Irrigated ablation catheter having irrigation ports with reduced hydraulic resistance

摘要

An irrigated ablation catheter includes a tip electrode with a thin shell and a plug to provide a plenum chamber. The tip electrode has an inlet of a predetermined size and noncircular shape, and outlets in the form of fluid ports formed in the thin shell wall. The plurality of the fluid ports is predetermined, as is their diameter. Each fluid port has a tapered configuration, for example, a frustoconical configuration, with a smaller inlet diameter and a larger outlet diameter.

主权项

1. An irrigated ablation catheter, comprising:
an elongated catheter body; a deflectable section distal to the catheter body; a tip electrode distal to the deflectable section, the tip electrode comprising:
an outer shell defining a cavity, the shell having a predetermined plurality of fluid ports, each fluid port contributing to a total fluid output area of the tip electrode;an internal member including a fluid inlet into the tip electrode, the fluid inlet having a fluid input area; wherein each fluid port is tapered, and has a fluid port aspect ratio of a thickness of the outer shell to a diameter of the fluid port of less than 3.25.