Double loop lasso with single puller wire for bi-directional actuation
A catheter has a distal assembly with at least one loop with ring electrodes. A single continuous puller wire for bidirectional deflection is pre-bent into two long portions and a U-shape bend therebetween. The U-shape bend is anchored at a distal end of a deflectable section which is reinforced by at least one washer having at least two holes, each hole axially aligned with a respective lumen in the deflectable section. Each hole is centered with a lumen so that each puller wire portion therethrough is straight and subjected to tensile force only. A proximal end of the support member is flattened and serrated to provide a better bonding to the distal end of the deflectable section.
1. A catheter comprising:
a catheter body including at least three lumens extending therethrough;
an intermediate section attached to the catheter body, the intermediate section including a first off-axis lumen, a second off-axis lumen, and a third off-axis lumen such that the first off-axis lumen, the second off-axis lumen, and the third off-axis lumen are each aligned with a respective one of the at least three lumens of the catheter body;
a washer disposed at a distal end of the intermediate section, the washer including a first washer lumen, a second washer lumen, and a third washer lumen;
a single puller wire including a first proximal portion extending through the first off-axis lumen and the first washer lumen, a second proximal portion extending through the second off-axis lumen and the second washer lumen, and a mid-portion disposed transversely to the first proximal portion and the second proximal portion; and
a plurality of lead wires extending through the third off-axis lumen and the third washer lumen.
2. The catheter of claim 1 , in which the mid-portion of the single puller wire is disposed distal to the washer.
3. The catheter of claim 2 , in which the distal end of the intermediate section comprises a connector section.
4. The catheter of claim 3 , further comprising a distal assembly connected to the intermediate section by the connector section.
5. The catheter of claim 4 , in which the washer is disposed in the connector section.
6. The catheter of claim 5 , further comprising a position sensor disposed in the connector section.
7. The catheter of claim 6 , in which the intermediate section further comprises a fourth off-axis lumen.
8. The catheter of claim 7 , in which the washer further includes a fourth washer lumen.
9. The catheter of claim 8 , further comprising a cable that extends through the fourth off-axis lumen and the fourth washer lumen and that is connected to the position sensor.
10. The catheter of claim 4 , in which the distal assembly comprises a support member and a plurality of electrodes connected to the lead wires.
11. The catheter of claim 10 , in which the support member comprises a shape memory material.
12. The catheter of claim 11 , in which a proximal portion of the support member is anchored in the connector section.
13. The catheter of claim 12 , in which the proximal portion of the support member is anchored in the connector section by an adhesive.
14. The catheter of claim 12 , in which the proximal portion of the support member comprises serrations.
15. The catheter of claim 12 , in which the proximal portion of the support member comprises raised regions and recessed regions.
16. The catheter of claim 12 , in which the proximal portion of the support member comprises a toothed surface.
17. The catheter of claim 10 , in which the distal assembly includes a circular region.
18. The catheter of claim 17 , in which the circular region comprises at least a first loop.
19. The catheter of claim 18 , in which the circular region further comprises a second loop.
20. The catheter of claim 18 , in which the circular region comprises a spiral form.