Catheter electrode assemblies and methods of construction thereof
A family of catheter electrode assemblies includes a flexible circuit having a plurality of electrical traces and a substrate; a ring electrode surrounding the flexible circuit and electrically coupled with at least one of the plurality of electrical traces; and an outer covering extending over at least a portion of the electrode. A non-contact electrode mapping catheter includes an outer tubing having a longitudinal axis, a deployment member, and a plurality of splines, at least one of the plurality of splines comprising a flexible circuit including a plurality of electrical traces and a substrate, a ring electrode surrounding the flexible circuit and electrically coupled with at least one of the plurality of electrical traces; and an outer covering extending over at least a portion of the ring electrode. A method of constructing the family of catheter electrode assemblies is also provided.
1. A basket catheter comprising an outer tubing defining a longitudinal axis and a plurality of splines, at least one of the plurality of splines comprising:
a flexible circuit including a plurality of electrical traces and a substrate;
an electrode electrically coupled with at least one of the plurality of electrical traces; and
a nonconductive liner tube extending along the flexible circuit, wherein at least a portion of the electrode is disposed on the nonconductive liner tube,
wherein at least one of the electrical traces is configured to deliver ablative energy to the electrode.
2. The basket catheter of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of electrical traces has a thickness, and wherein the thickness is dependent on a function of the electrical trace.
3. The basket catheter of claim 2 , wherein the thickness of the at least one electrical trace configured to deliver ablative energy is greater than the thickness of an electrical trace configured to deliver a sensory signal.
4. The basket catheter of claim 1 , wherein the flexible substrate is configured to expand into a spherical shape.
5. The basket catheter of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of splines further comprises a support member, wherein the support member comprises a Nitinol material incorporated therein.
6. The basket catheter of claim 5 , wherein the support member is electrically isolated from the electrode.
7. The basket catheter of claim 5 , wherein the support member comprises a protrusion extending from a common structure.
8. The basket catheter of claim 1 , further comprising a biocompatible outer covering extending over at least a portion of the electrode.
9. The basket catheter of claim 8 , wherein a portion of the outer covering is removed to expose at least a portion of the electrode.
10. The basket catheter of claim 1 , wherein the outer covering is bonded to at least a portion of the liner tube.
11. The basket catheter of claim 1 , further comprising at least one radio-opaque marker disposed within at least a portion of the electrode.
12. The basket catheter of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the spline is configured to deflect away from the longitudinal axis of the outer tubing when a deployment member is actuated.
13. The basket catheter of claim 1 , wherein the electrode comprises a ring electrode.
14. The basket catheter of claim 1 , wherein the substrate of the flexible circuit comprises polyimide, polyetheretherketone, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate material, or a combination thereof.
15. The basket catheter of claim 1 , wherein the electrode is electrically coupled with at least one of the plurality of electrical traces through an electrical pad.
16. The basket catheter of claim 1 , further comprising at least one positioning electrode, wherein the at least one positioning electrode is configured to provide a signal indicative of both a position and orientation of at least a portion of the catheter by sensing an impedance.
17. The basket catheter of claim 1 , further comprising at least one positioning electrode, wherein the at least one positioning electrode is configured to provide a signal indicative of both a position and orientation of at least a portion of the catheter by sensing a strength of a magnetic field.
18. The basket catheter of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of positioning electrodes, wherein at least one of the plurality of positioning electrodes is configured to provide a signal indicative of both a position and orientation of at least a portion of the catheter by sensing an impedance and wherein at least one of the plurality of positioning electrodes is configured to provide a signal indicative of both a position and orientation of at least a portion of the catheter by sensing a strength of a magnetic field.
19. The basket catheter of claim 1 , further comprising a deployment member coupled to the plurality of splines, the deployment member being a hollow tube housed in the outer tubing, wherein the deployment member is movable relative to the outer tubing to expand the splines to a deployed position or collapse the splines to an undeployed configuration.