1. A medical device, comprising:
a catheter body having proximal and distal ends, and defining a longitudinal axis;
a distal assembly affixed to the distal end of the catheter body, the distal assembly including at least three flexible arms, each arm having a proximal portion and a distal portion and extending radially outward from a position at or near the longitudinal axis, the distal portions of the arms meeting at a distal tip being located at or near a point along the longitudinal axis;
at least three monophasic action potential electrogram recording electrodes, each recording electrode being positioned a radial distance from the longitudinal axis in different radial directions; and
at least one reference electrode positioned a longitudinal distance from each recording electrode,
wherein the recording electrodes are radially symmetric about the longitudinal axis.
2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the proximal portion and distal portion of each arm are connected to each other with a living hinge.
3. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising at least three ablation electrodes, wherein at least one of the recording electrodes and at least one of the ablation electrodes are affixed to one of the proximal portion and distal portion of each arm.
4. A medical device, comprising:
a catheter body having proximal and distal ends, and defining a longitudinal axis;
a distal assembly affixed to the distal end of the catheter body, having at least three flexible arms extending radially outward in different radial directions from positions at or near the longitudinal axis, and a monophasic action potential electrogram recording electrode affixed to each arm; and
at least one reference electrode positioned a longitudinal distance from each recording electrode,
each arm having a proximal portion and a distal portion, proximal portion and distal portion being connected with a living hinge, and the distal portions of the arms meeting at a distal tip being located at or near a point along the longitudinal axis; and
each of the recording electrodes being affixed to one of the proximal portion and distal portion of an arm at a radial distance from the longitudinal axis; each arm having at least one recording electrode, the recording electrodes being substantially radially symmetric about the longitudinal axis.
5. The medical device of claim 4, wherein the recording electrodes and ablation electrodes are affixed to the distal portion of each arm, such that the distal portions of the arms are adapted to be pushed distally toward the tissue to be treated.
6. The medical device of claim 4, wherein the recording electrodes and ablation electrodes are affixed to the proximal portion of each arm, such that the distal assembly is adapted to be pushed past distally-facing tissue to be treated, and the proximal portions of the arms are adapted to be pulled proximally toward the tissue to be treated; wherein the reference electrode is positioned distal of the recording electrodes.
7. The medical device of claim 4, wherein the ablation electrodes are affixed to one of the proximal portion and the distal portion of each arm, the ablation electrodes further comprising a fin extending toward the other portion of arm to which the ablation electrodes are affixed, the fins enhancing dissipation of heat from the ablation electrodes.
8. A method of treating a patient, comprising:
providing a medical device having at least three monophasic action potential electrogram recording electrodes, each positioned a radial distance from a longitudinal axis in different radial directions; wherein the recording electrodes are radially symmetric about the longitudinal axis; and at least one reference electrode positioned a longitudinal distance from each recording electrode;
advancing the medical device along a body passage until the recording electrodes contact tissue selected for treatment; wherein local pressure from at least one recording electrode tends to cause local depolarization of the tissue; and
obtaining at least one monophasic action potential signal from at least one recording electrode,
wherein the distal assembly facilitates contact with tissue and improved signal fidelity.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein more than one monophasic action potential signal is obtained, further comprising the step of aggregating the monophasic action potential signals.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-20. (canceled)
21. A tubular component comprising:
at least one threaded portion for connecting the component with a complementary component,
wherein at least a portion of the threaded portion is coated with a strippable film which protects against corrosion.
22. A tubular component according to claim 21, wherein a precursor composition for forming the strippable film comprises an aqueous dispersion of a film-forming polymer, the film-forming polymer being selected from natural or synthetic latexes, acrylic resins, acrylic copolymers such as styrene-acrylates, butadiene-acrylates, vinyl chloride-acrylates, polyvinylidene chloride-acrylates, vinyl acetate-acrylates, polyvinyl-styrene butadiene copolymers, polyvinyl butyrals, polyisocyanates, polycondensate type aliphatic polyurethanes such as anionic, cationic, non-ionic or amphoteric polyurethanes, acrylic polyurethanes, polyester-polyurethanes, and mixtures thereof.
