ASSESSMENT OF ELECTRODE COUPLING FOR TISSUE ABLATION
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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.
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41 Claims
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1-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. A medical system comprising
a first electrical power source configured to provide a first electrical signal to an ablation catheter having an ablation electrode; - and
a first coupling assessment module, wherein said first coupling assessment module is configured to assess a first coupling between the ablation catheter and a target tissue targeted by said ablation electrode, and wherein said first coupling assessment module uses said first electrical signal to assess said first coupling; a second electrical power source configured to provide a second electrical signal to said ablation catheter; and a second coupling assessment module, wherein said second coupling assessment module is configured to assess a second coupling between the ablation catheter and the target tissue, and wherein said second coupling assessment module uses said second electrical signal to assess said second coupling. - View Dependent Claims (22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A medical system, comprising:
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guidance instrumentation for guiding an ablation electrode of an electrode catheter relative to target tissue of a patient; a first coupling assessment system configured to assess a first coupling condition between the ablation electrode and the target tissue and generate a first coupling output; a second coupling assessment system configured to assess a second coupling condition between the ablation electrode and the target tissue and generate a second coupling output; a processor configured to process said first and second coupling outputs and categorize a level of coupling between the ablation electrode and the target tissue as being one of insufficient for lesion formation, sufficient for lesion formation and elevated for lesion formation; and an output associated with said guidance instrumentation for outputting said level of coupling between said ablation electrode and the target tissue. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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- 33. The system of claim 33, wherein said first electrode coupling assessment system is configured to assess an electrical coupling condition indicative of electrical energy passing between the ablation electrode and the target tissue.
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36. A method for performing a medical procedure, comprising:
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providing a first and second electrical signals to an ablation electrode of an ablation catheter positioned relative to a target tissue; using a first coupling assessment module, generating an first output indicative of a first coupling condition between the ablation electrode of the ablation catheter and the target tissue based on the first electrical signal; using a second coupling assessment module, generating a second output indicative of a second coupling condition between the ablation electrode of the ablation catheter and the target tissue based on the second electrical signal; processing the first and second outputs to identify a level of coupling between the ablation electrode of the ablation catheter and the target tissue; and outputting an indication of the level of coupling between the ablation electrode and the target tissue. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification