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

• US 6,192,266 B1
• Filed: 03/26/1998
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Corporation
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Corporation
• Inventors: Panescu, Dorin, Whayne, James G., Nguyen, Tuan, Dupree, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAW, SHAWNA JEANNINE
• Application Number:
  US09/048,643
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600/510, 600/523, 600/373, 600/374, 600/509, 600/427, 382/128, 128/920, 128/922, 606/41, 607/122
• US Class Current: 600/427
• 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 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00898 Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/068 using impedance sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/363 Detecting tachycardia or bradycardia
• 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: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

An interface for association with an electrode structure deployed in contact with heart tissue generates a real image of the electrode structure acquired by an imaging device. The interface also generates an idealized image of the electrode structure based at least in part upon the real image. The interface displays either the real image, or the idealized image, or both on a display screen.

Claims

1. 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 real image of the electrode structure acquired by an imaging device, a second function to generate an idealized image of the electrode structure based at least in part upon the real image, and a third function to display a view image comprising the real image of the electrode structure next to the idealized image of the electrode structure.

2. An interface according to claim 1

wherein the interface manager includes a menu function to select among display of the real image, or display of the idealized image, or both on the display screen.

3. An interface according to claim 1,

wherein the third 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. An interface according to claim 3

wherein the interface manager includes a file manager function to store, retrieve, or manipulate the annotated view image as a file record.

5. An interface according to claim 1

wherein the interface manager includes a file manager function to store, retrieve, or manipulate the either the real image, or the idealized image, or both as a file record.

6. An interface according to claim 1

wherein the third function includes a navigation function that generates on the display screen an output in association with the view image, showing location of a roving element, deployed in the patient, relative to the electrode structure.

7. An interface according to claim 6

wherein the navigation function generates the output based at least in part upon a real image of the roving electrode acquired by an imaging device.

8. An interface according to claim 1

wherein the third function includes a navigation function that generates on the display screen a proximity-indicating output in association with the view image, showing the proximity of a roving element, deployed in the patient, to the electrode structure.

9. An interface according to claim 8

wherein the navigation function generates the proximity-indicating output based at least in part upon a real image of the roving electrode acquired by an imaging device.

10. An interface according to claim 1

wherein the interface manager includes an input to receive patient data identifying the patient and an output to process patient data as a data base record for storage, retrieval, or manipulation.

11. An interface according to claim 10

wherein the output processes data relating to the real image, or the idealized image, or the view image in association with the patient data.

12. An interface according to claim l,

wherein the view image is a split-screen image with the real image of the electrode structure separate from the idealized image of the electrode structure.

13. An interface according to claim 12,

wherein the split-screen image includes a left panel and a right panel and the real image of the electrode structure is in one of the panels and the idealized image of the electrode structure is in the other panel.

14. A method for examining myocardial tissue comprising the steps of:

deploying an electrode structure in contact with myocardial tissue,

generating an idealized graphical image of the electrode structure based at least in part upon the real image,

displaying a view image of the electrode structure comprising the real image of the electrode structure next to the idealized image of the electrode structure on a display screen, and

causing the electrode structure to conduct a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure affecting myocardial tissue while the view image is displayed on the display screen.

15. A method according to claim 14

and further including the step of ablating myocardial tissue.

16. A method according to claim 14

and further including the step of manually altering the geometrical appearance of the view image.

17. A method according to claim 14

and further including the step of altering an operating condition of the electrode structure in response to operator input.

18. A method according to claim 14, wherein the view image is a split-screen image with the real image of the electrode structure separate from the idealized image of the electrode structure.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the split-screen image includes a left panel and a right panel and the real image of the electrode structure is in one of the panels and the idealized image of the electrode structure is in the other panel.