Helical push wire electrode

Abstract

Helical push wire electrodes are provided. The electrodes may create a continuous helical lesion. One or more electrodes may wind around a support section and create a set of helixes having fixed ends and hitches. Pushing or pulling an end of the electrode transforms the electrodes between a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration such that the set of helixes expand or contract axially. Different portions of the electrodes may be surrounded by sleeves. The sleeves may regulate how the wires transform and provide insulation. Various insulation configurations of the electrodes may provide creations of discrete lesions, efficient energy delivery and reduced power consumption.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A catheter comprising:
 an elongate shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the elongate shaft being configured to locate the distal end portion at a treatment site within a lumen of a patient;   a plurality of wires positioned at the distal end portion of the elongate shaft; and   an electrode positioned on each wire of the plurality of wires, the plurality of wires forming a set of intertwined helixes and are moveable between a low-profile delivery state and an expanded deployed state in which the plurality of wires are radially expanded relative to its position in the low-profile delivery state.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cap or cover positioned at the distal end portion of the elongate shaft.   
     
     
         3 . The catheter of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of wires terminate within the cap or cover. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end portion of the elongate shaft has a distal atraumatic tip. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wires create a circumferentially continuous contact with a wall of the lumen of the patient and the portion that is the electrode is a conductive section that delivers energy to the treatment site. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a support structure positioned at the distal end portion of the elongate shaft, wherein the plurality of wires wind around the support structure in a helical shape.   
     
     
         7 . A catheter comprising:
 an elongate shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the elongate shaft being configured to locate the distal end portion at a treatment site within a lumen of a patient;   a cap or cover positioned at the distal end portion of the elongate shaft;   a plurality of wires positioned at the distal end portion of the elongate shaft; and   an electrode positioned on each wire of the plurality of wires, the plurality of wires being moveable between a low-profile delivery state and an expanded deployed state in which the plurality of wires are radially expanded relative to its position in the low-profile delivery state.   
     
     
         8 . The catheter of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of wires form a set of intertwined helixes. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of wires terminate within the cap or cover. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of wires create a circumferentially continuous contact with a wall of the lumen of the patient and the portion that is the electrode is a conductive section that delivers energy to the treatment site. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a support structure positioned at the distal end portion of the elongate shaft, wherein the plurality of wires wind around the support structure.   
     
     
         12 . The catheter of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of wires exit the elongate shaft at its distal end and terminate within the cap or cover. 
     
     
         13 . The catheter of  claim 7 , wherein each wire of the plurality of wires have discrete sections of insulation along its length to allow the wire to create the portion that is the electrode in between the discrete sections of insulation. 
     
     
         14 . The catheter of  claim 7 , wherein the elongate shaft includes an exit port at the distal end portion and a shaft lumen, wherein a portion of the plurality of wires are disposed within the shaft lumen when in the low-profile delivery state. 
     
     
         15 . A catheter comprising:
 an elongate shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the elongate shaft being configured to locate the distal end portion at a treatment site within a lumen of a patient;   an atraumatic tip positioned at the distal end portion of the elongate shaft;   a plurality of wires positioned at the distal end portion of the elongate shaft; and   an electrode positioned on each wire of the plurality of wires, the plurality of wires terminating within the atraumatic tip and being moveable between a low-profile delivery state and an expanded deployed state in which the plurality of wires are radially expanded relative to its position in the low-profile delivery state.   
     
     
         16 . The catheter of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a support structure positioned at the distal end portion of the elongate shaft, wherein the plurality of wires wind around the support structure in a helical shape.   
     
     
         17 . The catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the support structure is axially fixed relative to the distal end portion of the elongate shaft. 
     
     
         18 . The catheter of  claim 15  wherein the plurality of wires create a circumferentially continuous contact with a wall of the lumen of the patient and the portion that is the electrode is a conductive section that delivers energy to the treatment site. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the elongate shaft includes an exit port at the distal end portion and a shaft lumen, wherein a portion of the plurality of wires are disposed within the shaft lumen when in the low-profile delivery state. 
     
     
         20 . The catheter of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of wires form a set of intertwined helixes.