Representing the geometry of a heart chamber

• US 8,208,998 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2005
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: St. Jude Medical (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Beatty, Graydon Ernest, Kagan, Jonathan, Budd, Jeffrey Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATTON, AMANDA K
• Application Number:
  US11/265,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20060052716A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,427 Days
• Field of Search: 600/424, 600/463, 600508-510
• 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 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00839 Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0538 invasively, e.g. using a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1076 for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters A61B3/1005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/283 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/30 Input circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6853 with a balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6858 with a distal basket, e.g. expandable basket
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3625 External stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3702 Physiological parameters A61N1/365 takes precedence; evoked response A61N1/371
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 : Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A method of representing the geometry of at least a portion of a human heart chamber includes positioning a catheter in a heart chamber. The position of the catheter in the heart chamber is determined. The catheter is re-positioned and the position is re-determined a plurality of times to determine the geometry of at least a portion of the heart chamber. A three-dimensional, anatomical representation of at least a portion of the heart chamber is then created.

Claims

1. A method of representing the geometry of at least a portion of a live human heart chamber, comprising:

a) positioning a catheter in the live heart chamber;

b) determining and recording the position of the catheter in the live heart chamber using an electromagnetic field source external to the heart chamber;

c) repeating steps (a) and (b) a plurality of times to determine the geometry of at least a portion of the live heart chamber; and

d) creating a three-dimensional, anatomical representation of at least a portion of the live heart chamber using the recorded positions of the catheter.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of periodically updating the created representation based upon further acquired physiological data.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a two-dimensional view of the three-dimensional, anatomical representation on a computer display monitor.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising displaying the position of the catheter within the displayed view.

2. A method of representing the geometry of at least a portion of a live human heart chamber, comprising:

a) positioning a catheter in the live heart chamber;

b) determining and recording the position of the catheter in the live heart chamber;

c) repeating steps (a) and (b) a plurality of times to determine the geometry of at least a portion of the live heart chamber; and

d) creating a three-dimensional, anatomical representation of at least a portion of the live heart chamber using the recorded positions of the catheter, wherein the method further comprises measuring a plurality of electrical potentials using the catheter; and

wherein the three-dimensional, anatomical representation includes a three dimensional electrical activity map.

6. A method of representing the geometry of at least a portion of a live human heart chamber, comprising:

a) determining and recording a plurality of positions of a catheter in a live heart chamber using an electromagnetic field source external to the heart chamber;

b) determining a geometry of at least a portion of the live heart chamber from the plurality of determined positions;

c) creating a three-dimensional, anatomical representation of at least a portion of the live heart chamber using the recorded positions of the catheter; and

d) displaying a two-dimensional view of the three-dimensional, anatomical representation on a computer display monitor.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising the step of periodically updating the created representation based upon further acquired physiological data.

8. The method of claim 6, comprising displaying the position of the catheter superimposed on the displayed view of the three-dimensional representation.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising measuring a plurality of electrical potentials using the catheter;

and wherein the three-dimensional, anatomical representation comprises a three-dimensional electrical activity map.

10. A method of representing the geometry of at least a portion of a live human heart chamber, comprising:

a) determining and recording a plurality of three dimensional positions of a catheter in a live heart chamber using an electromagnetic field source external to the heart chamber;

b) creating a three-dimensional geometric representation of at least a portion of the live heart chamber from the plurality of determined, recorded three dimensional catheter positions;

c) measuring the electrical activity of a portion of the live heart chamber; and

d) providing a two-dimensional view of the three-dimensional geometric representation, including a visualization of the electrical activity within the portion of the live heart chamber.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the geometric representation includes a wire grid.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the geometric representation includes a three-dimensional map.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the visualization of the electrical activity includes an iso-potential or isochrone line.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the visualization of the electrical activity includes a color scale.

15. The method of claim 10, comprising superimposing a representation of a catheter on the provided view.