Ablation catheter for vein anatomies
A catheter adapted for simultaneous tissue contact with two opposing ring electrodes carried on a generally linear portion of an electrode assembly is adapted to straddle an ostium for ablating two lesions along a chord of the ostium, wherein the generally linear portion is stabilized on the ostium to ensure proper tissue contact when a force is applied down the length of the catheter body.
1. A catheter comprising:
an elongated body;
a distal section having an electrode assembly, the electrode assembly including:
an electrode structure biased into a predetermined generally T-shape in an undeformed state that includes:
a generally linear distal portion having a first predetermined length sufficient to span an ostium of a pulmonary vein, the generally linear distal portion being generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongated body;
a generally linear proximal portion having a second predetermined length lesser than the first predetermined length and being generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body;
a U-shaped portion between the generally linear distal portion and the generally linear proximal portion;
an elbow connecting portion proximal of the generally linear proximal portion, wherein the generally linear distal and proximal portions, the U-shaped portion, and the elbow connecting portion generally lie within a single common plane; and
at least two ring electrodes on the generally linear distal portion; and
a control handle proximal of the elongated body.
2. A catheter of claim 1 , wherein the generally linear distal portion has a free distal end.
3. A catheter of claim 1 , wherein the electrode assembly includes a support structure with shape memory.
4. A catheter of claim 1 , wherein the elbow connecting portion spans an angle generally ranging between about 30 and 120 degrees.
5. A catheter of claim 1 , wherein the second predetermined length is about 50% of the first predetermined length.
6. A catheter of claim 1 , wherein the second predetermined length is about 25% of the first predetermined length.
7. A catheter of claim 1 , wherein the second predetermined length is about 75% of the first predetermined length.
8. A catheter of claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate deflection section between the elongated body and the distal section.
9. A catheter of claim 1 , wherein the generally linear distal portion carries a distal group of ring electrodes and a proximal group of ring electrodes.
10. A catheter of claim 9 , wherein each of the distal group and the proximal group of ring electrodes has at least two ring electrodes.
11. An ablation catheter comprising:
an elongated body;
a distal section having an electrode assembly, the electrode assembly including:
an electrode structure biased into a predetermined generally T-shape in an undeformed state that includes;
a generally linear distal portion having a first predetermined length sufficient to span an ostium of a pulmonary vein, the generally linear distal portion being generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongated body;
a generally linear proximal portion having a second predetermined length lesser than the first predetermined length and being generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body;
a U-shaped portion between the generally linear distal portion and the generally linear proximal portion;
an elbow connecting portion proximal of the generally linear proximal portion, wherein the generally linear distal and proximal portions, the U-shaped portion and the elbow connecting portion generally lie within a single common plane; and
at least a distal ring electrode and a proximal ring electrode on the generally linear distal portion; and
a control handle proximal of the elongated body,
wherein the generally linear distal portion has a proximal end and a distal end and is adapted for generally simultaneous contact between a proximal ring electrode at or near the proximal end and one location on an ostium and between a distal ring electrode at or near the distal end and another location on the ostium.
12. A catheter of claim 11 , wherein the generally linear distal portion has a free distal end.
13. A catheter of claim 11 , wherein the electrode assembly includes a support structure with shape memory.
14. A catheter of claim 11 , wherein the elbow connecting portion spans an angle generally ranging between about 30 and 120 degrees.
15. A catheter of claim 11 , wherein the second predetermined length is about 50% of the first predetermined length.
16. A catheter of claim 11 , wherein the generally linear distal portion carries a distal group of ring electrodes and a proximal group of ring electrodes.
17. A catheter of claim 16 , wherein each of the distal group and the proximal group of ring electrodes has at least two ring electrodes.