1. A process for making at least one multicomponent fiber having a shaped cross section comprising:
(A) spinning at least one water dispersible sulfopolyester and at least one water non-dispersible polymer immiscible with said sulfopolyester to produce at least one multicomponent fiber, wherein said multicomponent fiber has a plurality of domains comprising said water non-dispersible polymers and said domains are substantially isolated from each other by said sulfopolyester intervening between said domains; and
wherein said water dispersible sulfopolyester exhibits a melt viscosity of less than about 12,000 poise measured at 240\xb0 C. at a strain rate of 1 radsec, and wherein said sulfopolyester comprising less than about 25 mole % of residues of at least one sulfomonomer, based on the total moles of diacid or diol residues.
2. The process according to claim 1 wherein said sulfopolyester exhibits a melt viscosity of less than about 6000 poise measured at 240\xb0 C. at a strain rate of 1 radsec.
3. The process according to claim 1 wherein said sulfopolyester exhibits a melt viscosity of less than about 4500 poise measured at 240\xb0 C. at a strain rate of 1 radsec and comprises less than about 20 mole % of residues of at least one sulfomonomer, based on the total moles of diacid or diol residues.
4. The process according to claim 1 wherein said sulfopolyester comprises:
(A) residues of one or more dicarboxylic acids;
(B) about 5 to about 20 mole %, of residues of at least one sulfomonomer having 2 functional groups and one or more sulfonate groups attached to an aromatic or cycloaliphatic ring wherein said functional groups are hydroxyl, carboxyl, or a combination thereof;
(C) one or more diol residues wherein at least 25 mole %, based on the total diol residues, is a poly(ethylene glycol) having a structure
H\u2014(OCH2\u2014CH2)n\u2014OH
wherein n is an integer in the range of 2 to about 500; and
(D) 0 to about 20 mole %, based on the total repeating units, of residues of at least one branching monomer having 3 or more functional groups wherein said functional groups are hydroxyl, carboxyl, or a combination thereof.
5. The process according to claim 1 wherein said shaped cross section is an islands-in-the-sea or segmented pie configuration.
6. The process according to claim 1 wherein said multicomponent fiber contains less than 10 weight percent of at least one pigment or filler, based on the total weight of said multicomponent fiber.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A medical device, comprising:
an elongate body defining a lumen therethrough;
a shaft extending through the lumen; and
an electrode array coupled to the elongate body at a first end and coupled to the shaft at a second end, wherein linear manipulation of the shaft causes the electrode array to transition from a first geometric configuration to a second configuration, and wherein rotational manipulation of the shaft causes the electrode array to transition from the second geometric configuration to a third configuration.
2. The medical device according to claim 1, further comprising a linear actuator coupled to the shaft for the linear manipulation thereof.
3. The medical device according to claim 2, further comprising a rotational actuator coupled to the shaft for the rotational manipulation thereof.
4. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode array includes a plurality of electrodes, and wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes defines an asymmetrical cross section.
5. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the first geometric configuration is a substantially linear configuration, the second geometric configuration includes one of a helical or circular configuration defining a first diameter, and the third geometric configuration includes one of a helical or circular configuration defining a second diameter greater than the first diameter.
6. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the first geometric configuration is a substantially linear configuration, the second geometric configuration includes one of a helical or circular configuration defining a first diameter, and the third geometric configuration includes one of a helical or circular configuration defining a second diameter less than the first diameter.
7. The medical device according to claim 1, further comprising:
an electrocardiograph unit in electrical communication with the electrode array; and
a radiofrequency signal generator in electrical communication with the electrode array.
8. An intravascular catheter, comprising:
a catheter body defining a proximal portion and a distal portion;
a shaft extending from the distal portion of the catheter body;
a carrier arm coupled to the catheter body;
a distal tip defining a first lumen and a second lumen, wherein a portion of the shaft is disposed within the first lumen and a portion of the carrier arm is disposed within the second lumen; and
an electrode array disposed on the carrier arm.
9. The intravascular catheter according to claim 8, further comprising a handle assembly coupled to the proximal portion of the catheter body.
10. The intravascular catheter according to claim 9, wherein the handle assembly includes a linear actuator coupled to the shaft for the longitudinal movement thereof.
11. The intravascular catheter according to claim 10, wherein the linear actuator element is releasably securable in a plurality of discrete positions on the handle assembly.
12. The intravascular catheter according to claim 9, wherein the handle assembly includes a rotational actuator coupled to the shaft for the rotation thereof.
13. The intravascular catheter according to claim 12, wherein the rotational actuator element is releasably securable in a plurality of discrete positions on the handle assembly.
14. The intravascular catheter according to claim 8, wherein the electrode array includes a plurality of electrodes, and wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes defines an asymmetrical cross section.
15. A method for ablating a tissue region, comprising:
positioning a treatment assembly of a medical device proximate a tissue region, the treatment element containing an electrode array having a first end coupled to a catheter body, and a second end coupled to a shaft extending from the catheter body;
manipulating the shaft in a linear direction to controllably transition the plurality of electrodes from a first geometric configuration to a second geometric configuration;
manipulating the shaft in a rotational direction to controllably transition the plurality of electrodes from the second geometric configuration to a third geometric configuration; and
delivering ablative energy to the treatment assembly.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first geometric configuration is a substantially linear configuration.
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the second geometric configuration includes one of a helical or circular configuration defining a first diameter.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the third geometric configuration includes one of a helical or circular configuration defining a second diameter greater than the first diameter.
19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the third geometric configuration includes one of a helical or circular configuration defining a second diameter less than the first diameter.
20. The method according to claim 17, wherein manipulating the shaft in a rotational direction to controllably transition the plurality of electrodes from the second geometric configuration to a third geometric configuration includes manipulating the shaft in a first rotational direction to obtain a third geometric configuration defining a second diameter greater than the first diameter, and manipulating the shaft in a second rotational direction to obtain a third geometric configuration defining a second diameter less than the first diameter.