Catheter with electrode spine assembly having preformed configurations for improved tissue contact
An electrophysiology catheter with a distal electrode assembly having covered spine carrying a plurality of microelectrodes. One or more spines have preformed configurations including at least a first portion with a first curvature and a second portion with a second curvature, and may include a linear portion. The linear portion may be between the first and second portions. The linear portion may be distal of the first and second portions. One or more spines have a narrower portion so that different portions of the spine can have different flexibility with a degree of independence in flexibility from adjacent portions.
1 . An electrophysiology catheter comprising:
an elongated body;
a distal electrode assembly comprising:
a support structure having a proximal stem;
a spine extending from the proximal stem, the spine having a free distal end with a distal portion with a through-hole;
a nonconductive spine cover surrounding the spine;
a plurality of microelectrodes on the spine; and
an adhesive cover on the free distal end and distal portion, the adhesive cover including a bridging portion that passes through the through-hole, and an exposed outer surface.
2 . The electrophysiology catheter of claim 1 , wherein the distal portion is enlarged relative to the spine.
3 . The electrophysiology catheter of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive cover comprises polyurethane.
4 . The electrophysiology catheter of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive cover has a bulbous configuration.
5 . The electrophysiology catheter of claim 1 , where the bridging portion is configured as a mechanical lock that secures the adhesive cover to the distal portion.
6 . The electrophysiology catheter of claim 1 , wherein the spine has a length of about 2.0 cm.
7 . The electrophysiology catheter of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microelectrodes is six.
8 . The electrophysiology catheter of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microelectrodes are arranged as monopoles.
9 . The electrophysiology catheter of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microelectrodes are arranged as bipoles.
10 . An electrophysiology catheter comprising:
an elongated body;
a distal electrode assembly comprising:
a support structure having a proximal stem;
a plurality of spines extending from the proximal stem, each spine having a free distal end with an enlarged distal portion with a through-hole;
a plurality of nonconductive spine covers, each cover surrounding a respective spine;
multiple microelectrodes on each spine; and
a plurality of bulbous covers, each bulbous cover on a respective enlarged distal portion and including a bridging portion that passes through the through-hole of the respective enlarged distal portion, and an exposed outer surface.
11 . The electrophysiology catheter of claim 10 , wherein a total number of the multiple microelectrodes of the distal electrode assembly ranges between about 48 and 72.
12 . The electrophysiology catheter of claim 10 , wherein each spine has a length of about 2.0 cm.
13 . The electrophysiology catheter of claim 10 , wherein each microelectrode has a length of about 800 micrometers.
14 . The electrophysiology catheter of claim 10 , wherein the microelectrodes are arranged on the distal electrode assembly to provide an electrode density ranging between about 4 microelectrodes/square cm and 7 microelectrodes/square cm.
15 . The electrophysiology catheter of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of spines is eight.
16 . The electrophysiology catheter of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of spines is eight, each spine having a length of about 2.0 cm, and each spine carrying six microelectrodes.
17 . The electrophysiology catheter of claim 10 , wherein the microelectrodes are arranged as monopoles.
18 . The electrophysiology catheter of claim 17 , wherein adjacent microelectrodes on a same one of the spines are separated by their leading edges at a spacing ranging between about 1 mm and 3 mm.
19 . The electrophysiology catheter of claim 10 , wherein the microelectrodes are arranged as bipoles.
20 . The electrophysiology catheter of claim 19 , wherein a bipole pair of the microelectrodes are separated between their proximal edges at a spacing of 2.0 mm and adjacent bipole pairs of the microelectrodes are separated between their proximal edges at a spacing of 6.0 mm.