Fabric electrode head

Abstract

An electrode head is disclosed that utilizes electrically conductive or dissipative fabric to exchange electrical energy with tissue. This electrode head may be used for any appropriate application, such as a catheter electrode, a return electrode, or the like. Any appropriate function may be provided by this electrode head, such as tissue ablation, tissue mapping, or providing an electrical ground.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A tissue electrode system, comprising:
 an elongated catheter body having a distal end adapted for disposition within a patient body;   a generally cylindrical fabric electrode formed of woven threads attached to said distal end of said elongated catheter body, wherein at least a portion of said woven threads are electrically conductive and electrically connectable with an electrical energy source, said fabric electrode including:   a first segment having a first level of electrical conductivity; and   a second segment axially disposed relative to said first segment in a length dimension of said generally cylindrical fabric electrode and having a second level of electrical conductivity different than said first level of electrical conductivity.   
     
     
         22 . The tissue electrode system of  claim 21 , wherein said first level of electrical conductivity is one of electrically conductive and electrically dissipative and said second level of electrical conductivity is electrically non-conductive. 
     
     
         23 . The tissue electrode system of  claim 22 , herein said first level of electrical conductivity comprises an electrical conductivity of greater than 10 −9  S/m (Siemens per meter) and said second level of electrical conductivity comprises an electrical conductivity of less than 10 −9  S/m. 
     
     
         24 . The tissue electrode system of  claim 21 , wherein said first segment is disposed distally relative to said second segment. 
     
     
         25 . The tissue electrode system of  claim 21 , wherein said second segment is disposed distally relative to said first segment. 
     
     
         26 . The tissue electrode system of  claim 21 , wherein said first segment and said second segment are disposed in an end-to end relation. 
     
     
         27 . The tissue electrode system of  claim 21 , wherein said generally cylindrical fabric electrode cantilevers from said distal end of said elongated catheter body free of internal support. 
     
     
         28 . The tissue electrode system of  claim 27 , wherein said elongated catheter body further comprises:
 at least a first fluid conduit extending through a portion of said elongated catheter body and exiting through said distal end of said elongated catheter body.   
     
     
         29 . The tissue electrode system of  claim 28 , wherein said woven threads are porous to permit fluid from said first fluid conduit to pass into and through said generally cylindrical fabric electrode. 
     
     
         30 . The tissue electrode system of  claim 29 , wherein an entirety of a proximal peripheral edge of said generally cylindrical fabric electrode is fixedly attached to said distal end of said elongated catheter body and around said first fluid conduit. 
     
     
         31 . The tissue electrode system of  claim 21 , wherein said generally cylindrical fabric electrode further comprises multiple layers of fabric. 
     
     
         32 . The tissue electrode system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 said first segment of said fabric electrode comprises a first substantially cylindrical fabric layer; and   said second segment of said fabric electrode comprises a second substantially cylindrical fabric layer, wherein said second substantially cylindrical fabric layer is at least partially disposed within an interior of said first substantially cylindrical fabric layer.   
     
     
         33 . The tissue electrode system of  claim 21  further comprising:
 a core extending from said distal end of said elongated catheter body, wherein said core is disposed within an interior of said generally cylindrical fabric electrode. 
 
     
     
         34 . The tissue electrode system of  claim 33 , wherein said core further comprises:
 an internal conduit connected to a fluid conduit extending through a portion of said elongated catheter body.   
     
     
         35 . The tissue electrode system of  claim 34 , wherein said core has a porous length disposed within the interior of said generally cylindrical fabric electrode. 
     
     
         36 . The tissue electrode system of  claim 35 , wherein said porous length comprises a plurality of fluid ports extending between said internal conduit and an outside surface of said core. 
     
     
         37 . The tissue electrode system of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a plurality of said second segments attached to said first segment.   
     
     
         38 . The tissue electrode system of  claim 21 , wherein each of said plurality of second segments cantilever from a distal end of said first segment. 
     
     
         39 . The tissue electrode system of  claim 21 , wherein said first segment has a first diameter and said second segment has a second diameter, wherein said first and second diameter are different. 
     
     
         40 . The tissue electrode system of  claim 39 , wherein said second segment is distally disposed to said first segment and said second diameter is less than said first diameter.