Fabric electrode head

Abstract

An electrode head is disclosed that utilizes electrically conductive or dissipative fabric to exchange electrical energy with tissue. This electrode head may be used for any appropriate application, such as a catheter electrode, a return electrode, or the like. Any appropriate function may be provided by this electrode head, such as tissue ablation, tissue mapping, or providing an electrical ground.

1 . A tissue electrode head, comprising
 a fabric, wherein at least a portion of said fabric is electrically conductive or electrically dissipative, and further is adapted to exchange electrical energy with tissue, and wherein at least part of said fabric is electrically interconnectable with an electrical energy source.   
   
   
       2 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 1 , wherein an entirety of said fabric is electrically conductive. 
   
   
       3 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 1 , wherein an entirety of said fabric is electrically dissipative. 
   
   
       4 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 1 , wherein said fabric comprises both an electrically conductive material and an electrically dissipative material. 
   
   
       5 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 1 , wherein said fabric comprises at least one of an electrically conductive and an electrically dissipative material, along with an electrically non-conductive material. 
   
   
       6 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 5 , wherein said non-conductive material is a dielectric. 
   
   
       7 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 1 , wherein said fabric is porous. 
   
   
       8 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 1 , wherein said fabric is flexible. 
   
   
       9 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 1 , wherein said fabric comprises a plurality of first threads and a plurality of second threads, wherein said plurality of first threads are electrically conductive or electrically dissipative, and wherein said plurality of second threads are electrically non-conductive. 
   
   
       10 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 9 , wherein said plurality of first threads and said plurality of second threads are disposed in different orientations. 
   
   
       11 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 9 , wherein said plurality of first threads extend along a length dimension of said tissue electrode. 
   
   
       12 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of second threads are wrapped about an axis coinciding with said length dimension. 
   
   
       13 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 9 , wherein at least some of said plurality of first threads and at least some of said plurality of second threads are disposed in a common orientation. 
   
   
       14 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 1 , wherein said fabric comprises a plurality of yarns. 
   
   
       15 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of said yarns has a different thread count than at least one other said yarn. 
   
   
       16 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 14 , wherein a first said yarn is of a first stiffness and a second said yarn is of a second stiffness that is different than said first stiffness. 
   
   
       17 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second layers, wherein said first layer comprises said fabric. 
   
   
       18 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 17 , wherein said first layer is electrically conductive and said second layer is electrically non-conductive. 
   
   
       19 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 17 , wherein said first layer is electrically dissipative and said second layer is electrically non-conductive. 
   
   
       20 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 17 , wherein said first layer is electrically conductive or electrically dissipative, and wherein said second layer is electrically non-conductive. 
   
   
       21 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 20 , wherein said first layer is positionable closer to the tissue than said second layer. 
   
   
       22 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 20 , wherein said second layer is positionable closer to the tissue than said first layer. 
   
   
       23 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 20 , wherein said second layer comprises a dielectric material. 
   
   
       24 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 1 , wherein said fabric comprises first and second segments disposed in end-to-end relation, wherein said first segment is electrically conductive or electrically dissipative and said second segment is electrically non-conductive. 
   
   
       25 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 24 , wherein said first segment is disposed distally relative to said second segment. 
   
   
       26 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 24 , wherein said second segment is disposed distally relative to said first segment. 
   
   
       27 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 1 , wherein said tissue electrode head comprises a distal end, that in turn comprises a plurality of fabric segments in the form of cantilevers. 
   
   
       28 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 1 , further comprising a lumen. 
   
   
       29 . The tissue electrode of  claim 1 , wherein a hydraulic conductivity of said fabric varies along a length dimension of said electrode head. 
   
   
       30 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 1 , wherein an electrical conductivity of said fabric varies along a length dimension of said electrode head. 
   
   
       31 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 1 , wherein said electrode head further comprises at least one sensor. 
   
   
       32 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 1 , further comprising a base, wherein said electrode head extends beyond said base. 
   
   
       33 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 32 , wherein said base comprises at least one lumen adapted to receive a fluid. 
   
   
       34 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 1 , wherein said tissue electrode head comprises a core, and wherein said fabric is disposed about said core along at least a portion of a length of said core. 
   
   
       35 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 34 , wherein said core is porous. 
   
   
       36 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 34 , wherein said core comprises at least one flow channel that terminates on an exterior surface of said core. 
   
   
       37 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 34 , wherein a distal end portion of said core is exposed. 
   
   
       38 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 34 , wherein said fabric covers said core. 
   
   
       39 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 34 , further comprising a fluid source fluidly interconnected with said core. 
   
   
       40 . A tissue electrode head, comprising
 a plurality of electrode segments, wherein each said electrode segment comprises a distal tip that is engageable with a tissue, and wherein at least some of said electrode segments are disposed in different orientations.   
   
   
       41 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 40 , wherein at least some of electrode segments are fabric. 
   
   
       42 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 40 , wherein each of said electrode segments is in the form of the cantilever. 
   
   
       43 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 40 , wherein at least some of said plurality of electrode segments diverge from each other proceeding toward their respective electrode segment distal ends. 
   
   
       44 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 40 , wherein said plurality of electrode segments collectively define a splayed configuration. 
   
   
       45 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 40 , wherein at least some of said plurality of electrode segments are flexible. 
   
   
       46 . The tissue electrode head of  claim 40 , further comprising
 at least one fluid flow path that extends to said tissue electrode head.