AJP - Heart and Circulatory Physiology, Vol 250, Issue 3 530-H536, Copyright © 1986 by American Physiological Society
Construction of a multipolar electrode system referenced and anchored to endocardium for study of arrhythmias
S. J. Worley, W. M. Smith and R. E. Ideker
We developed a Teflon plunge electrode system (Teflon plunge) with
important advantages over currently used electrodes. The Teflon plunge
consists of an anchor-introducer (anchor) attached to the tip of an 0.8-mm
diam epoxy-filled Teflon tube supporting six bipolar recording sites. The
plunge is inserted through the myocardium into the ventricular cavity
perpendicular to the epicardium. Once in the left ventricular cavity the
anchor at the tip of the plunge pivots perpendicular to the long axis of
the plunge and seats on the endocardium. It is maintained in position with
a 4-0 nylon line (line) that extends from its attachment to the anchor
through the body of the plunge to the epicardial end where it is secured
with a Ligaclip. Thus the electrode contacts are placed a predetermined
distance from the endocardium. When the Ligaclip is released, the plunge is
removed from the heart leaving the line in the track of the electrode
attached to the anchor as a marker for histological studies. The Teflon
plunge will facilitate the evaluation of the role of the endocardium in
ventricular arrhythmias by locating recording sites a stable, known
distance from the endocardium and by marking the electrode track for
histological studies.