23. A tubular component according to claim 21, wherein the strippable film has a glass transition temperature in a range of \u221210\xb0 C. to +35\xb0 C.
24. A tubular component according to claim 21, wherein the strippable film comprises a corrosion inhibitor, or selected from an alkaline salt of an alkylarylsulphonic acid, the alkaline compound being a barium, a calcium, a magnesium or a sodium compound, or from volatile organic nitrogen-containing molecules, or selected from an aliphatic amine (hexamethylene diamine, monoethanolamine), an amine carboxylate complex (monoethanolamine borate, cinnamic acid hexamethylenediamine, capric acid dicyclohexylamine, polyaspartic acid-imidazoline), a benzotriazole, an ammonium benzoate or a sodium nitrite, or an inorganic corrosion inhibitor, for example selected from a hydrated zinc and aluminium orthophosphate, a hydrated zinc and molybdenum orthophosphate, a hydrated strontium and aluminium polyphosphate, a hydrated zinc and calcium and strontium orthophosphate silicate, a zinc and iron phosphate, a zinc, calcium and strontium phosphosilicate, a zinc orthophosphate, an aluminium triphosphate, a zinc molybdate coupled with zinc phosphate-modified agents, a sodium molybdate, a calcium metaborate, a barium metaborate, a calcium borosilicate, a calcium ion exchanged silica, and mixtures thereof.
25. A tubular component according to claim 21, wherein the strippable film comprises a thixotropic thickening agent, or selected from a modified hydrophobic polyacrylate or a hydroxyethylmethylcellulose.
26. A tubular component according to claim 21, wherein the strippable film comprises a mold release agent, or selected from cyclopentasiloxane and soya lecithin.
27. A tubular component according to claim 21, wherein the strippable film comprises a plasticizing agent, or from the list formed by polyvinyl alcohols, polyglycols, celluloses and glycerol.
28. A tubular component according to claim 21, wherein the strippable film comprises a hydrosoluble polar solvent, or selected from methanol, butanol and isopropanol (IPA).
29. A tubular component according to claim 21, wherein the strippable film comprises a polymer comprising particles with a size in a range of 50 to 200 nm.
30. A tubular component according to claim 21, wherein the strippable film comprises a coloring agent.
31. A tubular component according to claim 21, wherein the strippable film has a tensile strength of more than 1 MPa, or more than 10 MPa.
32. A tubular component according to claim 21, wherein the strippable film comprises an elongation at break of more than 300%, or more than 700%, or more than 1000%.
33. A tubular component according to claim 21, wherein the strippable film has a peeling resistance of less than 2 Nmm.
34. A tubular component according to claim 21, further comprising a layer of dry lubricating composition disposed between the threaded portion and the strippable film.
35. A method for preparation of a threaded end of a tubular component comprising depositing a strippable film by spraying a liquid precursor composition of the strippable film.
36. A preparation method according to claim 35, wherein the liquid precursor composition is sprayed at a temperature in a range of 20\xb0 C. to 40\xb0 C.
37. A preparation method according to claim 35, wherein a temperature at which the liquid precursor composition is sprayed is selected to be substantially identical to surface temperature of the tubular component.
38. A preparation method according to claim 35, wherein the film is deposited in at least two superimposed layers.
39. A preparation method according to claim 35, wherein prior to depositing the strippable film, the threaded portion is covered with a dry lubricating composition.
40. A preparation method according to claim 35, wherein prior to depositing the strippable film, and if appropriate prior to depositing the dry lubricating composition, a surface treatment of the threaded portion is carried out, either by mechanical sand blasting or by zinc or manganese phosphatization, or by an electrolytic deposition of a ternary CuSnZn alloy comprising an underlay of Wood’s nickel.