Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A cardiac catheter for minimally invasive diagnostic and/or ablation procedures includes an elongated cylindrical, electrically non-conductive exterior tube with surface electrodes disposed on its distal portion and a handle on its proximal end. The distal portion can be curved into a curvature retained by a single action on a manual actuator. An electromechanical drive system may be incorporated into the handle. An electrical heating element may be incorporated within the distal electrode for ablation procedures. A removable, disposable blood contacting segment may be provided. The non-blood contacting actuator is thus reusable. The catheter includes two tension/compression members, which are wires with circular cross-sections that are integrally formed into ribbon-like configurations at their distal portions, for curvature formation. The handle includes a pivoted member movable in one direction by the thumb of the user's hand grasping the handle and in the opposite direction by the other fingers of the same hand.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim