Alternative placement of thermal sensors on bipolar electrode
A medical device for tissue ablation may include a catheter shaft, an expandable member disposed on or coupled to the catheter shaft, and a plurality of elongate electrode assemblies each constructed as a flexible circuit. The expandable member may be configured to shift between an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration. The plurality of electrode assemblies may be disposed on an outer surface of the expandable member. Each of the plurality of electrode assemblies may include a temperature sensor aligned with two or more electrodes.
1. A medical device for tissue ablation, comprising:
a catheter shaft;
an expandable member coupled to the catheter shaft, the expandable member being capable of shifting between an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration; and
a plurality of elongate electrode assemblies each constructed as a flexible circuit, the plurality of electrode assemblies disposed on an outer surface of the expandable member;
wherein each of the plurality of electrode assemblies includes one or more temperature sensors and one or more electrodes;
wherein each of the one or more temperature sensors is positioned under at least one of the one or more electrodes;
wherein each of the plurality of elongate electrode assemblies is formed from a multiple layer structure comprising a first laminated sheet including a first polymer layer laminated to a first conductive layer and a second laminated sheet including a second polymer layer laminated to a second conductive layer;
wherein the first and second laminated sheets are arranged with the first conductive layer of the first laminated sheet attached to the second polymer layer of the second laminated sheet;
wherein the one or more temperature sensors are attached to the second conductive layer of the second laminated sheet and are positioned at a lower surface of the multiple layer structure facing radially toward the expandable member;
wherein the one or more electrodes are formed in the first polymer layer of the first laminated sheet and are positioned at an upper surface of the multiple layer structure facing radially away from the expandable member; and
wherein a via connects the first and second conductive layers.
2. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more electrodes include active electrodes and ground electrodes, wherein each of the elongate electrode assemblies includes a plurality of the active electrodes, a plurality of the ground electrodes, and a plurality of the one or more temperature sensors, wherein each of the plurality of the one or more temperature sensors is positioned under one of the ground electrodes.
3. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second conductive layers are copper layers.
4. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more electrodes include active electrodes and ground electrodes, wherein each of the plurality of elongate electrode assemblies includes a plurality of the active electrodes aligned linearly, a plurality of the ground electrodes aligned linearly and spaced apart from the plurality of the active electrodes, and a plurality of the one or more temperature sensors positioned under the plurality of the ground electrodes.