Electrode configurations for diagnosis of arrhythmias

1. An apparatus, comprising:

(a) a shaft; and

(b) an end effector at a distal end of the shaft, the end effector being sized to fit in an anatomical passageway within a subject's cardiovascular system, the end effector comprising at least one electrode pair, the at least one electrode pair being configured to contact cardiovascular tissue and thereby pick up electrocardiogram signals, each electrode pair including first and second electrodes spaced apart along a longitudinal axis from each other by a gap area (Ag) located between the electrodes, the gap area (Ag) having a gap distance (Lg) with respect to the longitudinal axis such that:

(i) a length of one of the electrodes (L) along the longitudinal axis is equal to or greater than the gap distance (Lg); and

(ii) a ratio of an area defined by the gap area (Ag) to one electrode area (Ae) is equal to or less than one,

the gap distance (Lg) being determined by a product of the one electrode area (Ae) up to one millimeter squared and a conversion factor of about 1.25 mm −1 or less.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , the end effector further comprising a plurality of elongated spines and a plurality of the electrode pairs, the electrode pairs being secured to the spines.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , the one electrode area (Ae) comprising approximately 0.95 squared millimeters or less.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , the gap distance comprising any distance from approximately 50 microns to approximately 3 mm.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , the end effector comprising at least one electrode support member associated with the at least one electrode pair, each electrode support member including a first side and a second side, the electrode pair being presented on only one of the sides of the corresponding electrode support member.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , the first and second electrode of each electrode pair comprising a bio-compatible metal or conductive polymer.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , the bio-compatible metal comprising a metal selected from one of platinum, palladium, cobalt-chromium, nitinol, gold or any combinations thereof.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , the bio-compatible metal being coated with iridium oxide.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , the at least one electrode pair being configured to pick up electrocardiogram signals of immediate tissue in contact with the electrode pair, without fractionation from far field interactions.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , the one electrode area (Ae) comprising any surface area from approximately 0.05 squared millimeter to approximately 1 squared millimeter and the gap distance (Lg) being from about 100 microns to about 500 microns.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , the one electrode area (Ae) comprising any surface area from approximately 0.24 squared millimeter to approximately 0.4 squared millimeter.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , the first and second electrodes each being rectangular, such that the first surface area is defined by a first length of the first and second electrodes and a first width of the first and second electrodes.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , the first length comprising any length from approximately 100 microns to approximately 750 microns.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , the first width comprising any width from approximately 800 microns to approximately 1 mm.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

(a) a shaft; and

(b) an end effector at a distal end of the shaft, the end effector being sized to fit in an anatomical passageway within a human cardiovascular system, the end effector comprising at least one electrode pair arranged along a longitudinal axis, the at least one electrode pair being configured to contact cardiovascular tissue and thereby pick up electrocardiogram signals, each electrode pair comprising:

(i) a first electrode having a first surface area of no greater than approximately 1 squared millimeters, the first surface area being defined by a first length of the first electrode extending along the longitudinal axis and a first width of the first electrode extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and

(ii) a second electrode having a second surface area, the second surface area being defined by a second length of the second electrode extending along the longitudinal axis and a second width of the second electrode extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis,

the first and second electrodes being spaced apart from each other by a gap distance (Lg) defined by two nearest substantially parallel surfaces of the respective first and second electrodes,

the gap distance (Lg) comprising any value from a product of one of the first surface area or second surface area and a conversion factor no greater than about 1.25 mm −1 .

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , the second surface area being equal to the first surface area.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , the gap distance (Lg) comprising any distance from approximately 50 microns to approximately 500 microns.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 , a first width of at least one of the first or second electrodes and the gap distance having a ratio of approximately 5:1.

19. A method of manufacturing the apparatus of claim 1 , the method comprising:

(a) selecting the gap distance (Lg) and the length of the one of the electrodes (L) based on a first requirement that the length of the one of the electrodes (L) along the longitudinal axis is equal to or greater than the gap distance (Lg); and

(b) selecting the area defined by the gap area (Ag) and the one electrode area (Ae) based on a second requirement that the ratio of the area defined by the gap area (Ag) to one electrode area (Ae) is equal to or less than one.