Catheter with tissue protecting assembly

Abstract

A medical probe includes an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, an ablative element mounted to the distal end of the elongate member, and a cage assembly mounted to the distal end of the elongate member, the cage assembly at least partially covers the ablative element. A method of treating tissue in a body includes inserting an ablative element in the body, placing the ablative element adjacent the tissue, and maintaining a distance between the ablative element and the tissue using a protective catheter element that circumscribes at least a portion of the ablative element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical device, comprising:
 an elongate body; and   a flexible sheet having a plurality of electrodes thereon, the flexible sheet connected to the elongate body, the flexible sheet and the plurality of electrodes defining a mapping assembly for mapping electrical information in tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet is moveable between an expanded configuration in which the sheet is substantially planar, and a collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising a hollow sheath, wherein the elongate body is slideable within the hollow sheath, wherein the flexible sheet is configured to be disposed within the sheath in the collapsed configuration, wherein the flexible sheet assumes the expanded configuration when moved outside the sheath. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the flexible sheet is biased in the expanded configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet includes an electrically non-conductive material. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the sheet includes a polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet is a grid and the plurality of electrodes are disposed at intersections of the grid. 
     
     
         8 . A medical device, comprising:
 a hollow sheath;   an elongate member slidably disposed within the hollow sheath, wherein the hollow sheath and elongate member are configured for intravasular insertion within a patient; and   a linear member having a plurality of electrodes thereon, the linear member connected to the elongate member, the linear member moveable between an expanded spiral configuration when the linear member is outside the hollow sheath and a collapsed configuration when the linear member is inside the hollow sheath.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the linear member is pre-shaped in the expanded spiral configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the linear member includes an electrically non-conductive material. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the linear member includes a polymer. 
     
     
         12 . A medical device, comprising:
 a hollow sheath;   an elongate member slidably disposed within the hollow sheath, wherein the hollow sheath and elongate member are configured for intravasular insertion within a patient; and   an expandable member having a plurality of electrodes thereon, the expandable member connected to the elongate member, the expandable member moveable between an expanded spiral configuration when the expandable member is outside the hollow sheath and a collapsed configuration when the expandable member is inside the hollow sheath.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the expandable member is pre-shaped in the expanded spiral configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the expandable member includes an electrically non-conductive material. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the expandable member includes a polymer.