An improved catheter is provided that is particularly useful for mapping
the Purkinje fibers for potential diagnosis of ventricular fibrillation.
The catheter comprises an elongated catheter body having proximal and
distal ends and at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough.
Mounted at the distal end of the catheter body is a mapping assembly
having at least two spines, each having a proximal end attached at the
distal end of the catheter body and a free distal end. Each spine
comprises at least one electrode, preferably a tip electrode and at least
one ring electrode. An irrigation tube extends through the catheter body
and has an open distal end that is in communication with the outside of
the distal end of the catheter body. The spines may be arranged in an
expanded arrangement wherein each spine extends radially outwardly from
the catheter body or in a collapsed arrangement wherein each spine is
disposed generally along the longitudinal axis of the catheter body. In
use, at least one electrode from each spine is positioned in contact with
heart tissue to map the electrical activity of the heart. The location
sensors are used to determine the location of each point where the
electrical activity is monitored.