| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080275442 | Systems and Methods for Electrode Contact Assessment - Systems and methods are disclosed for assessing electrode-tissue contact for tissue ablation. An exemplary electrode contact sensing system comprises an electrode | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080275465 | Design of Handle Set for Ablation Catheter with Indicators of Catheter and Tissue Parameters - An electrode coupling output system provides indication to the physician, via electrode guidance instrumentation, concerning the electrical coupling of an electrode, such as an ablative or mapping electrode, with a patient. The output can be provided to the physician via an output device incorporated into the handle set of the electrode catheter. For example, a visual, audio or mechanical output can be provided via the handle set. Additionally or alternatively, the output can be provided to the physician via a navigation system. 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. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080281319 | Assessment of Electrode Coupling For Tissue Ablation - 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. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080288038 | Method for Displaying Catheter Electrode-Tissue Contact in Electro-Anatomic Mapping and Navigation System - 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. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080300589 | Assessment of Electrode Coupling for Tissue Ablation - An electrode catheter ( | 12-04-2008 |
| 20090171235 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPLEX IMPEDANCE COMPENSATION AND FOR DETERMINING TISSUE MORPHOLOGY BASED ON PHASE ANGLE - A compensation circuit has a predetermined, known complex impedance and is located in a handle of a catheter or in a distal end of a cable that connects to the catheter. The compensation circuit is probed with a pilot signal produced by a compensation control that is external to the catheter, by way of an electrical connection through the connecting cable. The compensation control measures the complex impedance, which is the combination of the circuit's known impedance as well as that of the cable. The compensation control then determines the difference between the measured and the known complex impedances. The difference represents that which is attributable to the cable, and is used to compensate or cancel out such cable-related contributions to complex impedance in measurements made over other electrical connections in the same cable. In another aspect, an unknown tissue is identified as one of a plurality of possible tissue types such as regular myocardium, scar and fat based on the measured phase angle of the complex impedance of the unknown tissue. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090171304 | COATED HYPODERMIC NEEDLE - A needle for a medical procedure includes a shaft with an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal section, and a distal section. The distal section has a conductive tip configured to be a first electrode for voltage measurement. The needle further includes a first electrically insulative outer layer over a portion of the outer surface of the shaft. The conductive tip is adapted for insertion through tissue into, for example, a pericardial space of a patient. A system for determining the location of a needle during a medical procedure includes the needle and an anatomical mapping and localization system electrically coupled to the needle and adapted to measure voltage at the conductive tip. A system for determining tissue thickness during a medical procedure includes the needle, an anatomical mapping and localization system electrically coupled to the needle, and an electrocardiograph operatively coupled to the needle and adapted to monitor electrical activity at the conductive tip and at the second electrode. The needle may include a second electrode. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20100228247 | Assessment of electrode coupling of tissue ablation - 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. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100241117 | Assessment of Electrode Coupling for Tissue Ablation - 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. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100274239 | Device and Method for Real-Time Lesion Estimation During Ablation - Disclosed herein are ablation systems and methods for providing feedback on lesion formation in real-time. The methods and systems assess absorptivity of tissue based on a degree of electric coupling or contact between an ablation electrode and the tissue. The absorptivity can then be used, along with other information, including, power levels and activation times, to provide real-time feedback on the lesions being created. Feedback may be provided, for example, in the form of estimated lesion volumes and other lesion characteristics. The methods and systems can provide estimated treatment times to achieve a desired lesion characteristic for a given degree of contact, as well as depth of a lesion being created. The degree of contact may be measured using different techniques, including the phase angle techniques and a coupling index. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100286690 | Assessment of electrode coupling for tissue ablation - 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. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100298823 | Assessment of electrode coupling for tissue ablation - 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. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20110022045 | Ablation electrodes with capacitive sensors for resolving magnitude and direction of forces imparted to a distal portion of a cardiac catheter - A catheter assembly for assessing contact between the catheter assembly and tissue is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment the assembly includes a catheter shaft and a trio of pressure sensitive capacitive members each of whose electrical resistance varies with a pressure vector applied to the catheter assembly. The assembly also includes at least one measurement terminal to permit the measurement of changes in the electrical characteristics of the pressure sensitive capacitive members. The assembly may optionally include a measurement device to measure resistance, impedance and/or other electrical characteristics. The assembly may utilize a reference electrode secured to the patient's tissue, which permits the measurement device to measure changes between the reference electrode and the at least one measurement terminal. Optionally, the assembly may include a conductive outer layer. Also disclosed are sensor assemblies, contact sensor, methods of contact sensing, and methods of manufacturing relating to the use of pressure sensitive capacitors. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110046618 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR TREATING OCCLUDED BLOOD VESSELS AND OTHER BODY CANNULA - A method of treating an occluded blood vessel includes sensing the impedance at a plurality of locations around the circumference of the blood vessel at least two different frequencies to identify vascular occlusive material, and distinguish vascular occlusive material from the vessel wall. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110152712 | Impedance Measurement Tissue Identification in Blood Vessels - A system for radio frequency (RF) wire guidance during RF occlusion canalization including a RF wire configured to travel through a blood vessel, an impedance measure unit configured to measure an electrical impedance between the RF wire and a reference electrode, a RF power source, an activation controller configured to connect the RF power source to the RF wire when the impedance measure unit indicates that the RF wire is contacting an occlusion material, a RF wire steering system; and a controller configured to activate the steering system to maintain the RF wire within the occlusion material based on impedance measured by the impedance measure unit. | 06-23-2011 |
