Electrophysiology mapping and visualization system
First Claim
1. A system for use in a body lumen, the body lumen containing blood, the system comprising:
- a catheter having a fluid lumen defined therethrough;
an imaging assembly having a barrier supported by the catheter, the barrier being reconfigurable from a low-profile shape to an expanded deployment shape projecting distally from a distal end of the catheter and defining an open area which is in fluid communication with the fluid lumen and with an environment external to the barrier through an opening defined by the barrier;
an imaging element positioned within or along the barrier such that a tissue surface region adjacent to the open area is able to be visualized through the open area via the imaging element, where the imaging assembly is configured to acquire a tissue surface image of the tissue surface region while at least a portion of the blood is disposed in the body lumen and while the open area remains in fluid communication through the opening with the environment;
at least one sensor positioned along a distal portion of the barrier and configured to detect an electrical activity of the tissue surface when the barrier is in the expanded deployment shape; and
a processor in electrical communication with the imaging assembly and the at least one sensor so as to receive the detected electrical activity and tissue surface image, the processor configured to map the detected electrical activity and tissue surface image together.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Electrophysiology mapping and visualization systems are described herein where such devices may be used to visualize tissue regions as well as map the electrophysiological activity of the tissue. Such a system may include a deployment catheter and an attached hood deployable into an expanded configuration. In use, the imaging hood is placed against or adjacent to a region of tissue to be imaged in a body lumen that is normally filled with an opaque bodily fluid such as blood. A translucent or transparent fluid, such as saline, can be pumped into the imaging hood until the fluid displaces any blood, thereby leaving a clear region of tissue to be imaged via an imaging element in the deployment catheter. A position of the catheter and/or hood may be tracked and the hood may also be used to detect the electrophysiological activity of the visualized tissue for mapping.
551 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A system for use in a body lumen, the body lumen containing blood, the system comprising:
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a catheter having a fluid lumen defined therethrough; an imaging assembly having a barrier supported by the catheter, the barrier being reconfigurable from a low-profile shape to an expanded deployment shape projecting distally from a distal end of the catheter and defining an open area which is in fluid communication with the fluid lumen and with an environment external to the barrier through an opening defined by the barrier; an imaging element positioned within or along the barrier such that a tissue surface region adjacent to the open area is able to be visualized through the open area via the imaging element, where the imaging assembly is configured to acquire a tissue surface image of the tissue surface region while at least a portion of the blood is disposed in the body lumen and while the open area remains in fluid communication through the opening with the environment; at least one sensor positioned along a distal portion of the barrier and configured to detect an electrical activity of the tissue surface when the barrier is in the expanded deployment shape; and a processor in electrical communication with the imaging assembly and the at least one sensor so as to receive the detected electrical activity and tissue surface image, the processor configured to map the detected electrical activity and tissue surface image together. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for use in a body lumen, the system comprising:
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positioning a barrier projecting distally from a catheter within the body lumen, the barrier having a low-profile delivery configuration and an expanded deployment configuration where the barrier defines an open area; introducing a transparent fluid into the open area via a fluid lumen defined through the catheter until blood is displaced from the open area and flows into an environment external to the barrier; acquiring a tissue surface image of a tissue surface region of the body lumen through the transparent fluid within the open area by viewing the tissue surface region through the open area via an imaging element positioned within or adjacent to the barrier while blood is disposed in the body lumen external to the barrier and while the open area remains in fluid communication with the environment; detecting an electrical activity of the tissue surface region via at least one sensor positioned along a distal portion of the barrier; mapping the detected electrical activity and tissue surface image; and providing a diagnosis or treatment in response to the mapped detected electrical activity and tissue surface image.
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25. A method of sensing a tissue region within a body lumen, comprising:
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positioning an open area of a barrier projecting distally from a catheter against or adjacent to the tissue region to be sensed, the barrier having a low-profile delivery configuration and an expanded deployment configuration where the barrier defines an open area; displacing an opaque fluid from the open area and into an environment external to the open area through an opening defined by the barrier, where the opaque fluid is displaced with a transparent fluid introduced via a fluid lumen defined through the catheter; visualizing the tissue region adjacent to the open area through the transparent fluid by viewing the tissue region through the open area via an imaging element positioned within or adjacent to the barrier while the open area remains in fluid communication through the opening with the environment; and detecting an electrical activity of the tissue region against or adjacent to the open area via at least one sensor positioned along a distal portion of the barrier. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification