Method and apparatus for positioning a diagnostic or therapeutic element within the body and tip electrode for use with same
View Patent ↗Surgical methods and apparatus for positioning diagnostic an therapeutic elements on the epicardium or other organ surface. The apparatus include a relatively short shaft and an adjustable loop structure that supports
1. A surgical device, comprising:
a shaft defining a distal region and a proximal end;
a handle associated with the proximal end of the shaft; and
an electrode, carried by the distal region of the shaft, defining a distal region and a pair of exterior openings in the distal region of the electrode, and located distally of the distal end of the shaft, connected by a through hole extending through the electrode, the through hole being closed but for the exterior openings in the distal region of the electrode.
2. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the distal region of the shaft defines a distal end and the electrode comprises a tip electrode.
3. A surgical device as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising:
a plurality of spaced electrodes carried by the distal region of the shaft proximal to the tip electrode.
4. An electrode for use with a surgical device, comprising:
a main body portion defining a distal region, a proximal region and a longitudinal axis;
a pair of exterior openings formed in the distal region of main body portion without any structural member therein and connected by a through hole extending through the main body portion, the through hole being closed but for the exterior openings in the distal region and at least a portion of the through hole being oriented at a non-parallel angle to the longitudinal axis of the main body portion; and
means, associated with the proximal region, for mounting the main body portion on the distal end of a hollow cylindrical shaft.
5. An electrode as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the through hole is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
6. An electrode as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the through hole is substantially linear from one exterior opening to the other.
7. An electrode for use with a surgical device, comprising:
a main body portion defining a distal region; and
a pair of exterior openings formed in the distal region of main body portion without any structural member therein and connected by a through hole extending through the main body portion, the through hole being closed but for the exterior openings in the distal region and substantially v-shaped.
8. An electrode for use with a surgical device, comprising:
a main body portion defining a distal region, a proximal region, a longitudinal axis and an interior lumen extending along at least a portion the longitudinal axis; and
a pair of exterior openings formed in the distal region of main body portion without any structural member therein and connected by a through hole extending through the main body portion, the through hole being closed but for the exterior openings in the distal region and at least a portion of the through hole being oriented at a non-parallel angle to the longitudinal axis of the main body portion.
9. An electrode as claimed in claim 8 further comprising:
a base member associated with the proximal region of the main body portion.
10. An electrode as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the main body portion and the base member define respective perimeters measured about the longitudinal axis, and the perimeter of the base member is smaller than the perimeter of the main body portion.
11. An electrode as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the base member defines an interior lumen that extends to the interior lumen of the main body portion.