Interactive systems and methods for controlling the use of diagnostic or therapeutic instruments in interior body regions

• US 6,542,773 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2001
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: McGee, David, Panescu, Dorin, Swanson, David K., Whayne, James G., Nguyen, Tuan, Dupree, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab; Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US09/848,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20010044585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300,523,525,509 128/920 606/41
• US Class Current: 600/509
• 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 5/063 using impedance measurements
• 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 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

An interface is associated with a structure which, in use, is deployed in an interior body region of a patient. The structure includes an operative element coupled to a controller, which establishes an operating condition for the operative element to perform a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure in the interior body region. The interface generates a first display comprising an image of the structure at least partially while the operative element performs the procedure. The interface also generates a second display comprising one or more data fields reflecting the operating condition of the controller. The interface enables selection of the first display or the second display for viewing on a display screen.

Claims

1. A method for examining myocardial tissue, comprising:

deploying an electrode structure in contact with myocardial tissue;

displaying on a display screen a first display region showing a selection menu comprising a first field for selecting a first control application for execution and a second field for selecting a second control application for execution, each control application prescribing procedures for carrying out a given task using the electrode structure, at least one of the control applications prescribing a clinical procedure affecting myocardial tissue;

displaying on the display screen a second display region showing a first graphical display during execution of the first control application and a second graphical display during execution of the second control application;

performing an examination of myocardial tissue according to the control application selected for execution while viewing the display screen.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of ablating myocardial tissue.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second graphical displays shows an image of the electrode structure.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second graphical displays shows a real image of the electrode structure acquired by an imaging device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second graphical displays shows an idealized graphical image of the electrode structure.

6. The method of claim 1, further including the step of altering appearance of the image in response to operator input.

7. The method of claim 1, further including the step of altering an operating condition of the electrode structure in response to operator input.

8. The method of claim 1, further including the step of communicating operator input through at least one of the first and second graphical displays to alter an operating condition of the electrode structure.