A catheter has a body including a proximal region, a neck region, and a distal region. A shaping wire is disposed within the distal region to predispose it into at least a partial loop, which may have a fixed or variable radius of curvature. The shaping wire includes a distal portion having a circular transverse cross-sectional shape and a proximal portion having a non-circular (e.g., rectangular) transverse cross-sectional shape. The proximal portion of the shaping wire can have a width-to-thickness ratio of at least about 4, such as about 4.67. A transition portion can promote a gradual transition from the circular to the non-circular transverse cross-sectional shape, for example by increasing a width of the shaping wire by about 0.001″ and/or by decreasing a thickness of the shaping wire by about 0.001″ for every about 0.004″ in length through the transition portion.

A medical system includes a catheter configured to be inserted into a body part of a living subject, and including a distal end comprising an electrode, and a processor configured to compute position coordinates of the electrode, and find a measure of proximity of the electrode to tissue of the body part responsively to the position coordinates of the electrode and position coordinates of a wall of an anatomical map of the body part.

The present invention relates to systems for use for radio frequency ablation. The systems can include one or more of an ablation tool, power source for use with the ablation tool and a backstop for use in conjunction with the ablation tool during surgical procedures. Preferred ablation tools comprise a series of three or more blade-shaped electrodes disposed in a linear, curved, curvilinear or circular array. The backstops are useful for reducing direct physical and thermal heat transfer injuries to the patient or surgeon during procedures using radiofrequency (RF) ablation devices.

At least some embodiments of the present disclosures are directed to a hybrid electroporation ablation catheter. In some embodiments, the hybrid electroporation ablation catheter comprises a catheter shaft having a proximal end and an opposite distal end and an electrode assembly extending from the distal end of the catheter shaft and the electrode assembly comprising a plurality of energy-delivering electrodes. The electrode assembly is configured to be selectively operable in a plurality of different operation modes.

Described embodiments include apparatus that includes a catheter and a tip electrode, at a distal end of the catheter, shaped to define a plurality of microelectrode apertures. The apparatus further includes at least one printed circuit board (PCB) disposed within a lumen of the catheter, and a plurality of microelectrodes coupled to the PCB and at least partly situated within the microelectrode apertures, the PCB being configured to carry signals from the microelectrodes. Other embodiments are also described.

The disclosed technology includes a medical probe comprising a tubular shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the tubular shaft extending along a longitudinal axis. The medical probe further comprises an expandable basket assembly coupled to the distal end of the tubular shaft. The basket assembly includes a plurality of electrodes with each electrode of the plurality of electrodes having a lumen therethrough. The basket assembly further includes a plurality of spines extending along the longitudinal axis and configured to bow radially outward from the longitudinal axis when the expandable basket assembly is transitioned from a collapsed form to an expanded form. Each spine includes a proximal and a distal end and a strut passing through the lumen of an electrode. The strut includes a mechanical retainer disposed on the strut to prevent the electrode from sliding proximally or distally along a length of the spine.

The disclosed technology includes a medical probe comprising a tubular shaft extending along a longitudinal axis and including a proximal end and a distal end. The medical probe further comprises an expandable basket assembly proximate the distal end of the tubular shaft. The basket assembly comprises a plurality of C-shaped spines and one or more electrodes coupled to each of the spines, each electrode defining a lumen through the electrode so that a spine extends through the lumen of each of the one or more electrodes. The spines converge at a central spine intersection at a distal end of the basket assembly. Each spine comprises a respective end connected to the distal end of the tubular shaft.

The disclosed technology includes a medical probe including a tubular shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. The tubular shaft can extend along a longitudinal axis. The medical probe can include an expandable basket assembly proximate the distal end of the tubular shaft. The expandable basket assembly can include a single spine comprising a resilient material extending generally linearly along the longitudinal axis in a collapsed form and forming a spiral member defining a generally spherical outer periphery in an expanded form. One or more electrodes can be coupled to the single spine. Each electrode can include a lumen offset with respect to a centroid of the electrode so that the single spine extends through the lumen of each of the one or more electrodes.

Wiring is disclosed herein that is configured to supply IRE ablation signals through a catheter body and is resistant against dielectric breakdown, arcing, and noise during ablation. The wiring includes a highly conductive core, a conductive cover surrounding the core that has lower electrical and/or thermal conductivity than the core, and an insulative jacket surrounding the conductive cover. A catheter including such wiring may be suitable for supplying electrical signals to tissue to perform IRE ablation. In some examples, such a catheter can also be suitable for reversible electroporation and/or RF ablation.

The disclosed technology includes a medical probe comprising a tubular shaft extending along a longitudinal axis and including a proximal end and a distal end. The medical probe further comprises an expandable basket assembly proximate the distal end of the tubular shaft. The basket assembly comprises a single unitary structure that includes a plurality of linear spines formed from a planar sheet of material and one or more electrodes coupled to each of the spines, each electrode defining a lumen through the electrode so that a spine extends through the lumen of each of the one or more electrodes. The spines converge at a central spine intersection at a distal end of the basket assembly. The central spine intersection includes one or more cutouts that allows for bending of the spines. Each spine comprises a respective end connected to the distal end of the tubular shaft.