Patent ID: 7187963

Claim:
A bidirectional mapping catheter comprising: an elongated flexible tubular catheter body having an axis and proximal and distal ends; a mapping assembly at the distal end of the tubular body having a preformed generally circular main region having an outer surface, proximal and distal ends and carrying a plurality of spaced apart electrodes, the mapping assembly further comprising a generally straight distal region extending generally tangentially to the generally circular main region; first and second puller wires, each puller wire having proximal and distal ends and extending through the tubular catheter body, the distal end of each puller wire being anchored at or near the distal end of the catheter body; and a handle connected to the proximal end of the catheter body, wherein the handle comprises: a handle housing; a tubular core; first and second pistons slidably mounted on the core, each of the pistons having a proximal region configured to partially surround the core, the proximal end of the first puller wire being anchored to the first piston and the proximal end of the second puller wire being anchored to the second piston; a spur gear rotatably mounted between the first and second pistons, whereby proximal movement of one piston results in rotational movement of the spur gear and distal movement of the other piston, thereby moving the respective puller wires longitudinally relative to the catheter body for deflection of the distal end of the catheter body.