Ablation catheters and associated systems and methods

摘要

An ablation catheter assembly includes an elongate catheter body having a proximal portion, a distal portion and a lumen therethrough. A helical structure associated with the catheter distal portion carries a plurality of independently operable electrodes and is transformable between a low-profile configuration wherein a straightening element is positioned in the lumen and an expanded configuration wherein the straightening element is at least partially retracted from the spiral structure. When the helical structure is in the expanded configuration, a laterally offset tip portion extends distally therefrom.

主权项

1. A catheter assembly, comprising:
an elongated body having a proximal portion and a distal portion extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein the distal portion of the body is configured for intravascular delivery via over-the-wire or rapid exchange delivery techniques to a body lumen of a human patient; a pre-shaped spiral structure associated with the distal portion of the elongated body, wherein the spiral structure terminates in a flexible, curved distal tip portion, and wherein the elongated body and the pre-shaped spiral structure comprise a central lumen; and a plurality of electrodes associated with the spiral structure, wherein the pre-shaped spiral structure is transformable between—
a low-profile configuration wherein a procedural guide wire is positioned in the central lumen of the spiral structure; andan expanded configuration wherein the procedural guide wire is at least partially retracted from the spiral structure toward the proximal portion of the elongated body, wherein, when the spiral structure is in the expanded configuration, the spiral structure comprises a plurality of revolutions formed about a central loop axis parallel with the longitudinal axis.