Electrode Support Structure Assembly

Abstract

An electrode support structure assembly in a body in accordance with one embodiment of the present teachings includes a plug defining a longitudinal axis. The plug includes a lumen extending in an axial direction and including an axial distal end and a distal tip adjacent to the axial distal end of the lumen and including a first channel. The assembly further includes a cap disposed around at least a portion of the plug and including a plurality of apertures and an interior. The assembly further includes a plurality of support members, each support member comprising a distal portion. The cap is configured to constrain relative movement of the distal portions of the plurality of support members with respect to the cap, and the first channel of the plug and at least one of the plurality of support members are configured to direct a fluid after exiting the lumen of the plug.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrophysiology electrode basket catheter, comprising:
 an elongate, deformable shaft defining a longitudinal axis and comprising a proximal end and a distal end;   a basket electrode assembly coupled to the distal end of the elongate shaft, the basket electrode assembly having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a plurality of support members extending from a distal cap at the distal portion of the basket electrode assembly and extending proximally to a proximal hub,
 wherein the distal cap defines an aperture therethrough; 
   a plurality of electrodes disposed on each of the plurality of support members; and   an adjusting member between the distal cap and the proximal end of the elongate shaft for transitioning the basket electrode assembly between a first configuration and a second configuration during operation,
 wherein the first configuration is different from the second configuration, 
 wherein the plurality of support members bend in an arcuate manner in response to movement of the adjusting member. 
   
     
     
         2 . The basket catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the first configuration is a collapsed arrangement, and the second configuration is an expanded arrangement, wherein the adjusting member transitions the basket electrode assembly to a third configuration between the first configuration and the second configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The basket catheter of  claim 2 , wherein, in the expanded arrangement, the plurality of electrodes form an array of electrodes in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         4 . The basket catheter of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of support members includes a distal portion, a proximal portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between the distal portion and the proximal portion, wherein the plurality of electrodes are disposed along the distal portion of each of the plurality of support members. 
     
     
         5 . The basket catheter of  claim 4 , wherein the intermediate portion of each of the plurality of support members twists rotationally about the longitudinal axis during operation. 
     
     
         6 . The basket catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting member is selectively and slidably moveable along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         7 . The basket catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting member extends into and is slidably received within the elongate shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The basket catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture is configured to permit fluid to exit an interior of the distal cap. 
     
     
         9 . The basket catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of support members are symmetric about the longitudinal axis in the first configuration and in the second configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The basket catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the basket catheter is an ablation catheter. 
     
     
         11 . A method for ablating target tissue within a heart of a patient to treat atrial fibrillation, the method, comprising:
 advancing a sheath into cardiac vasculature of a body of a patient;   advancing an electrophysiology electrode basket catheter through the sheath and into the cardiac vasculature proximal to a target tissue, the basket catheter comprising:
 an elongate, deformable shaft defining a longitudinal axis and comprising a proximal end and a distal end; and 
 a basket electrode assembly coupled to the distal end of the elongate shaft and having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a plurality of support members extending from a distal cap at the distal portion of the basket electrode assembly and extending proximally to a proximal hub, wherein the distal cap defines an aperture therethrough; and 
 a plurality of electrodes disposed on each of the plurality of support members; and 
   actuating an adjusting member extending between the distal cap and the proximal end of the elongate shaft to transition the basket electrode assembly from a first configuration to a second configuration during operation, wherein the first configuration is different from the second configuration, wherein the plurality of support members bend in an arcuate manner in response to movement of the adjusting member.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising actuating the adjusting member to transition the basket electrode assembly to a third configuration between the first configuration and the second configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein, in the second configuration, the plurality of electrodes form an array of electrodes distributed over a flat surface. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are disposed along a distal portion of each of the plurality of support members. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the adjusting member extends into and is slidably received within the elongate shaft. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein transitioning the basket electrode assembly from the first configuration to the second configuration includes moving intermediate portions of the plurality of support members in an axial direction. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein transitioning the basket electrode assembly from the first configuration to the second configuration includes rotationally twisting the plurality of support members about the longitudinal axis during operation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the adjusting member is selectively and slidably moveable along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the aperture permits fluid to exit an interior of the distal cap. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising ablating tissue with the electrophysiology electrode basket catheter to treat atrial fibrillation.