Endocardial mapping and ablation system and catheter probe and method

Claim 2

A system as in Claim 1 wherein said expandable means is comprised of at least one flexible tubular member having an outer surface and an inner surface and wherein said electrodes are secured to said outer surface and wherein said lead means includes leads secured to the inner surface.

Claim 3

A system as in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said expandable means includes at least one flexible elongate element in the form of a helix.

Claim 5

In a method for performing endocardial mapping and/or ablation of the wall of the heart forming a chamber in the heart by use of a catheter probe having a proximal extremity and a distal extremity and having a plurality of longitudinally and radially spaced apart electrodes carried thereby and having expandable means carrying the electrode movable between contracted and expanded positions, the method comprising the steps of introducing the catheter probe into the chamber of the heart, causing the expandable means to move the electrode into engagement with the wall forming the chamber of the heart while permitting substantially normal flow of blood in the chamber of the heart, sensing the potentials encountered by the electrodes, multiplexing the sensed potentials within the catheter probe to provide multiplexed signals and conducting the multiplexed signals to the proximal extremity of the catheter probe.

Claim 6

An endocardial mapping and/or ablation system for introduction into a chamber of the heart formed by a wall through a vessel having a lumen leading to the chamber comprising a catheter probe having proximal and distal extremities and being in the form of a flexible elongate tubular member having at least one lumen extending therethrough and extending the length thereof, a flexible cylindrical member secured to the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member and movable between contracted and expanded position, said cylindrical member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart flexible arms having proximal and distal extremities which are secured to and form part of the cylindrical member, said arms having outer and inner surfaces, a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart electrodes carried by each of said arms on the outer surfaces of the arms, lead means on the inner surfaces of the arms in contact with the electrodes and a pull wire extending through said at least one lumen and through said cylindrical member and adapted to engage the distal extremity of the cylindrical member for causing movement of the distal extremity of the cylindrical member axially toward the proximal extremity of the cylindrical member so that the arms of said cylindrical member are bowed outwardly to cause said electrodes carried thereby to come into contact with the wall, said arms being sufficiently flexible to remain in contact with the wall of the chamber while permitting movement of the wall during contraction and expansion of the chamber said electrical means coupled to said lead means for performing electrical functions with respect to said electrodes said electrical means coupled to said lead means including a multiplexed mounted within the catheter probe and coupled to said lead means and a demultiplexer remote from the catheter probe connected to the multiplexed.

Claim 7

A catheter probe for use in endocardial mapping and/or ablation system comprising a flexible elongate element having proximal and distal extremities and having at least one lumen extending therethrough, a flexible cylindrical member secured to the distal extremity of the flexible elongate element and being movable between a normal contracted position and an expanded position, said cylindrical member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending flexible arms having proximal and distal extremities which are secured to form a part of the cylindrical member, each of said arms having an outer surface and an inner surface, a plurality of spaced apart electrodes disposed on the outer surfaces of each of the arms, conductor means including conductors carried by said arms on the inner surfaces of the arms and connected to said electrodes and extending to the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate element.

Claim 8

In a method for carrying out endocardial mapping and/or ablation within a chamber of the heart utilizing a catheter probe having proximal and distal extremities with a flexible cylindrical member secured to the distal extremity, the cylindrical member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending flexible arms with a plurality of spaced apart electrodes carried by each of the arms, advancing the catheter probe into a chamber of the heart so that the cylindrical member is disposed within the chamber, causing the arms of the cylindrical member to bow out so that the electrodes are placed in contact with the wall of the heart forming the chamber in which the mapping and/or ablation is to be carried out, picking up the potential signals from the electrodes and ascertaining whether or not an infarct is present in the wall forming the chamber.

Claim 9

A method as in Claim 8 wherein the electrodes are formed in bipolar pairs on the arms together with the step of ascertaining which of the electrode pairs are adjacent to the infarct, and supplying a high voltage to the selected bipolar electrodes to ablate tissue in the wall in the vicinity of the infarct to thereby attempt to destroy the infarct.

Claim 10

In a method for forming a flexible expandable member for use with a catheter probe, the method comprising a flexible elongate element of insulating material, forming electrodes on the element on one side thereof, wrapping said element into a helix by one end of the element with respect to the other end of the element in one circumferential direction to provide a cylinder, and rotating one end of the flexible elongate element with respect to the other end of the flexible elongate element in an opposite circumferential direction to cause the helix previously formed to expand to move the electrodes carried thereby in an outward position.