Patent attributes
A catheter particularly useful for mapping tubular regions of or near the heart is provided. The catheter comprises a catheter body and a mapping assembly mounted at the distal end of the catheter body. The mapping assembly comprises at least two spines, each spine carrying at least one electrode and having a proximal end attached at the distal end of the catheter body and free distal end. The mapping assembly is moveable between an expanded arrangement, in which each spine extends radially outward from the catheter body, and a collapsed arrangement in which each spine is disposed generally along an axis of the catheter body. In use, the distal end of the catheter is introduced into the tubular region, and the mapping assembly is positioned so that at least one electrode from each spine contacts tissue within the tubular region. Electrical data received from the electrode(s) is then recorded.
