Abstract:
An irrigated tip electrode design includes a shell generally surrounding a plug which jointly define a chamber that is fed with fluid by a lumen. The fluid is distributed to the outer surface of the tip electrode through fluid passages. The chamber is advantageously isolated from a region of the tip electrode occupied by electrical and/or electromagnetic components in the tip electrode. Lumens occupied by the these components terminate in blind holes that have no communication with the chamber. A method of fabricating includes providing a shell configured from a rod to provide an open interior cavity, sealing and partially filling the cavity with a plug to form a chamber, then forming fluid passages between the cavity and an outer surface of the tip electrode, and providing a lumen through which fluid can enter the chamber and exit therefrom through the fluid passages.
Abstract:
An irrigated tip electrode design includes a shell generally surrounding a plug which jointly define a chamber that is fed with fluid by a lumen. The fluid is distributed to the outer surface of the tip electrode through fluid passages. The chamber is advantageously isolated from a region of the tip electrode occupied by electrical and/or electromagnetic components in the tip electrode. Lumens occupied by the these components terminate in blind holes that have no communication with the chamber. A method of fabricating includes providing a shell configured from a rod to provide an open interior cavity, sealing and partially filling the cavity with a plug to form a chamber, then forming fluid passages between the cavity and an outer surface of the tip electrode, and providing a lumen through which fluid can enter the chamber and exit therefrom through the fluid passages.
Abstract:
An irrigated tip electrode design includes a shell generally surrounding a plug which jointly define a chamber that is fed with fluid by a lumen. The fluid is distributed to the outer surface of the tip electrode through fluid passages. The chamber is advantageously isolated from a region of the tip electrode occupied by electrical and/or electromagnetic components in the tip electrode. Lumens occupied by the these components terminate in blind holes that have no communication with the chamber. A method of fabricating includes providing a shell configured from a rod to provide an open interior cavity, sealing and partially filling the cavity with a plug to form a chamber, then forming fluid passages between the cavity and an outer surface of the tip electrode, and providing a lumen through which fluid can enter the chamber and exit therefrom through the fluid passages.
Abstract:
A method for attaching a ring electrode to the shaft of the tip section of a catheter comprises passing an electrode lead wire through a lumen in the catheter and out an exit hole in the tip section. The portion of the electrode lead wire extending out of the exit hole is stripped of non-conductive coating and wrapped around the shaft and secured in a clove hitch arrangement. The wrapped electrode lead wire is pulled tight while the material of the shaft is heated to embed the electrode lead wire in the shaft so that its outermost surface is generally flush with the surface of the shaft. The exit hole is sealed and a ring electrode, having a flared skirt is slipped over the shaft to a position over the wrapped electrode lead wire and exit hole. It is then swaged to reduce its outer diameter to about that of the outer diameter of the shaft of the tip section to thereby create a low ohmic connection with the electrode lead wire.
Abstract:
A catheter that is particularly useful for simultaneously mapping multiple points within the heart is provided. The catheter includes a mapping assembly including a plurality of flexible spines, each having a free distal end. The spines are supported by an improved support structure that permits the spines to be more precisely arranged relative to one another. The catheter comprises an elongated catheter body. A mapping assembly is provided at the distal end of the catheter body. The mapping assembly comprises a support structure having a generally cylindrical base mounted on the distal end of the catheter body, the base having proximal and distal ends. The support structure further comprises at least two pre-shaped flexible support arms. Each support arm has a proximal end attached to the distal end of the generally cylindrical base and a free distal end. At least two non-conductive coverings are provided, each in surrounding relation to a corresponding one of the at least two support arms. At least one electrode is mounted over each of the at least two non-conductive coverings.
Abstract:
An irrigated tip electrode design includes a shell generally surrounding a plug which jointly define a chamber that is fed with fluid by a lumen. The fluid is distributed to the outer surface of the tip electrode through fluid passages. The chamber is advantageously isolated from a region of the tip electrode occupied by electrical and/or electromagnetic components in the tip electrode. Lumens occupied by the these components terminate in blind holes that have no communication with the chamber. A method of fabricating includes providing a shell configured from a rod to provide an open interior cavity, sealing and partially filling the cavity with a plug to form a chamber, then forming fluid passages between the cavity and an outer surface of the tip electrode, and providing a lumen through which fluid can enter the chamber and exit therefrom through the fluid passages.
Abstract:
An electrophysiologic catheter with an improved control handle is provided. The catheter includes a heat transfer assembly to better dissipate heat in the control handle. The heat transfer assembly includes a pump, a reservoir containing a coolant, a heat transfer member, and a coolant transport network transporting coolant between at least the reservoir and the heat transfer member. In one embodiment, the heat transfer member is located within the control handle as a heat exchanger on the circuit board to receive the coolant for transferring heat from the integrated circuits to the coolant. In another embodiment, the heat transfer member is located on the circuit board directly surrounding the integrated circuits to internally cool the integrated circuit within the control handle. A second heat transfer member is located outside of the control handle as a heat exchanger.
Abstract:
A method for attaching a ring electrode to the shaft of the tip section of a catheter comprises passing an electrode lead wire through a lumen in the catheter and out an exit hole in the tip section. The portion of the electrode lead wire extending out of the exit hole is stripped of non-conductive coating and wrapped around the shaft and secured in a clove hitch arrangement. The wrapped electrode lead wire is pulled tight while the material of the shaft is heated to embed the electrode lead wire in the shaft so that its outermost surface is generally flush with the surface of the shaft. The exit hole is sealed and a ring electrode, having a flared skirt is slipped over the shaft to a position over the wrapped electrode lead wire and exit hole. It is then swaged to reduce its outer diameter to about that of the outer diameter of the shaft of the tip section to thereby create a low ohmic connection with the electrode lead wire.
Abstract:
An electrophysiologic catheter with an improved control handle is provided. The catheter includes a heat transfer assembly to better dissipate heat in the control handle. The heat transfer assembly includes a pump, a reservoir containing a coolant, a heat transfer member, and a coolant transport network transporting coolant between at least the reservoir and the heat transfer member. In one embodiment, the heat transfer member is located within the control handle as a heat exchanger on the circuit board to receive the coolant for transferring heat from the integrated circuits to the coolant. In another embodiment, the heat transfer member is located on the circuit board directly surrounding the integrated circuits to internally cool the integrated circuit within the control handle. A second heat transfer member is located outside of the control handle as a heat exchanger.
Abstract:
A bi-directional electrophysiology catheter having improved steerability which includes orientation sheaths, or thin walled tubes, placed in diametrically opposed lumen at the distal portion of the catheter for producing in-plane deflection of the distal portion of the catheter.