DEVICES AND METHODS FOR CARDIAC MAPPING OF AN ANNULAR REGION

摘要

A catheter (10) maps an electrical conduction pattern in an annular region of a heart. The catheter (10) has a tubular shaft (14) that has a pre-shaped curved distal section (12) adjacent the distal end (16) thereof, and at least one lumen extending between the distal end (16) and the proximal end (24) of the shaft (14), with a plurality of electrodes (18) disposed on the distal section (12). A handle (22) is attached to the proximal end (24) of the shaft (14), with a steering mechanism (28) provided at the handle (22) for adjusting the curvature of the distal section (12), and a deflection mechanism (70) provided at the handle for deflecting the distal section (12). The electrodes (18) are positioned in a plane substantially parallel to and separate from the shaft (14) when the distal section (12) is undeflected.