Catheter with increased electrode density spine assembly having reinforced spine covers

Abstract

An electrophysiology catheter with a distal electrode assembly having covered spine carrying a plurality of microelectrodes. The spines have nonconductive covers that are reinforced with tensile members, e.g., wires or fibers, that extend (or have portions that extend) longitudinally so as to minimize any elongation of the covers and the microelectrodes carried thereon. The tensile members may also have a length greater than the length of the spines so the proximal portions extend proximally from the spines, through the catheter and at least into the control handle for actuation by an operator for deflecting and moving the spines, like “fingers.”

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrophysiology catheter, comprising:
 an elongated body; and   a distal electrode assembly comprising:
 a proximal portion, and 
 a plurality of spines, each of the plurality of spines comprising a tapered portion comprising proximal and distal ends and a linear taper such that the proximal end of the tapered portion is wider than the distal end of the tapered portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the distal electrode assembly comprises a plurality of nonconductive spine covers, each nonconductive spine cover surrounding a respective one of the plurality of spines. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the linear taper is continuous. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter of  claim 3 , wherein the tapered portion comprises:
 a proximal section having a first width that is generally uniform;   an intermediate section having the continuous linear taper; and   a distal section having a second width that is generally uniform, the second width of the distal section being lesser than the first width of the proximal section.   
     
     
         5 . The catheter of  claim 4 , wherein the continuous linear taper of the intermediate section comprises a continuously gradual increase in flexibility from a proximal end of the intermediate section to a distal end of the intermediate section. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the linear taper is noncontinuous. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter of  claim 6 , wherein the noncontinuous linear taper comprises:
 an indented portion comprising a first width;   a proximal stem proximal of the indented portion and comprising a second width; and   a distal portion distal of the indented portion and comprising a third width, wherein the first width of the indented portion is lesser than the second width of the proximal stem and the third width of the distal portion.   
     
     
         8 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of spines comprises a hinge along a lateral edge, the hinge configured for in-plane deflection of the spine. 
     
     
         9 . An electrophysiology catheter, comprising:
 an elongated body; and   a distal electrode assembly comprising:
 a proximal stem, 
 at least eight spines, each of the at least eight spines having a tapered portion comprising proximal and distal ends and a linear taper such that the proximal end of the tapered portion is wider than the distal end of the tapered portion, 
 at least eight nonconductive spine covers, each of the at least eight nonconductive spine covers surrounding a respective one of each of the at least eight spines; and 
 a plurality of microelectrodes on the at least eight spines. 
   
     
     
         10 . The catheter of  claim 9 , wherein the linear taper is continuous. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter of  claim 10 , wherein the tapered portion comprises:
 a proximal section having a first width that is generally uniform;   an intermediate section having the continuous linear taper; and   a distal section having a second width that is generally uniform, the second width of the distal section being lesser than the first width of the proximal section.   
     
     
         12 . The catheter of  claim 11 , wherein the continuous linear taper of the intermediate section comprises a continuously gradual increase in flexibility from a proximal end of the intermediate section to a distal end of the intermediate section. 
     
     
         13 . The catheter of  claim 9 , wherein the linear taper is noncontinuous. 
     
     
         14 . The catheter of  claim 13 , wherein the noncontinuous linear taper comprises:
 an indented portion comprising a first width;   a proximal stem proximal of the indented portion and comprising a second width; and   a distal portion distal of the indented portion and comprising a third width, wherein the first width of the indented portion is lesser than the second width of the proximal stem and the third width of the distal portion.   
     
     
         15 . The catheter of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plurality of spines comprises a hinge along a lateral edge, the hinge configured for in-plane deflection of the spine. 
     
     
         16 . The catheter of  claim 9 , wherein the at least eight microelectrodes comprises at least 48 microelectrodes. 
     
     
         17 . The catheter of  claim 9 , wherein each of the at least eight microelectrodes has a length of about 300 μm to about 500 μpm. 
     
     
         18 . The catheter of  claim 9 , wherein the microelectrodes on each spine are separated by a distance ranging between about 1 mm and 3 mm, as measured between leading edges of the microelectrodes. 
     
     
         19 . The catheter of  claim 9 , wherein the microelectrodes on each spine are arranged as bipole pairs, with leading edges of microelectrodes within a pair separated by a first distance ranging between about 1 mm and 3 mm, and with leading edges of leading microelectrodes between pairs separated by a second distance ranging between 1 mm and 6 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The catheter of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a first ring electrode carried on the proximal stem of the distal electrode assembly; and   second and third ring electrodes carried on a distal portion of the elongated body.