Assessment of electrode coupling for tissue ablation
First Claim
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1. A medical system comprising:
- a first electrode disposed on a catheter adapted for disposition within an internal organ;
a reference electrode;
an electrical power source at least interconnectable with said first electrode;
a phase detection circuit configured to measure an initial phase angle value and subsequent phase angle values between said first electrode and said reference electrode;
a phase shifter configured to selectively adjust said initial phase angle value between said first electrode and said reference electrode to predetermined phase angle to account for residual phase shift caused by catheter specific conditions wherein, wherein said initial phase angle value is measured while said first electrode is in a blood pool free of tissue contact; and
a phase angle comparator configured to assess coupling between said first electrode and tissue by a comparison of said subsequent phase angle values measured after said initial phase angle value is measured, to said predetermined phase angle.
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Abstract
An electrode catheter and a method for assessing electrode-tissue contact and coupling are disclosed. An exemplary electrode catheter comprises an electrode adapted to apply electrical energy. A measurement circuit is adapted to measure impedance between the electrode and ground as the electrode approaches a target tissue. A processor determines a contact and coupling condition for the target tissue based at least in part on reactance of the impedance measured by the measurement circuit. In another exemplary embodiment, the electrode catheter determines the contact and coupling condition based at least in part on a phase angle of the impedance.
251 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A medical system comprising:
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a first electrode disposed on a catheter adapted for disposition within an internal organ; a reference electrode; an electrical power source at least interconnectable with said first electrode; a phase detection circuit configured to measure an initial phase angle value and subsequent phase angle values between said first electrode and said reference electrode; a phase shifter configured to selectively adjust said initial phase angle value between said first electrode and said reference electrode to predetermined phase angle to account for residual phase shift caused by catheter specific conditions wherein, wherein said initial phase angle value is measured while said first electrode is in a blood pool free of tissue contact; and a phase angle comparator configured to assess coupling between said first electrode and tissue by a comparison of said subsequent phase angle values measured after said initial phase angle value is measured, to said predetermined phase angle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification