CARDIAC NAVIGATION SYSTEM INCLUDING ELECTRODE ARRAY FOR USE THEREWITH

• US 20110224540A1
• Filed: 04/29/2011
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: St. Jude Medical (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baker, James C., HAUCK, John A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,489,171 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1076 for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters A61B3/1005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/283 Invasive

Abstract

A cardiac navigation system including a mapping catheter, a control system coupled to the mapping catheter, an electrode array, and means for driving an electrical current across the electrode array. The mapping catheter includes means for sensing an electrical field. The control system includes means for receiving sensed signals from the mapping catheter. The cardiac navigation system includes at least one electrode array including means for providing an electrical field across three axes. The three axes are approximately orthogonal with respect to one another. The means for driving an electrical current across the three axes includes means for providing a plurality of individual current sources to the electrode array. As such, the cardiac navigation system presented provides a more uniform sheet of current across an area of interest, the mapping catheter senses the electrical field across the area of interest, and the control system determines a three-dimensional location of the mapping catheter based on the sensed electrical field.

Claims

1. A cardiac navigation system comprising:

a navigation catheter including at least one sensing electrode;

a voltage source;

a first array having,

a first non-conductive substrate,

a first plurality of conductive contact points disposed about the first non-conductive substrate;

a second array having,

a second non-conductive substrate,

a second plurality of conductive contact points disposed about the second non-conductive substrate;

a first plurality of resistors, each connected to the voltage source and to a respective one of the first plurality of conductive contact points; and

a second plurality of resistors, each connected to the voltage source and to a respective one of the second plurality of conductive contact points,

wherein the at least one sensing electrode of the navigation catheter is configured to sense an electrical field generated by the first and second arrays.

2. The cardiac navigation system of claim 1, wherein each array includes at least nine conductive contact points.

3. The cardiac navigation system of claim 1, wherein the first and second non-conductive substrates are comprised of carbon film.

4. The cardiac navigation system of claim 3, wherein the first and second plurality of conductive contact points are formed of silver ink applied to the carbon film.

5. The cardiac navigation system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductive contact points for each array are arranged in a uniformly distributed array.

6. The cardiac navigation system of claim 1, wherein the first and second plurality of conductive contact points are screen printed onto the first and second non-conductive substrate, respectively.

7. An array for use in a cardiac navigation system comprising:

a non-conductive substrate;

a plurality of individual conductive contact points arranged in an array; and

a plurality of conductive leads, each connected to one of the plurality of conductive contact points.

8. The array of claim 7, wherein the array of individual conductive contact points includes at least sixteen conductive contact points.

9. The array of claim 7, wherein the plurality of individual conductive contact points are arranged in a uniformly distributed array.

10. The array of claim 7, wherein the array is at least 3 inches wide and 3 inches long.

11. The array of claim 7, wherein the array is at least 6 inches wide and 4 inches long.

12. The array of claim 7, further comprising:

a plurality of resistors, each connected at one end to one, and only one, of the plurality of conductive contact points.

13. The array of claim 7, further comprising a base, wherein the non-conductive substrate is disposed on the base and the plurality of individual conductive contact points are printed onto the non-conductive substrate.

14. An apparatus for use in a cardiac modeling system, comprising:

a base adapted to be attached to an external surface of a patient'"'"'s body;

a plurality of individual conductive contact points mounted to the base; and

a plurality of lead wires, each of the plurality of lead wires coupled to a respective one of the plurality of conductive contact points.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of individual conductive contact points mounted to the base comprises an electrode array.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a non-conductive substrate attached to the base, and wherein the plurality of individual conductive contact points are screen-printed on to the non-conductive substrate.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein at least some of the plurality of individual conductive contact points are configured to act as a sink for an electrical current or electrical voltage.