GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR REAL-TIME RF LESION DEPTH DISPLAY

• US 20110144524A1
• Filed: 12/08/2010
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: St. Jude Medical (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dando, Jeremy D., Byrd, Israel A., Fish, Jeffrey M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,492,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• 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 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00256 Creating an electrical block
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00803 with temperature prediction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00886 Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/104 Modelling the effect of the tool, e.g. the effect of an implanted prosthesis or for predicting the effect of ablation or burring
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/105 Modelling of the patient, e.g. for ligaments or bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/301 for introducing or steering flexible instruments inserted into the body, e.g. catheters or endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/062 penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/25 User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/73 Manipulators for magnetic surgery

Abstract

A system for displaying characteristics of target tissue during an ablation procedure is provided that includes an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to receive data regarding electrical properties of the target tissue for a time period. The ECU is also configured to determine a value responsive to the data and indicative of at least one of a predicted depth of a lesion in the target tissue, a predicted temperature of the target tissue, and a likelihood of steam pop of the target tissue for the time period. The system further includes a display device operatively connected to the ECU. The display device is configured to receive the value and display a visual representation indicative of at least one of a predicted depth of a lesion in the target tissue, a predicted temperature of the target tissue, and a likelihood of steam pop of the target tissue for the time period.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface system for displaying characteristics of target tissue during an ablation procedure, the system comprising:

an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to receive as an input data regarding the electrical properties of the target tissue for a time period, to determine a value responsive to the data and indicative of at least one of a predicted depth of a lesion in the target tissue, a predicted temperature of the target tissue, and a likelihood of steam pop of the target tissue for the time period, and to output the value; and

a display device operatively connected to the ECU, wherein the display device is configured to receive the value and display a visual representation indicative of at least one of a predicted depth of a lesion in the target tissue, a predicted temperature of the target tissue, and a likelihood of steam pop of the target tissue for the time period.

2. The graphical user interface system of claim 1, wherein the visual representation is displayed during the time period.

3. The graphical user interface system of claim 1, wherein the ECU is further configured to receive as an input data regarding the thickness of the target tissue.

4. The graphical user interface system of claim 1, wherein the data regarding the electrical properties of the target tissue is generated by measuring electrical properties of the target tissue with a sensor on an ablation catheter.

5. The graphical user interface system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to store a first color associated with a first range of values indicative of at least one of a predicted depth of a lesion in the target tissue, a predicted temperature of the target tissue, and a likelihood of steam pop of the target tissue for the time period.

6. The graphical user interface system of claim 5, wherein the system is configured to store a second color associated with a second range of values indicative of at least one of a predicted depth of a lesion in the target tissue, a predicted temperature of the target tissue, and a likelihood of steam pop of the target tissue for the time period.

7. The graphical user interface system of claim 6, wherein the system is configured to store a third color associated with a third range of values indicative of at least one of a predicted depth of a lesion in the target tissue, a predicted temperature of the target tissue, and a likelihood of steam pop of the target tissue for the time period.

8. The graphical user interface system of claim 7, wherein the display device is configured to display a color associated with the value indicative of at least one of a predicted depth of a lesion in the target tissue, a predicted temperature of the target tissue, and a likelihood of steam pop of the target tissue for the time period.

9. The graphical user interface system of claim 3, wherein the display device is further configured to display a visual representation indicative of the thickness of the target tissue.

10. The graphical user interface system of claim 9, wherein the visual representation indicative of at least one of a predicted depth of a lesion in the target tissue, a predicted temperature of the target tissue, and a likelihood of steam pop of the target tissue for the time period comprises an expandable graph or meter.

11. The graphical user interface of claim 10, wherein the expandable graph or meter is at least partially overlaid over the visual representation indicative of the thickness of the target tissue.

12. The graphical user interface system of claim 1, wherein the visual representation indicative of at least one of a predicted depth of a lesion in the target tissue, a predicted temperature of the target tissue, and a likelihood of steam pop of the target tissue for the time period comprises a gauge including a scale and an indicator moveable along the scale that graphically indicates at least one of a predicted depth of a lesion in the target tissue, a predicted temperature of the target tissue, and a likelihood of steam pop of the target tissue for the time period.

13. The graphical user interface system of claim 1, wherein the display device is further configured to display a visual representation indicative of an ablation catheter used to perform the ablation procedure.

14. The graphical user interface system of claim 13, wherein the visual representation indicative of the ablation catheter used to perform the ablation procedure includes a first view along a first axis of a body upon which the ablation procedure is performed and includes a second view along a second axis of the body upon which the ablation procedure is performed.

15. The graphical user interface system of claim 1, wherein the display device is further configured to display a visual representation indicative of the transmurality of a lesion in the target tissue.

16. The graphical user interface system of claim 1, wherein the ECU is configured to store the value, to retrieve the stored value subsequent to the time period, and to output the stored value to the display device subsequent to the time period, and wherein the display device is configured to display a visual representation corresponding to the stored value and indicative of at least one of a predicted depth of a lesion in the target tissue, a predicted temperature of the target tissue, and a likelihood of steam pop of the target tissue subsequent to the time period.

17. The graphical user interface system of claim 1, wherein the display device is further configured to display a slider bar configured to adjust a threshold against which the value indicative of at least one of a predicted depth of a lesion in the target tissue, a predicted temperature of the target tissue, and a likelihood of steam pop of the target tissue may be compared, thereby adjusting a sensitivity of the graphical user interface system.

18. A system for displaying characteristics of target tissue during an ablation procedure, the system comprising:

an ablation catheter including a sensor configured for obtaining data regarding the electrical properties of the target tissue for a time period;

an electroanatomic visualization, mapping, and navigation system configured for generating an anatomical model of at least the target tissue, the electroanatomic visualization, mapping, and navigation system including a display device for displaying the anatomical model; and

a graphical user interface system comprising;

an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to receive as an input data regarding the electrical properties of the target tissue for a time period, to determine a value responsive to the data and indicative of one of a predicted depth of a lesion in the target tissue, a predicted temperature of the target tissue, and a likelihood of steam pop of the target tissue for the time period, and to output the value;

wherein the display device is operatively connected to the ECU and is configured to receive the value and display a visual representation indicative of one of a predicted depth of a lesion in the target tissue, a predicted temperature of the target tissue, and a likelihood of steam pop of the target tissue for the time period.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the visual representation indicative of one of a predicted depth of a lesion in the target tissue, a predicted temperature of the target tissue, and a likelihood of steam pop of the target tissue for the time period appears as an inset on the display device of the electromagnetic visualization, mapping, and navigation system.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the ECU is further configured to receive as an input data regarding the thickness of the target tissue and wherein the display device is further configured to display a visual representation indicative of the thickness of the target tissue.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the display device is further configured to display a visual representation indicative of a location of the ablation catheter used to perform the ablation procedure relative to the anatomical model generated by the electroanatomic visualization, mapping, and navigation system.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein at least one of the display device and the ablation catheter is configured to present at least one of an audible indication, a tactile indication, and a vibrational indication if the value indicative of one of a predicted depth of a lesion in the target tissue, a predicted temperature of the target tissue, and a likelihood of steam pop of the target tissue for the time period exceeds a predetermined threshold.

23. A method for displaying characteristics of target tissue during an ablation procedure, the method comprising:

obtaining data regarding the thickness of the target tissue;

displaying a visual representation indicative of the thickness of the target tissue;

obtaining data regarding the electrical properties of the target tissue for a time period;

determining a value responsive to the data regarding the electrical properties of the target tissue that is indicative of one of a predicted depth of a lesion in the target tissue, a predicted temperature of the target tissue, and a likelihood of steam pop of the target tissue for the time period; and

displaying a visual representation indicative of one of a predicted depth of a lesion in the target tissue, a predicted temperature of the target tissue, and a likelihood of steam pop of the target tissue for the time period.