Patent ID: 6099524
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A catheter for mapping and ablating biological tissue, the biological tissue being located in a biological structure in which fluids flow past the tissue to be ablated, the catheter having a size such that it can be percutaneously positioned at the tissue to be ablated, the catheter comprising:a body member having a size such that it can be percutaneously introduced to a patient and having a distal end and a proximal end;an electrode mounted at the distal end of the body member with a distal tip extending distally from the body member, the distal tip having a size such that it can provide relatively high resolution mapping and a shape and a length such that when positioned against the tissue for ablation, a portion of the distal tip is not in contact with the tissue and extends into contact with the fluids in the biological structure for communicating heat to the fluids thereby cooling the electrode, the electrode comprising:an outer surface formed of a biologically compatible material with a thermal conductivity at least as great as platinum 10 iridium that completely covers the distal tip; anda thermal dissipating mass formed of a material having a thermal conductivity greater than pure platinum, said mass extending into the distal tip and said portion extending into the distal tip being completely covered by the outer surface for dissipating heat received by the electrode.