Tissue contact and thermal assessment for brush electrodes
First Claim
1. A brush electrode for tissue contact assessment comprising:
- a plurality of flexible filaments adapted to transfer electrical energy to tissue;
at least one piezoelectric sensor embedded among the plurality of flexible filaments, the at least one piezoelectric sensor extends beyond a sheath but for a shorter distance than the flexible filaments to isolate the at least one piezoelectric sensor from direct contact with the tissue, the at least one piezoelectric sensor responsive to contact stress of the flexible filaments by generating electrical signals corresponding to the amount of contact stress.
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Abstract
System and methods are disclosed for tissue contact and thermal assessment, e.g. for tissue ablation procedures. An exemplary brush electrode comprises a plurality of flexible filaments adapted to transfer electrical energy to a tissue. At least one piezoelectric sensor is embedded among the plurality of flexible filaments. The at least one piezoelectric sensor is responsive to contact stress of the flexible filaments by generating electrical signals corresponding to the amount of contact stress. An output device is electrically connected to the at least one piezoelectric sensor. The output device receives the electrical signal for assessing tissue contact by the flexible filaments. The brush electrode may further comprise a sensing device mounted adjacent the at least one piezoelectric sensor, wherein the sensing device is a pressure sensor, a thermistor, a thermocouple, or an ultrasound sensor.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A brush electrode for tissue contact assessment comprising:
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a plurality of flexible filaments adapted to transfer electrical energy to tissue; at least one piezoelectric sensor embedded among the plurality of flexible filaments, the at least one piezoelectric sensor extends beyond a sheath but for a shorter distance than the flexible filaments to isolate the at least one piezoelectric sensor from direct contact with the tissue, the at least one piezoelectric sensor responsive to contact stress of the flexible filaments by generating electrical signals corresponding to the amount of contact stress. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for assessing tissue contact based on piezoelectric signals, comprising
providing an exposed portion of a brush electrode for positioning adjacent to a tissue; -
generating piezoelectric signals in response to stress caused by a exposed portion of the brush electrode contacting the tissue; and detecting stress due to movement of the brush electrode in any direction using a twisted piezoelectric sensor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system comprising:
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conforming means for transferring electrical energy to tissue; means for generating piezoelectric signals corresponding to contact stress of the conforming means, the means for generating piezoelectric signals extending beyond a sheath but for a shorter distance than the conforming means to isolate the means for generating piezoelectric signals from direct contact with the tissue; and means for assessing tissue contact of the conforming means based at least in part on the piezoelectric signals. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification