Figure 1

Braiding setup and catheter shaft structure. (a) Copper and nitinol braiding layer (arrow) exposed after outer Pebax layer is removed. (b) Four grooves (arrows) are created in the inner polymer shaft to house transmission lines. (c) Schematic of a finished 7 Fr guide catheter with a 0.035" guidewire compatible lumen. (1) Three solenoid coils incorporated in the distal shaft for tip profiling (2) Inner nitinol-copper braiding layer used as a core conductor of the loopless antenna (3) Outer braiding layer used as a shield for the loopless antenna. (4) micro-miniature connectors (MMCX).