Multi-electrode catheter with interlaced substrate
Catheters are presented herein having at least one electrode pair with a first electrode in the pair configured to contact tissue to receive and/or apply electrical signals for mapping and/or ablation and a second electrode in the pair being positioned facing an opposite direction, away from the tissue, and configured to function as a reference electrode for the first electrode. The first and second electrodes are positioned on separate substrates that are interwoven with each other.
1 . An end effector of a catheter, the end effector comprising:
a planar substrate extending along a longitudinal axis, the planar substrate comprising (i) openings therethrough, (ii) a frame comprising one or more struts extending along the longitudinal axis, a first membrane extending between the one or more struts on a first side of the planar substrate facing the first side of the end effector, and (iii) a second membrane extending between the one or more struts on a second side of the planar substrate facing the second side of the end effector; and
an interlaced substrate traversing on a first side of the end effector across a first side of the planar substrate, extending through an opening through the planar substrate, and traversing on a second side of the end effector across a second side of the planar substrate opposite the first side of the planar substrate; and
an electrode pair comprising an electrode affixed to the planar substrate and an electrode affixed to the interlaced substrate substantially opposite the electrode affixed to the planar substrate.
2 . The end effector of claim 1 ,
a portion of the first membrane being exposed to ambient environment,
a portion of the first membrane being traversed by the interlaced substrate,
a portion of the second membrane being exposed to ambient environment, and
a portion of the second membrane being traversed by the interlaced substrate.
3 . The end effector of claim 1 , the electrodes of the electrode pair being exposed to ambient environment.
4 . The end effector of claim 1 , a first electrode of the electrode pair being configured to contact tissue, and a second electrode of the electrode pair being configured as a reference electrode to the first electrode.
5 . The end effector of claim 1 , in which a center of a first electrode of the electrode pair being substantially aligned with a center of a second electrode of the electrode pair.
6 . The end effector of claim 1 ,
the one or more struts comprising a pair of longitudinally extending struts that extend along the longitudinal axis; and
the first membrane extending over each strut of the pair of longitudinally extending struts, and between the pair of longitudinally extending struts.
7 . The end effector of claim 6 , the electrode affixed to the planar substrate of the electrode pair being affixed to the first membrane and between the pair of longitudinally extending struts.
8 . The end effector of claim 1 , the end effector comprising an array of at least four electrodes on the first side of the end effector,
the array comprising an electrode of the electrode pair that is on the first side of the end effector, and
the electrodes of the array being coplanar with each other.
9 . The end effector of claim 1 , the end effector comprising an array of at least four electrodes on the first side of the end effector,
the array comprising an electrode of the electrode pair that is on the first side of the end effector, and
the electrodes of the array being coplanar with each other.
10 . An end effector of a catheter, the end effector comprising:
a top side;
a bottom side opposite the top side;
a first substrate portion;
a second substrate portion;
an opening between the first and second substrate portions;
an interlaced substrate traversing on the top side of the end effector across the first substrate portion, extending through the opening, and traversing on a bottom side of the end effector across the second substrate portion;
a first electrode pair comprising a bottom electrode affixed to the first substrate portion on the bottom side of the end effector and a top electrode affixed to the interlaced substrate on the top side of the end effector, the top electrode being disposed substantially opposite the bottom electrode of the first electrode pair;
a second electrode pair comprising a top electrode affixed to the second substrate portion on the top side of the end effector and a bottom electrode affixed to the interlaced substrate on the bottom side of the end effector, the bottom electrode being disposed substantially opposite the top electrode of the second electrode pair; and
a support frame configured to move the first substrate portion, the second substrate portion, and the interlaced substrate into a planar predetermined shape.
11 . The end effector of claim 10 , further comprising:
a contiguous substrate comprising the first substrate portion, the second substrate portion, and a nitinol support frame extending through the first substrate portion and/or the second substrate portion, the nitinol support frame comprising longitudinally extending struts, and the first substrate portion and/or the second substrate portion being disposed between the longitudinally extending struts;
a first membrane facing the top side of the end effector such that a portion of the first membrane is exposed to ambient environment and a portion of the first membrane is traversed by the interlaced substrate; and
a second membrane facing the bottom side of the end effector such that a portion of the second membrane is exposed to ambient environment and a portion of the second membrane is traversed by the interlaced substrate.
12 . An end effector of a catheter, the end effector comprising:
a planar substrate extending along a longitudinal axis, the planar substrate comprising (i) openings therethrough, (ii) a frame comprising a pair of longitudinally extending struts that extend along the longitudinal axis, and (iii) a membrane extending over each strut of the pair of longitudinally extending struts, and between the pair of longitudinally extending struts; and
an interlaced substrate traversing on a first side of the end effector across a first side of the planar substrate, extending through an opening through the planar substrate, and traversing on a second side of the end effector across a second side of the planar substrate opposite the first side of the planar substrate; and
an electrode pair comprising an electrode affixed to the planar substrate and an electrode affixed to the interlaced substrate substantially opposite the electrode affixed to the planar substrate.
13 . The end effector of claim 12 ,
a portion of the membrane being exposed to ambient environment, and
a portion of the membrane being traversed by the interlaced substrate.
14 . The end effector of claim 12 , the electrodes of the electrode pair being exposed to ambient environment.
15 . The end effector of claim 12 , a first electrode of the electrode pair being configured to contact tissue, and a second electrode of the electrode pair being configured as a reference electrode to the first electrode.
16 . The end effector of claim 12 , in which a center of a first electrode of the electrode pair being substantially aligned with a center of a second electrode of the electrode pair.
17 . The end effector of claim 12 , the electrode affixed to the planar substrate of the electrode pair being affixed to the membrane and between the pair of longitudinally extending struts.