Basket for a multi-electrode array catheter

Abstract

An electrophysiology catheter is provided. In one embodiment, the catheter includes an elongate, deformable shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a basket electrode assembly coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The basket electrode assembly has a proximal end and a distal end and is configured to assume a compressed state and an expanded state. The electrode assembly further includes one or more tubular splines having a plurality of electrodes disposed thereon and a plurality of conductors. Each of the plurality of conductors extends through the tubular spline from a corresponding one of the plurality of electrodes to the proximal end of the basket electrode assembly. The tubular splines are configured to assume a non-planar (e.g., a twisted or helical) shape in the expanded state.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An electrophysiology catheter, comprising:
 an elongate, deformable shaft including a proximal end and a distal end; and   a basket electrode assembly coupled to the distal end of the shaft and configured to assume a compressed state and an expanded state, the basket electrode assembly comprising:
 a proximal end and a distal end; and 
 a first spline with a first plurality of electrodes disposed thereon, the first spline configured to assume a helical shape in the expanded state. 
   
     
     
         22 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 21 , wherein the first spline is coupled to the proximal and distal ends of the basket electrode assembly at diametrically opposed mounting points. 
     
     
         23 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 22 , wherein the diametrically opposed mounting points of the first spline are configured to resist lateral motion of an intermediate portion of the first spline in response to contact. 
     
     
         24 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 21 , wherein the basket electrode assembly further includes a second spline, wherein the second spline is configured to assume a complimentary helical shape to the first spline in the expanded state. 
     
     
         25 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 24 , wherein the first and second splines have the same helical pitch in the expanded state. 
     
     
         26 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 21 , wherein a distance between adjacent electrodes of the first plurality of electrodes varies. 
     
     
         27 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 26 , wherein the distance between adjacent electrodes of the first plurality of electrodes near a midpoint of the first spline is smaller, and the distance between adjacent electrodes of the first plurality of electrodes increases towards proximal and distal ends of the first spline. 
     
     
         28 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 21 , wherein the basket electrode assembly includes another seven splines;
 wherein each of the eight splines are configured to assume complimentary helical shapes to adjacent splines when the basket electrode assembly is in the expanded state; and   wherein the basket electrode assembly is configured to form a flower-shaped pattern in the compressed state.   
     
     
         29 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 28 , wherein each of the eight splines has a tubular cross-section and includes a plurality of conductors and electrodes, each of the plurality of conductors extending through a lumen in a respective spline and communicatively coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of electrodes. 
     
     
         30 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 21 , wherein one or more of the first plurality of electrodes is configured to provide ablation therapy 
     
     
         31 . An electrophysiology catheter, comprising:
 an elongate, deformable shaft including proximal and distal ends; and,   a basket electrode assembly coupled to the distal end of the shaft and configured to assume a compressed state and an expanded state, the basket electrode assembly comprising:
 a plurality of splines, each of the plurality of splines configured to assume complimentary helical shapes in the expanded state relative to one another; 
   wherein each of the plurality of splines is coupled to the proximal and distal ends of the basket electrode assembly at diametrically opposed proximal and distal mounting points.   
     
     
         32 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of splines share the same helical pitch in the expanded state. 
     
     
         33 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 31  wherein each of the plurality of splines includes:
 a plurality of electrodes disposed thereon; and, 
 a plurality of conductors, each of the plurality of conductors communicatively coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of electrodes and extending proximally to a proximal end of the basket electrode assembly. 
 
     
     
         34 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 33 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are configured to provide ablation therapy 
     
     
         35 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 31 , wherein the diametrically opposed proximal and distal mounting points of each of the plurality of splines are configured to resist lateral motion of an intermediate portion of the respective spline in response to contact. 
     
     
         36 . An electrophysiology catheter comprising:
 an elongate, deformable shaft; and   a basket electrode assembly coupled to a distal end of the shaft, the basket electrode assembly configured to assume a compressed state and an expanded state, the basket electrode assembly including:
 a proximal end; 
 a distal end; 
 a central post extending along a central longitudinal axis of the shaft between the proximal and distal ends; and 
 a first spline coupled to both the proximal and distal ends of the basket electrode assembly at diametrically opposed locations, the first spline configured to assume a helical shape that extends at least partially around the central post when the basket electrode assembly is in the expanded state. 
   
     
     
         37 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 36 , further including a second spline configured to assume a complimentary helical shape to the first spline in the expanded state of the basket electrode assembly. 
     
     
         38 . The electrophysiology catheter of  claim 36 , wherein the first spline includes a plurality of electrodes configured to provide ablation therapy.