Systems and methods for electrode contact assessment
First Claim
1. A tissue contact sensing system that provides information indicative of contact between a tissue surface and a distal tip portion of an elongate member impinging upon the tissue surface, comprising:
- an elongate member having an intermediate section and a distal tip portion;
a compliant material coupled between the intermediate section and the distal tip portion; and
an electro-mechanical sensor means coupled to the compliant material for generating respective electrical signals in response to a mechanical load imposed on said electro-mechanical sensor means due to contact between a surface of tissue and said distal tip portion,wherein the electro-mechanical sensor means comprises at least three spaced-apart electro-mechanical sensors, the electro-mechanical sensors covered by an outer surface of the elongate member, and each of the electro-mechanical sensors being elongated haying a longitudinal axis and arranged laterally adjacent one another in an elongated direction, the longitudinal axis of the sensors being substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongate member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for assessing electrode-tissue contact for tissue ablation. An exemplary electrode contact sensing system comprises an electrode housed within a distal portion of a catheter shaft. At least one electro-mechanical sensor is operatively associated with the electrode within the catheter shaft. The at least one electro-mechanical sensor is responsive to movement of the electrode by generating electrical signals corresponding to the amount of movement. The system may also include an output device electrically connected to the at least one electro-mechanical sensor. The output device receives the electrical signals for assessing a level of contact between the electrode and a tissue.
111 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A tissue contact sensing system that provides information indicative of contact between a tissue surface and a distal tip portion of an elongate member impinging upon the tissue surface, comprising:
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an elongate member having an intermediate section and a distal tip portion; a compliant material coupled between the intermediate section and the distal tip portion; and an electro-mechanical sensor means coupled to the compliant material for generating respective electrical signals in response to a mechanical load imposed on said electro-mechanical sensor means due to contact between a surface of tissue and said distal tip portion, wherein the electro-mechanical sensor means comprises at least three spaced-apart electro-mechanical sensors, the electro-mechanical sensors covered by an outer surface of the elongate member, and each of the electro-mechanical sensors being elongated haying a longitudinal axis and arranged laterally adjacent one another in an elongated direction, the longitudinal axis of the sensors being substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongate member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification