Ablation electrodes with capacitive sensors for resolving magnitude and direction of forces imparted to a distal portion of a cardiac catheter
First Claim
1. A system for estimating magnitude and direction of a force applied to an object, the system comprising:
- a sensor including;
a housing adapted for assembly to the object,at least three capacitive sensing components retained by the housing and each including;
a first electrode plate,a second electrode plate arranged parallel to and spaced from the first electrode plate to form a capacitor,wherein the housing retains the first and second electrode plates such that the first electrode plate is movable relative to the second electrode plate in response to a force placed upon the housing in establishing a variable gap therebetween;
an energy source electrically connected to the sensing components; and
a detector electrically connected to the sensing component;
wherein the energy source delivers energy to the sensing components and the detector receives an output signal affected by the sensing components, the output signal varying as a function of a size of the gap associated with each of the sensing components such that the output signal is indicative of a magnitude and direction of a force placed upon the housing.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter assembly for assessing contact between the catheter assembly and tissue is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment the assembly includes a catheter shaft and a trio of pressure sensitive capacitive members each of whose electrical resistance varies with a pressure vector 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 capacitive members. 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 capacitors.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system for estimating magnitude and direction of a force applied to an object, the system comprising:
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a sensor including; a housing adapted for assembly to the object, at least three capacitive sensing components retained by the housing and each including; a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate arranged parallel to and spaced from the first electrode plate to form a capacitor, wherein the housing retains the first and second electrode plates such that the first electrode plate is movable relative to the second electrode plate in response to a force placed upon the housing in establishing a variable gap therebetween; an energy source electrically connected to the sensing components; and a detector electrically connected to the sensing component; wherein the energy source delivers energy to the sensing components and the detector receives an output signal affected by the sensing components, the output signal varying as a function of a size of the gap associated with each of the sensing components such that the output signal is indicative of a magnitude and direction of a force placed upon the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for use in surgical procedures performed on a human body, the system comprising:
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a surgical instrument including an elongate body terminating at a distal end; a sensor assembled to the instrument proximate the distal end for sensing forces applied to the distal end, the sensor comprising; a housing, at least three capacitive sensing components retained by the housing and each including; a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate arranged parallel to and spaced from the first electrode plate to form a capacitor, wherein the housing retains the first and second electrode plates such that the first electrode is movable relative to the second electrode plate in response to a force placed upon the housing in establishing a variable gap therebetween a size of which varies as a function of a force applied to the distal end; an energy source electrically connected to the sensing components; and a detector electrically connected to the sensing components; wherein the energy source delivers energy to the sensing components, and the detector receives an output signal affected by the sensing components, and further wherein the output signal varies as a function of a size of the gap associated with each of the sensing components such that the output signal is indicative of a magnitude and direction of a force applied to the distal end. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of determining a magnitude and direction of a force applied to an object, the method comprising:
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applying energy to a sensor assembled to the object, the sensor comprising; a housing, at least three capacitive sensing components retained by the housing and each including; a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate arranged parallel to and spaced from the first electrode plate to form a capacitor, wherein the housing retains the first and second electrode plates such that the first electrode plate is movable relative to the second electrode plate in response to a force placed upon the housing in establishing a variable gap therebetween; subjecting the object to a force of unknown magnitude and direction, wherein the force is transferred to the housing via the object and is sufficient to cause a change in a size in the gap associated with at least one of the sensing components; receiving an output signal from the sensor, the output signal being affected by the sensing components; and analyzing the output signal to determine magnitude and direction of the force. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification