Patent ID: 7860578
Filing Date: 2010-12-28
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for cardiac treatment comprising: (a) a catheter having proximal and distal ends; (b) an expansible ablation device mounted to the catheter at or adjacent the distal end thereof, the ablation device having a lumen therein and a port at a distal end of the lumen; (c) an elongated sensor probe having proximal and distal ends, the sensor probe including one or more electrodes disposed adjacent the distal end of the sensor probe, the sensor probe being disposed in the lumen so that the sensor probe can be removably positioned in the lumen with the distal end of the sensor probe projecting out of the ablation device through the port; (d) a ball formed at the tip of the distal end of the sensor probe; and (e) a floppy section attached to the ball, the floppy section having a wire core and a polymeric tube covering the wire core, the polymeric tube being made from a soft material having a low durometer value and the wire and the polymeric tube being in engagement such that there is no relative motion between them in the area near the ball; wherein the floppy section further comprises: a ball section formed in the wire, the ball section being attached to the ball; a reduced section formed in the wire, the reduced section being attached to the ball section; and a tapered section formed in the wire, the tapered section having a small end and a large end, the small end being attached to the reduced section, wherein the polymeric tube conforms to the shape of the ball, reduced and tapered sections.