive member and adjacent tissue based on the first degree of pressure and/or the second degree of pressure. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification