Method for Displaying Catheter Electrode-Tissue Contact in Electro-Anatomic Mapping and Navigation System
First Claim
1. A method for use in operating an electrode catheter, the method comprising the steps ofproviding a navigation system for monitoring a position of an electrode of said electrode catheter during a medical procedure;
- establishing an electrode coupling assessment system for evaluating an electrode-to-patient coupling condition indicative of coupling between an electrode of said electrode catheter and a patient, said assessment system adapted to distinguish between at least two different levels of said electrode coupling condition;
operating said electrode coupling assessment system in connection with the medical procedure to identify a level of said coupling condition; and
providing an output via said navigation system indicating said identified level of said coupling condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrode coupling output system associated with an electrode catheter that provides indication to the physician via the navigation system, concerning the electrical coupling of an electrode, such as an ablative or mapping electrode, with a patient. The indication may be provided by changing the color or other display characteristics of the electrode on the navigation system display or by way of providing a waveform indicating the electrode coupling. In this manner, electrode coupling information is provided to a physician in a manner that minimizes physician distraction.
225 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for use in operating an electrode catheter, the method comprising the steps of
providing a navigation system for monitoring a position of an electrode of said electrode catheter during a medical procedure; -
establishing an electrode coupling assessment system for evaluating an electrode-to-patient coupling condition indicative of coupling between an electrode of said electrode catheter and a patient, said assessment system adapted to distinguish between at least two different levels of said electrode coupling condition; operating said electrode coupling assessment system in connection with the medical procedure to identify a level of said coupling condition; and providing an output via said navigation system indicating said identified level of said coupling condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for use in operating an electrode catheter, the apparatus comprising
an input interface for receiving a signal indicative of a level of electrical coupling between an electrode of said electrode catheter and said patient; -
a processor for processing said signal to determine said level of electrical coupling between said electrode of said electrode catheter and said patient; and an output interface for providing an output to a navigation system to indicate said determined level of electrical coupling, wherein said navigation system is adapted to monitor a position of said electrode catheter during a medical procedure. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An electrode catheter system comprising
an electrode; -
a catheter associated with said electrode; a navigation system for use in monitoring a position of said electrode during a medical procedure; and a processor for receiving signal information and determining a level of electrical coupling between said electrode and a patient, said processor further adapted to transmit information to said navigation system such that said navigation system can provide an indication of said level of electrical coupling. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification