Basket style cardiac mapping catheter having an atraumatic basket tip for detection of cardiac rhythm disorders

1. A system for sensing multiple local electric voltages from endocardial surface of a heart, comprising:

a first elongate tubular member having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end; and

a basket assembly comprising:

a plurality of flexible splines for guiding a plurality of exposed electrodes, the splines having proximal portions and distal portions;

an anchor for securably affixing the proximal portions of the splines; said anchor being secured at the distal end of the first elongate tubular member;

an encapsulated and filament-wrapped distal tip comprising an encapsulant and a filament for securably affixing the distal portions of the splines in a predetermined angular relationship at said distal tip;

wherein the flexible splines further comprise alignment members at the distal portions of the splines;

wherein the filament is laced, looped or wound between, over and under the alignment members of the splines to substantially align and secure the distal portions of the splines in said predetermined angular relationship;

wherein the splines comprise a superelastic material; and

wherein the basket assembly has a radially expanded non-cylindrical shape.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second elongate tubular member having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end;

wherein the basket assembly is slidingly compressible to fit within the lumen of the second elongate tubular member;

wherein the basket assembly has a substantially cylindrical shape when compressed within the lumen of the second elongate tubular member; and

wherein the basket assembly has said radially expanded non-cylindrical shape when not compressed within the lumen of the second elongate tubular member and disposed past the distal end of the second elongate tubular member.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the encapsulant has a smooth, non-thrombogenic outer surface free of voids and slots which would permit the passage or entry of blood thereinto.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the encapsulant comprises a thermoplastic material.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the encapsulant comprises a polyurethane material.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the filament comprises a polymeric filament, a metallic filament and combinations thereof.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the alignment members comprise circular portions at the distal spline portions.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein angles between said splines at said distal tip forming said predetermined angular relationship are all substantially equal to each other.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one angle between said splines at said distal tip forming said predetermined angular relationship is different from another angle between said splines at said distal tip.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein, when said basket assembly is in said radially expanded non-cylindrical shape, the splines extend beyond the distal tip and comprise excurvate bends beyond the distal tip to bend the splines back towards the anchor.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the alignment members comprise laterally and outwardly extending projections at the distal portions of the splines.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the splines further comprise spline ends and further wherein the spline ends terminate at the proximal portions of the splines.

13. A system for sensing multiple local electric voltages from endocardial surface of a heart, comprising:

a first elongate tubular member having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end;

a basket assembly comprising:

a plurality of flexible splines for guiding a plurality of exposed electrodes, the splines having proximal portions and distal portions, the flexible splines further comprise alignment members projecting laterally outwardly at the distal portions of the splines;

an anchor for securably affixing the proximal portions of the splines; said anchor being secured at the distal end of the first elongate tubular member;

a distal tip comprising a material for securably affixing the alignment members at the distal portions of the splines in a predetermined relationship at said distal tip; and

a filament which is laced, looped or wound between, over and under the alignment members at the distal portions of the splines for aligning the distal portions of the splines in said predetermined angular relationship at said distal tip

wherein the basket assembly has a radially expanded non-cylindrical shape;

wherein the splines comprise a superelastic material; and

wherein said material is selected from the group consisting of an elastomeric material, a non-elastic polymeric material, a thermoplastic material and combinations thereof.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the distal tip has a smooth, non-thrombogenic outer surface free of voids and slots which would permit the passage or entry of blood there into.

15. The system of claim 13 , further comprising:

a second elongate tubular member having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end;

wherein the basket assembly is slidingly compressible to fit within the lumen of the second elongate tubular member;

wherein the basket assembly has a substantially cylindrical shape when compressed within the lumen of the second elongate tubular member; and

wherein the basket assembly has said radially expanded non-cylindrical shape when not compressed within the lumen of the second elongate tubular member and disposed past the distal end of the second elongate tubular member.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein, when said basket assembly is in said radially expanded non-cylindrical shape, the splines extend beyond the distal tip and comprise excurvate bends beyond the distal tip to bend the splines back towards the anchor.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein angles between said splines at said distal tip forming said predetermined angular relationship are all substantially equal to each other.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein at least one angle between said splines at said distal tip forming said predetermined angular relationship is different from another angle between said splines at said distal tip.

19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the splines further comprise spline ends and further wherein the spline ends terminate at the proximal portions of the splines.