Bendable catheter arms having varied flexibility

Abstract

In various embodiments, a catheter comprising an expandable electrode assembly or basket is provided. In specific embodiments, the basket is particularly useful for mapping electrical activity at one or more locations within the heart. The basket can comprise a plurality of bendable or deflectable arms. At least one of the arms may have varied flexibility over its length in the form of one or more discontinuities of stiffness or flexibility at an elbow region or other variances in flexibility over the arm's length. Such variance in flexibility may allow the arm to assume a different bent configuration or respond to external factors more positively than possible with an arm having a static or near static flexibility or stiffness over its length.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A catheter comprising:
 a catheter shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and   an electrode assembly at the distal end of the catheter shaft, the electrode assembly comprising a plurality of arms, each of the plurality of arms comprising:
 at least one electrode; and 
 a bendable support member having a distal portion and a proximal portion; 
   wherein the distal portion of each bendable support member is connected via a common connector.   
     
     
         17 . The catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the common connector comprises a circular loop. 
     
     
         18 . The catheter of  claim 16 , wherein each of the bendable support members forms an independent loop, and wherein a distal portion of each independent loop is coupled via the common connector. 
     
     
         19 . The catheter of  claim 16 , wherein one of the distal and proximal portions of each bendable support member comprises an enhanced flexible portion that is more flexible than an intermediate portion. 
     
     
         20 . The catheter of  claim 18 , wherein the enhanced flexible portion is tapered on at least one side of the bendable support member. 
     
     
         21 . The catheter of  claim 20 , wherein the enhanced flexible portion is further tapered on an opposing side of the bendable support member. 
     
     
         22 . The catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the distal portion of the bendable support member further comprises a tapered section. 
     
     
         23 . The catheter of  claim 22 , wherein distal portion of the bendable support member has a flat, rectangular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         24 . The catheter of  claim 23 , wherein the proximal portion of the bendable support member has a round cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         25 . The catheter of  claim 23 , wherein the proximal portion of the bendable support member has a flat, rectangular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         26 . The catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the distal portion of the distal portion of the bendable support member has a round cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         27 . The catheter of  claim 26 , wherein the proximal portion of the bendable support member has a flat, rectangular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         28 . The catheter of  claim 26 , wherein the proximal portion of the bendable support member has a round cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         29 . The catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the bendable support member comprises a superelastic material. 
     
     
         30 . The catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the catheter is configured to be slidably received within a sheath, and the electrode assembly is expandable to an expanded arrangement and is collapsible to a collapsed arrangement to fit within a lumen of the sheath.