Systems and methods using annotated images for controlling the use of diagnostic or therapeutic instruments in instruments in interior body regions

• US 6,115,626 A
• Filed: 03/26/1998
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Panescu, Dorin, Swanson, David K., Whayne, James G., Dupree, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAW, SHAWNA JEANNINE
• Application Number:
  US09/048,376
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600/373, 600/374, 600/427, 600/510, 600/509, 600/523, 600/424, 382/128, 128/920, 128/922, 606/41, 607/122
• US Class Current: 600/427
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6858 with a distal basket, e.g. expandable basket
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3625 External stimulators

Abstract

An interface, used in association with an electrode structure deployed in contact with heart tissue, generates a display comprising an image of the electrode structure at least partially while performing a therapeutic or diagnostic procedure. The interface annotates the image in response to procedure events.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an electrode structure which, in use, is deployed in contact with heart tissue; and

an interface, the interface including

a controller coupled to the electrode structure operating to condition the electrode structure to perform a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure and to monitor events during the procedure,

a display screen, and

an interface manager coupled to the controller and the display screen, the interface manager including

a first function to generate a display comprising an image of the electrode structure at least partially while performing the procedure, and

a second function to annotate the image in response to events monitored by the controller,

wherein the electrode structure and displayed image of the electrode structure includes a plurality of electrodes and further including a function to find an electrode on the display by entering a coordinate of the electrode.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2,

wherein the first function includes an adjustment function to manually alter the geometrical appearance of the electrode structure image.

2. A system, comprising:

an electrode structure which, in use, is deployed in contact with heart tissue; and

an interface, the interface including

a controller coupled to the electrode structure operating to condition the electrode structure to perform a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure and to monitor events during the procedure,

a display screen, and

an interface manager coupled to the controller and the display screen, the interface manager including

a first function to generate a display comprising an image of the electrode structure at least partially while performing the procedure, and

a second function to annotate the image in response to events monitored by the controller,

wherein the second function includes a function to manually add an annotation to the image of the electrode structure on the display, the annotation selected from the group consisting of an identifier, a marker, and an associated text comment.

4. A method for mapping myocardial tissue, comprising:

deploying an electrode structure in contact with myocardial tissue;

generating a display comprising an image of the electrode structure;

causing the electrode structure to pace myocardial tissue and recording paced electrical events in the myocardial tissue while the image is displayed for viewing; and

annotating the image in response to the paced electrical events which are recorded,

wherein the electrode structure and displayed image of the electrode structure include a plurality of electrodes and further including finding an electrode on the display by entering a coordinate of the electrode.

5. A method for mapping myocardial tissue,

deploying an electrode structure in contact with myocardial tissue;

generating a display comprising an image of the electrode structure;

causing the electrode structure to pace myocardial tissue and recording paced electrical events in the myocardial tissue while the image is displayed for viewing;

annotating the image in response to the paced electrical events which are recorded; and

manually adding an annotation to the image of the electrode structure on the display, the annotation selected from the group consisting of an identifier, a marker and an associated text comment.

6. A method for mapping myocardial tissue, comprising:

deploying an electrode structure in contact with myocardial tissue;

generating a display comprising an image of the electrode structure;

causing the electrode structure to pace myocardial tissue and recording paced electrical events in the myocardial tissue while the image is displayed for viewing;

annotating the image in response to the paced electrical events which are recorded; and

manually altering the geometrical appearance of the image.

7. An interface for association with an electrode structure which, in use, is deployed in contact with heart tissue to perform a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure, the interface comprising:

a display screen; and

an interface manager coupled to the display screen and including a first function to generate a display comprising an image of the electrode structure at least partially while performing the procedure, and a second function to annotate the image to show an anatomic feature,

wherein the electrode structure and displayed image of the electrode structure includes a plurality of electrodes and further including a function to find an electrode on the display by entering a coordinate of the electrode.

8. An interface for association with an electrode structure which, in use, is deployed in contact with heart tissue to perform a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure, the interface comprising:

a display screen; and

an interface manager coupled to the display screen and including a first function to generate a display comprising an image of the electrode structure at least partially while performing the procedure, and a second function to annotate the image to show an anatomic feature,

wherein the second function includes a function to manually add an annotation to the image of the electrode structure on the display, the annotation selected from the group consisting of an identifier, a marker and an associated text comment.

9. An interface for association with an electrode structure which, in use, is deployed in contact with heart tissue to perform a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure, the interface comprising:

a display screen; and

an interface manager coupled to the display screen and including a first function to generate a display comprising an image of the electrode structure at least partially while performing the procedure, and a second function to annotate the image to show an anatomic feature,

wherein the first function includes an adjustment function to manually alter the geometric appearance of the image in response to operator input.

10. A method for examining myocardial tissue, comprising:

deploying an electrode structure in contact with myocardial tissue;

generating a display comprising an image of the electrode structure;

annotating the image to show an anatomic feature; and

causing the electrode structure to conduct a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure affecting myocardial tissue while the image is displayed for viewing,

wherein the electrode structure and displayed image of the electrode structure includes a plurality of electrodes and further including finding an electrode on the display by entering a coordinate of the electrode.

11. A method for examining myocardial tissue, comprising:

deploying an electrode structure in contact with myocardial tissue;

generating a display comprising an image of the electrode structure;

annotating the image to show an anatomic feature;

causing the electrode structure to conduct a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure affecting myocardial tissue while the image is displayed for viewing; and

manually adding an annotation to the image of the electrode structure on the display, the annotation selected from the group consisting of an identifier, a marker and an associated text comment.

12. A method for examining myocardial tissue, comprising:

deploying an electrode structure in contact with myocardial tissue;

generating a display comprising an image of the electrode structure;

annotating the image to show an anatomic feature;

causing the electrode structure to conduct a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure affecting myocardial tissue while the image is displayed for viewing; and

manually altering the geometric appearance of the image.