Patent ID: 7610073

Claim:
A method for mapping electrical activity within a tubular region of or near the heart having a 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, an intermediate section having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the intermediate section being attached to the distal end of the catheter body, and a mapping assembly attached to the distal end of the intermediate section, the 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.