SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSESSING EFFECTIVE DELIVERY OF ABLATION THERAPY

• US 20110125150A1
• Filed: 11/20/2009
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Miller, Stephan P., Deno, D. Curtis
• Granted Patent: US 8,454,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00044 Sensing electrocardiography, i.e. ECG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00351 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0538 invasively, e.g. using a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/068 using impedance sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4848 Monitoring or testing the effects of treatment, e.g. of medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6844 Monitoring or controlling distance between sensor and tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6885 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 intracavitary

Abstract

A system and method for assessing effective delivery of ablation therapy to a tissue in a body is provided. A three-dimensional anatomical map of the tissue is generated and displayed with the map defining a corresponding volume. An index is generated corresponding to a location within the volume with the index indicative of a state of ablation therapy at the location. The index may be derived from one or more factors such as the duration an ablation electrode is present at the location, the amount of energy provided, the degree of electrical coupling between an ablation electrode and the tissue at the location and temperature. A visual characteristic (e.g., color intensity) of a portion of the anatomical map corresponding to the location is then altered responsive to the index.

Claims

1. A system for assessing effective delivery of ablation therapy to a tissue in a body, comprising:

an electronic control unit configured to generate a three-dimensional anatomical map of said tissue, said map defining a corresponding volume, and,

a display configured to display said anatomical map;

wherein said electronic control unit is further configured to generate an index corresponding to a first location within said volume, said index indicative of a state of ablation therapy at said first location, and to alter, responsive to said index, a visual characteristic of a portion of said anatomical map corresponding to said first location.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said volume is divided into a plurality of voxels and said portion of said anatomical map comprises a first voxel of said plurality of voxels, said first location within said first voxel.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said anatomical map defines a surface and said portion comprises a part of said surface, said electronic control unit altering a visual characteristic of said portion responsive to said index and a distance between said first location and said part of said surface.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic control unit is further configured to determine a position of an ablation catheter and to determine said first location responsive to a plurality of positions of said ablation catheter over a predetermined period of time.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said visual characteristic comprises a color.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said visual characteristic comprises an intensity of said color.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic control unit generates said index in response to a plurality of factors indicative of delivery of ablative therapy to said tissue and said electronic control unit is configured to adjust a weight accorded to at least one of said factors responsive to a user input.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said index is generated responsive to a factor indicative of delivery of ablative therapy to said tissue only when a value of said factor exceeds a threshold value associated with said factor.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said index is generated responsive to a duration of time during which ablation energy is provided at said first location.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said index is generated responsive to an amount of ablation energy provided at said first location.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said index is generated responsive to a degree of contact between an ablation electrode and said tissue.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said index is generated responsive to a degree of electrical coupling between an ablation electrode and said tissue.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said index is generated responsive to a temperature proximate said first location.

14. A method for assessing effective delivery of ablation therapy to a tissue in a body, comprising:

generating a three-dimensional anatomical map of said tissue, said map defining a corresponding volume, and,

displaying said anatomical map;

generating an index corresponding to a first location within said volume, said index indicative of a state of ablation therapy at said first location; and

,

altering, responsive to said index, a visual characteristic of a portion of said anatomical map corresponding to said first location.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said index is generated in response to a plurality of factors indicative of delivery of ablative therapy to said tissue and further comprising the step of adjusting a weight accorded to at least one of said factors responsive to a user input.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said index is generated responsive to a factor indicative of delivery of ablative therapy to said tissue only when a value of said factor exceeds a threshold value associated with said factor.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said index is generated responsive to an amount of ablation energy provided at said first location.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein said index is generated responsive to a degree of contact between an ablation electrode and said tissue.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein said index is generated responsive to a degree of electrical coupling between an ablation electrode and said tissue.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein said index is generated responsive to a temperature proximate a tip of an ablation catheter.