Importance

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Abstract

An electrophysiological mapping device includes an outer catheter, an inner catheter slidable within the outer catheter, and an electronic activation and recording device for electrically activating electrodes on the inner catheter and/or recording electric signals received by the electrodes. The distal end of the inner catheter comprises a plurality of arms that carry electrodes. The arms bow outwardly upon extension of the inner catheter from the outer catheter to form a three-dimensional shape. Each arm has a spine of a superelastic material. Each spine is semicircular in section, and is disposed within a portion of a flexible sheath, the electrode lead wires being disposed in the rest of the sheath. The electrodes are formed from the ends of the insulated electrode lead wires which pass through the sheath, are wrapped around the sheath and then stripped of their insulation. The proximal and distal ends of the spines are fixed to proximal and distal fittings, each having a polygonal segment having flat sides which engage the flat surfaces of the spines and a clamping ring to secure the spines to the segments. A puller wire is attached to the distal end of the three-dimensional shape and passes through the inner catheter to the proximal end of the catheter where it is connected to a deflectable control handle which applies a proximally directed force to the puller wire causing the three-dimensional shape to expand outwardly. The puller wire is coated with TEFLON inside the inner catheter and with polyurethane outside the catheter allowing the inner catheter to translate smoothly inside the inner catheter and to be sealed at its distal end against the flow of blood. Multiple electrode configurations are provided to meet specific ablation and mapping requirements.

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First Claim