Method for displaying catheter electrode-tissue contact in electro-anatomic mapping and navigation system
First Claim
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1. A method for use in operating an ablation electrode catheter, the method comprising the steps of:
- monitoring, via a navigation system, a position of an ablation electrode of the ablation electrode catheter during an ablation procedure;
operating an electrical power system to provide electrical signals to said ablation electrode;
first operating a coupling assessment system to evaluate an initial level of an electrical coupling condition between said ablation electrode and a tissue, said coupling assessment system being operative to compare a contact sensing signal measured between said ablation electrode and a second electrode at least partially through the tissue to distinguish between multiple predetermined ranges of said electrical coupling condition including at least a range of insufficient electrical coupling for said ablation procedure and a range of sufficient electrical coupling for said ablation procedure;
upon identifying said initial level of said electrical coupling condition being within said range of sufficient electrical coupling for said ablation procedure, providing an ablation power signal to the ablation electrode;
second operating said coupling assessment system, subsequent to application of said ablation power signal to the ablation electrode, to identify a change in said initial level of said electrical coupling condition; and
providing an output, via said navigation system, indicating said change in said initial level of said electrical coupling condition.
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Abstract
An electrode coupling output system associated with an electrode catheter that provides indication to the physician via the navigation system, concerning the electrical coupling of an electrode, such as an ablative or mapping electrode, with a patient. The indication may be provided by changing the color or other display characteristics of the electrode on the navigation system display or by way of providing a waveform indicating the electrode coupling. In this manner, electrode coupling information is provided to a physician in a manner that minimizes physician distraction.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for use in operating an ablation electrode catheter, the method comprising the steps of:
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monitoring, via a navigation system, a position of an ablation electrode of the ablation electrode catheter during an ablation procedure; operating an electrical power system to provide electrical signals to said ablation electrode; first operating a coupling assessment system to evaluate an initial level of an electrical coupling condition between said ablation electrode and a tissue, said coupling assessment system being operative to compare a contact sensing signal measured between said ablation electrode and a second electrode at least partially through the tissue to distinguish between multiple predetermined ranges of said electrical coupling condition including at least a range of insufficient electrical coupling for said ablation procedure and a range of sufficient electrical coupling for said ablation procedure; upon identifying said initial level of said electrical coupling condition being within said range of sufficient electrical coupling for said ablation procedure, providing an ablation power signal to the ablation electrode; second operating said coupling assessment system, subsequent to application of said ablation power signal to the ablation electrode, to identify a change in said initial level of said electrical coupling condition; and providing an output, via said navigation system, indicating said change in said initial level of said electrical coupling condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for use in operating an ablation electrode catheter, the apparatus comprising:
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an input operative to receiving contact sensing signals indicative of levels of an electrical coupling condition between a first ablation electrode of an electrode catheter and a tissue, wherein each said contact sensing signal is measured between the first ablation electrode and a second electrode; a processor operative to; process a first contact sensing signal to determine an initial level of said electrical coupling condition between the first ablation electrode and the tissue, wherein said processor is operative to compare said first contact sensing signal with multiple predetermined ranges of said electrical coupling condition between said first electrode and the tissue, wherein said multiple predetermined ranges include at least a range of insufficient coupling for a procedure and a range of sufficient coupling for the procedure; and process a second contact sensing signal measured between the first ablation electrode and the second electrode and at least partially through the tissue, subsequent to application of ablation energy to the first ablation electrode, to identify a change in said initial level of said electrical coupling condition; and an output interface operative to provide an output to a navigation system to indicate said change in said initial level of said electrical coupling condition. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An electrode catheter system comprising:
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a first electrode disposed on a catheter; a second electrode; an electrical power system configured to provide contact sensing signals and ablation power to said first electrode; a navigation system for use in monitoring a position of said electrode during a medical procedure; and a processor operative to; process at least first and second contact sensing signals measured between said first electrode and said second electrode and at least partially through a tissue to determine at least an initial level and a subsequent level of an electrical coupling condition between the first electrode and the tissue, wherein said processor is operative to compare at least said first contact sensing signal with multiple predetermined ranges of said electrical coupling condition between said first electrode and the tissue, wherein said multiple predetermined ranges include at least a range of insufficient coupling for a procedure and a range of sufficient coupling for the procedure; and provide information associated with said initial and subsequent levels of said contact coupling condition to said navigation system; wherein, said navigation system provides an output indicative of a change between said initial level of said electrical coupling condition and said subsequent level of said electrical coupling condition. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification