Electrophysiology loop catheter

Abstract

A catheter including control, localization, and/or fluid delivery features, and methods of using the same. One embodiment is directed to an electrophysiology catheter including a superelastic wire and a cable, and a method of controlling the catheter using the cable. Another embodiment is directed to an electrophysiology catheter including an adhesive to bias the orientation of the catheter. A further embodiment is directed to an electrophysiology catheter including adhesive and one or more cables, and a method of controlling the catheter using the one or more cables. Another embodiment is directed to a method including acts of injecting a fluid into the heart of a patient and adjusting the diameter of an arcuate curve of the catheter. Further embodiments are directed to a catheter having multiple position sensors on an arcuate curve of the catheter, or a position sensor associated with a movable electrode of the catheter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A catheter comprising:
 a handle including an actuator;   a flexible shaft extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the flexible shaft including a lumen extending therein, the flexible shaft extending distally from the handle;   a distal tip assembly extending from the distal end of the flexible shaft, the distal tip assembly including a distal tip having a curved configuration;   a cable extending through the flexible shaft from the actuator to the distal tip such that the cable is configured to alter the curved configuration of the distal tip;   the distal tip assembly including a temperature sensor;   the distal tip assembly including an ablation electrode; and   the distal tip assembly including a positioning sensor to provide an indication of a position of the ablation electrode.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the positioning sensor comprises an electromagnetic sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor wire operably coupled to the temperature sensor and extending proximally therefrom through the lumen in the flexible shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising an ablation electrode wire operably coupled to the ablation electrode and extending proximally therefrom through the lumen in the flexible shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising a positioning sensor wire operably coupled to the positioning sensor and extending proximally therefrom through the lumen in the flexible shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising a second electrode disposed on the distal tip assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising a movable electrode disposed about the distal tip, the movable electrode being movable between a first position on the distal tip and a second position on the distal tip such that the movable electrode is configured to form at least a semicircular lesion. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter of  claim 7 , further comprising an electromagnetic position sensor movable with the movable electrode to provide an indication of a position of the movable electrode. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising an aperture configured to permit cooling fluid to exit the catheter. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter of  claim 9 , further comprising a cooling fluid lumen extending through the flexible shaft and fluidly coupled to the aperture. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising a wire formed of a superelastic material and disposed within the distal tip assembly in order to bias the distal tip into the curved configuration. 
     
     
         12 . A catheter comprising:
 a flexible shaft extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the flexible shaft including a lumen extending therein;   a distal tip assembly extending from the distal end of the flexible shaft, the distal tip assembly including a distal tip having a curved configuration;   a temperature sensor included with the distal tip assembly, the temperature sensor operably coupled to a temperature sensor wire extending proximally therefrom;   an ablation electrode included with the distal tip assembly, the ablation electrode operably coupled to an ablation electrode wire extending proximally therefrom; and   an electromagnetic sensor included with the distal tip assembly, the electromagnetic sensor operably coupled to an electromagnetic sensor wire extending proximally therefrom.   
     
     
         13 . The catheter of  claim 12 , wherein the ablation electrode is a movable electrode disposed about the distal tip, the movable electrode being movable between a first position on the distal tip and a second position on the distal tip. 
     
     
         14 . The catheter of  claim 13 , wherein the electromagnetic sensor is movable with the movable electrode to provide an indication of a position of the movable electrode. 
     
     
         15 . The catheter of  claim 13 , wherein the movable electrode is configured to form at least a semicircular lesion through movement between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         16 . The catheter of  claim 12 , further comprising a cooling fluid lumen extending through the flexible shaft. 
     
     
         17 . The catheter of  claim 16 , further comprising an aperture configured to permit cooling fluid to exit the catheter, the aperture fluidly coupled with the cooling fluid lumen. 
     
     
         18 . A catheter comprising
 a flexible shaft extending from a proximal end to a distal end;   a distal tip assembly extending from the distal end of the flexible shaft;   a fluid outlet for providing cooling fluid;   a fluid lumen extending distally through the flexible shaft from the proximal end to the fluid outlet;   a temperature sensor arranged with the distal tip assembly;   an ablation electrode arranged with the distal tip assembly; and   an electromagnetic sensor arranged with the distal tip assembly, the electromagnetic sensor configured to provide an indication of a position of the ablation electrode.   
     
     
         19 . The catheter of  claim 18 , wherein the distal tip assembly includes a distal tip that is biased into a curved configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The catheter of  claim 19 , wherein the ablation electrode is longitudinally movable along the distal tip assembly.