Patent ID: 6980858

Claim:
A method for atrial defibrillation in a patient in need thereof comprising: introducing into the patient a catheter comprising: an elongated catheter body having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen therethrough, and a basket-shaped electrode assembly at the distal end of the catheter body, the electrode assembly having proximal and distal ends and comprising a plurality of spines connected at their proximal and distal ends, each spine comprising an elongated spine electrode along its length, the electrode assembly having an expanded arrangement wherein the spines bow radially outwardly and a collapsed arrangement wherein the spines are arranged generally along the axis of the catheter body; introducing the electrode assembly into the heart of the patient; and applying defibrillation energy to tissue of the heart through one or more of the elongated electrodes, wherein defibrillation energy is delivered to the heart tissue through only a portion of the spine electrodes, leaving one or more spine electrodes through which defibrillation energy is not delivered to the heart tissue, wherein the spine electrodes through which defibrillation energy is delivered are shorted together.