Design of ablation electrode with tactile sensor
First Claim
1. An electrode assembly comprising:
- a catheter shaft;
at least one tactile sensor; and
an electrode at a distal end of the electrode assembly;
wherein the at least one tactile sensor is located between the catheter shaft and the electrode, such that the tactile sensor will detect force that is applied to the electrode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter assembly for assessing contact between the catheter assembly and tissue is disclosed. The assembly includes a catheter shaft and a pressure sensitive conductive composite member whose electrical resistance varies with pressure applied to the catheter assembly. The assembly also includes at least one measurement terminal to permit the measurement of changes in the electrical characteristics of the pressure sensitive conductive composite member. The assembly may optionally include a measurement device to measure resistance, impedance and/or other electrical characteristics. The assembly may utilize a reference electrode secured to the patient'"'"'s tissue, which permits the measurement device to measure changes between the reference electrode and the at least one measurement terminal. Optionally, the assembly may include a conductive outer layer. Also disclosed are sensor assemblies, contact sensor, methods of contact sensing, and methods of manufacturing relating to the use of pressure sensitive conductive composites.
158 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An electrode assembly comprising:
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a catheter shaft; at least one tactile sensor; and an electrode at a distal end of the electrode assembly; wherein the at least one tactile sensor is located between the catheter shaft and the electrode, such that the tactile sensor will detect force that is applied to the electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An electrode assembly comprising:
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a catheter shaft; an ablation electrode at a distal end of the electrode assembly; a plurality of tactile sensors located between the ablation electrode and the catheter shaft, each of said plurality of tactile sensors lying in a plane that passes transverse to an axis of the electrode assembly; and wherein the plurality of sensors detect longitudinal compression forces and transverse bending forces applied to the ablation electrode. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An ablation catheter for ablating tissue, comprising:
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a catheter shaft; an ablation electrode at a distal end of the ablation catheter; a plurality of tactile sensors located between the ablation electrode and the catheter shaft, said plurality of tactile sensors being spaced evenly about a circumference of the ablation catheter, wherein each of the plurality of tactile sensor generates an output signal in proportion to the compression force applied to a portion of the ablation electrode; and a controller configured to receive each of the output signals from the plurality of tactile sensors, wherein the controller analyzes the output signals and assesses a degree of contact between the ablation electrode and the tissue to be ablated. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of sensing contact between a catheter and a tissue, said method comprising:
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providing a catheter comprising;
a catheter shaft;
an ablation electrode; and
at least one tactile sensor located between the catheter shaft and the electrode, each of said at least one tactile sensor configured to generate an output in proportion to the forces applied thereto;placing the catheter in contact with the tissue such that at least one force is exerted on the ablation electrode, thereby generating an output signal from each of the at least one tactile sensors; and generating a signal that is indicative of a degree of contact between the catheter and the tissue, said signal being generated in response to the output signal that is generated from each of the at least one tactile sensors. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification