Catheter with High-Density Mapping Electrodes

Abstract

High-density mapping catheters with an array of mapping electrodes are disclosed. These catheters can be used for diagnosing and treating cardiac arrhythmias, for example. The catheters are adapted to contact tissue and comprise a flexible framework including the electrode array. The array of electrodes may be formed from a plurality of columns of longitudinally-aligned and rows of laterally-aligned electrodes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A planar array catheter comprising:
 an elongated catheter shaft including a proximal end and a distal end, and defining a catheter longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends; and   a flexible, planar array at the distal end of the catheter shaft, the planar array configured to conform to tissue, and includes two or more arms extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis, each of the arms having a plurality of electrodes mounted thereon; and   wherein the electrodes on each arm are grouped into cliques of three or more electrodes defining a two-dimensional shape.   
     
     
         2 . The planar array catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes on each arm are configured in at least two columns oriented substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The planar array catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the cliques of electrodes are configured in a triangular-shape, each clique having at least three electrodes, the clique of electrodes configured to sample electrical characteristics of contacted tissue in at least two substantially transverse directions. 
     
     
         4 . The planar array catheter of  claim 1 , wherein each arm of the planar array includes electrodes on both an inner and outer surface, each of the cliques including at least one electrode on an inner surface of the arm, the at least one electrode on the inner surface of the arm configured to facilitate sampling of electrical characteristics in a direction normal to the contacted tissue. 
     
     
         5 . The planar array catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the distance between at least two pairs of electrodes within each clique is equal. 
     
     
         6 . The planar array catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the distance between the electrodes in each clique is constant in contracted and deployed configurations of the planar array.