Systems and methods for electrode contact assessment
First Claim
1. An electrode contact sensing system that provides information indicative of contact between an electrode and tissue, the system comprisingan electrode housed within a distal portion of a catheter shaft having a wall;
- at least one substantially arcuate electromechanical sensor inside the wall of the catheter shaft and operatively associated with the electrode, the electromechanical sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal in response to a mechanical load on said sensor resulting from contact between said electrode and the tissue, a longitudinal axis of the electromechanical sensor extending substantially parallel to a central axis of the catheter shaft; and
an output device electrically connected to said at least one sensor, the output device being adapted to receive the electrical signal and to present to a user of the system an indicator of contact between the electrode and the tissue.
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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 10 housed within a distal portion of a catheter shaft 14. At least one electro-mechanical sensor 20 is operatively associated with the electrode 10 within the catheter shaft 14. The at least one electro-mechanical sensor 20 is responsive to movement of the electrode 10 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 20. The output device receives the electrical signals for assessing a level of contact between the electrode 10 and a tissue 12.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An electrode contact sensing system that provides information indicative of contact between an electrode and tissue, the system comprising
an electrode housed within a distal portion of a catheter shaft having a wall; -
at least one substantially arcuate electromechanical sensor inside the wall of the catheter shaft and operatively associated with the electrode, the electromechanical sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal in response to a mechanical load on said sensor resulting from contact between said electrode and the tissue, a longitudinal axis of the electromechanical sensor extending substantially parallel to a central axis of the catheter shaft; and an output device electrically connected to said at least one sensor, the output device being adapted to receive the electrical signal and to present to a user of the system an indicator of contact between the electrode and the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of sensing electrode-tissue contact comprising
contacting a tissue with an electrode housed within a distal portion of a catheter; -
generating electric signals in an electromechanical sensor in response to contact stress of the electrode with the tissue, the electrical signals generated by the electromechanical sensor slidably engaging the electrode; and outputting the electrical signals to a monitoring device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system comprising
an electrode means for applying ablative energy to a tissue; -
arcuate means for generating electromechanical signals corresponding to contact stress of the electrode means when the arcuate means is moved by engagement with the electrode means, wherein a longitudinal axis of the arcuate means extends substantially parallel to a central axis of a catheter shaft housing the arcuate means; and a means for assessing contact between the electrode means and the tissue based on the electromechanical signals. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification