An improved catheter is provided that is particularly useful for simultaneously
mapping electrical activity at multiple locations within the heart. The catheter
comprises an elongated catheter body having proximal and distal ends and at least
one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. A control handle is attached to
the proximal end of the catheter body. A mapping assembly is mounted to the distal
end of the catheter body. The mapping assembly comprises at least two elongated
flexible spines, each spine having a proximal end attached to the distal end of
the catheter body and a free distal end. Each spine carries at least one electrode
along its length. The catheter further comprises at least two spine puller wires,
each spine puller wire corresponding to one of the at least two spines. Each spine
puller wire has a proximal end anchored in the handle and a distal end anchored
at or near the distal end of its corresponding spine such that, in use, longitudinal
movement of a spine puller wire relative to the catheter body results in deflection
of the spine in which the spine puller wire is anchored. The use of a plurality
of spines permits simultaneous mapping of multiple points, increasing the speed
of mapping of regions of interest.