Patent ID: 7181262

Claim:
A method for mapping electrical activity within a tubular region of or near the heart having an inner circumference, the method comprising: inserting into the heart a distal end of a mapping catheter comprising: an elongated tubular catheter body having an outer wall, proximal and distal ends, and at least one lumen extending therethrough, and a mapping assembly comprising: a tubular structure comprising a pre-formed generally circular main region generally transverse and distal to the catheter body and having an outer circumference, wherein the tubular structure comprises a non-conductive cover over at least the main region of the mapping assembly, and a plurality of electrode pairs, each comprising two ring electrodes, carried by the generally circular main region of the mapping assembly; contacting the outer circumference of the generally circular main region with the inner circumference of the tubular region; and mapping the electrical activity within the tubular region with the electrodes along the generally circular main region.