Enhanced Large-Diameter Balloon Catheter

Abstract

A balloon catheter includes a shaft, a balloon made of an expandable membrane, a flexible substrate, one or more electrodes, and one or more radiopaque flags. The shaft is configured for insertion into a heart of a patient. The balloon is fitted at a distal end of the shaft. The flexible substrate is disposed on the membrane. The one or more electrodes are disposed over the flexible substrate and have a fishbone configuration. The one or more radiopaque flags are coupled to the expandable membrane, wherein the one or more radiopaque flags include a serpentine pattern so that the radiopaque flags fold in conformance with flexible substrate as the balloon is collapsed into a compressed or folded configuration.

1 . A balloon catheter, comprising:
 a shaft configured for insertion into a heart of a patient;   an inflatable balloon coupled to a distal end of the shaft, the balloon extending from a proximal balloon portion to a distal balloon portion to define an equator of the balloon about an axis extending from the proximal balloon portion to the distal balloon portion;   ten flexible substrates, which are disposed on the balloon radially about a center of the balloon, the flexible substrates extending from the distal balloon portion of the balloon towards the proximal balloon portion, each of the flexible substrates having its maximum width disposed proximate the equator of the balloon;   and   first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth radiopaque flags disposed on respective ten flexible substrates, each of the flags being disposed adjacent to the equator of the balloon.   
     
     
         2 . The balloon catheter according to  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 ten electrodes, which are disposed over each of the respective ten flexible substrates; and   irrigation pores disposed over the balloon and some of the irrigation pores are distributed over areas covered with the electrodes, and others of the irrigation pores are distributed between the areas covered with the electrodes.   
     
     
         3 . The balloon catheter according to  claim 1 , and further comprising a magnetic position sensor disposed on the shaft proximally to the balloon. 
     
     
         4 . The balloon catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the electrodes has its largest width proximate the equator of the balloon and its smallest width proximate the distal balloon portion. 
     
     
         5 . The balloon catheter according to  claim 1 , and further comprising a yarn disposed between the balloon and the flexible substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The balloon catheter according to  claim 5 , wherein the yarn is selected from one of an ultra-high molecular weight fiber or a liquid crystal polymer fiber. 
     
     
         7 . The balloon catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible substrate comprises a patterned topography that is configured to increase adhesion of the flexible substrate to the balloon. 
     
     
         8 . The balloon catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein each flexible substrate extends from the distal balloon portion to the proximal balloon portion and a width of the substrate, as measured parallel to the equator of the balloon, increases gradually from the distal balloon portion to its greatest width near the equator and decreases gradually near the proximal portion of the balloon. 
     
     
         9 . The balloon catheter according to  claim 8 , wherein each electrode extends from a location near the distal balloon portion towards the equator, the electrode having its greatest width near the equator.