Catheter having closed electrode assembly with spines of uniform length
A catheter comprising an elongated catheter body, and an electrode assembly distal of the catheter body, the assembly comprising a plurality of spines, wherein each spine has a distal end that is connected to the distal end of at least one other spine, wherein each spine has an electrode-carrying portion, the electrode-carrying portions of all spines of the assembly being in a single common plane, and wherein all spines of the assembly have a uniform exposed total length.
1. A catheter comprising:
an elongated catheter body having a longitudinal axis and defining a first plane containing the longitudinal axis and a second plane containing the longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the first plane;
a first spine disposed distal to the catheter body and to a first side of the second plane, the first spine comprising:
at least two first linear portions extending along a path intersecting the second plane;
a first electrode-carrying portion disposed in the first plane, the first electrode-carrying portion comprising between six and twelve ring electrodes;
a first distal end; and
a first exposed total length; and
a second spine disposed distal to the catheter body and to the first side of the second plane, the second spine comprising:
at least two second linear portions extending along a path intersecting the longitudinal axis;
a second electrode-carrying portion disposed the first plane, the second electrode-carrying portion comprising between six and twelve ring electrodes;
a second distal end connected to the first distal end; and
a second exposed total length equal to the first exposed total length.
2. The catheter of claim 1 , in which each of the first electrode-carrying portion and second electrode-carrying portion comprises a linear portion.
3. The catheter of claim 2 , in which the first electrode-carrying portion extends parallel to the second electrode-carrying portion.
4. The catheter of claim 2 , in which the first electrode-carrying portion and second electrode-carrying portion extend parallel to the longitudinal axis.
5. The catheter of claim 1 , in which the first spine and second spine comprise longitudinal symmetry with respect to the longitudinal axis.
6. The catheter of claim 1 , further comprising a first mirror counterpart of the first spine and a second mirror counterpart of the second spine.
7. The catheter of claim 1 , in which the first spine and second spine each include at least a divergent proximal portion.
8. The catheter of claim 1 , in which the first spine and second spine each include at least a convergent distal portion.
9. The catheter of claim 1 , in which at least the first spine or the second spine includes a divergent proximal portion and a convergent proximal portion that is distal of the divergent proximal portion.
10. The catheter of claim 1 , in which at least the first spine or the second spine includes a convergent distal portion and a divergent distal portion that is proximal of the convergent distal portion.
11. The catheter of claim 1 , in which the first spine and the second spine include a nonconductive covering.
12. The catheter of claim 1 , in which at least one of the ring electrodes comprises an irrigated ring electrode.
13. The catheter of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third spine disposed distal to the catheter body and to a second side of the second plane, the third spine comprising:
at least two third linear portions extending along a path intersecting the second plane;
a third electrode-carrying portion disposed in the first plane, the third electrode-carrying portion comprising between six and twelve ring electrodes;
a third distal end; and
a third exposed total length; and
a fourth spine disposed distal to the catheter body and to the second side of the second plane, the fourth spine comprising:
at least two fourth linear portions extending along a path intersecting the longitudinal axis;
a fourth electrode-carrying portion disposed in the first plane, the fourth electrode-carrying portion comprising between six and twelve ring electrodes;
a fourth distal end connected to the third distal end; and
a fourth exposed total length equal to the third exposed total length.
14. The catheter of claim 13 , in which the first and second spines are joined to define a closed configuration and the third and fourth spines are joined to define a closed configuration.
15. The catheter of claim 14 , in which the first, second, third and fourth spines define a closed configuration array in which the array is without any spine whose distal end is free and unconnected to another spine.
16. The catheter of claim 14 , in which the first exposed total length equals the third exposed total length.