ENDOCARDIAL MAPPING AND/OR ABLATION CATHETER PROBE AND METHOD

摘要

A catheter probe (501) is provided for introduction into a chamber of the heart having blood therein and formed by a wall through a lumen leading to the chamber. The catheter probe includes a flexible elongate tubular member (502) having proximal and distal extremities (502a, 502b) and a lumen (576) extending therebetween. A plurality of longitudinally-extending spaced-apart arms (511) having interconnected proximal and distal extremities (511a, 511b) are carried by the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member. The arms are movable between a contracted position and an expanded position in which they bow outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the catheter probe. The arms subtend an angle of approximately 180 DEG or less about the longitudinal axis when in the expanded position. A plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart electrodes (512) are carried by each of the arms. Electrical conductors (541) extend through the elongate tubular member and are connected to the electrodes for performing electrical functions with respect to the electrodes. A wire (611) is slidably carried within the lumen for causing the arms to move to the expanded position. The electrodes carried by the arms can be urged against a portion of the wall of the heart when the arms are in the expanded position to map the portion of the wall.