US5598848A
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Systems and methods for positioning multiple electrode structures in electrical contact with the myocardium
Assignee: EP Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1994-03-31
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Granted: 1997-02-04
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Expires: 2014-03-31
Abstract
Abstract Systems and methods evaluate electrical contact between the myocardium and one or more electrodes inside the heart. The systems and methods electrically sense electrical contact between the myocardium and electrodes and generate unitary contact-indicating outputs indicating the presence or absence of electrical contact between the myocardium and each particular electrode. The systems and methods also correlate the electrode-specific unitary outputs to generate a compound contact-indicating output. The compound output represents the aggregate of the electrical contact between the myocardium and multiple electrodes on a multiple electrode array.
Inventors
- 👤 David K. Swanson
- 👤 Dorin Panescu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:39
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/68; A61B5/6846; A61B5/6885; A61B5/24; A61B5/25; A61B5/276; A61B5/279; A61B5/28; A61B5/283; A61B5/287; A61B5/30; A61B5/304; A61B5/307; A61B5/308; A61B5/6847; A61B5/6852; A61B5/6858; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B2018/1465; A61B90/00; A61B90/06; A61B2090/064; A61B2090/065; A61B2562/00; A61B2562/04; A61B2562/043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A system for evaluating electrical contact between the myocardium and a multiple electrode array inside the heart, the multiple electrode array comprising first and second circumferentially spaced splines for contacting circumferentially spaced endocardial regions, each spline supporting at least one electrode, the system comprising first means for electrically sensing electrical contact between at least one electrode on the first spline and the myocardium and for generating a first unitary contact-indicating output indicating the presence or absence of the electrical contact, and second means, operable independently of the first means, for electrically sensing electrical contact between at least one electrode on the second spline and the myocardium and for generating a second unitary contact-indicating output indicating the presence or absence of the electrical contact, at least one of the first and second means being operable to sense electrical contact by emitting from the respective electrode an electrical signal that activates the myocardium.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
151 words
A system for evaluating electrical contact between the myocardium and a multiple electrode array inside the heart, the multiple electrode array comprising first and second circumferentially spaced splines for contacting circumferentially spaced endocardial regions, each spline supporting at least one electrode, the system comprising first means for electrically sensing electrical contact between at least one electrode on the first spline and the myocardium and for generating a first unitary contact-indicating output indicating the presence or absence of the electrical contact, and second means, operable independently of the first means, for electrically sensing electrical contact between at least one electrode on the second spline and the myocardium and for generating a second unitary contact-indicating output indicating the presence or absence of the electrical contact, at least one of the first and second means being operable to sense electrical contact by emitting from the respective electrode an electrical signal that activates the myocardium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system according to claim 1 and further including third means for correlating the first and second unitary contact-indicating outputs to generate a compound contact-indicating output indicating the aggregate electrical contact between the myocardium and the multiple electrode array.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the one first or second means emits a pacing signal from the respective electrode and senses electrical contact by sensing electrograms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 1 and further including means for conditioning at least one electrode on the first and second splines to emit a therapeutic signal into the myocardium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 1 and further including means for conditioning at least one electrode on the first and second splines to obtain a diagnostic signal from the myocardium.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
138 words
A system for evaluating electrical contact between the myocardium and a multiple electrode array within the heart, the multiple electrode array comprising first and second circumferentially spaced splines for contacting circumferentially spaced endocardial regions, each spline supporting at least one electrode, the system comprising an energy generating element for electrical connection to at least one electrode on each support spline to emit electrical energy into the myocardium through the electrodes, and a signal acquisition element adapted to be electrically coupled to the emitting electrodes for detecting, independently for each emitting electrode, at least one acquired signal resulting from the emission of electrical energy by the respective electrode, the acquired signal varying with electrical contact between the respective emitting electrode and the myocardium to differentiate between the presence of the electrical contact and the absence of the electrical contact.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
138 words
A system for evaluating electrical contact between the myocardium and a multiple electrode array within the heart, the multiple electrode array comprising first and second circumferentially spaced splines for contacting circumferentially spaced endocardial regions, each spline supporting at least one electrode, the system comprising an energy generating element for electrical connection to at least one electrode on each support spline to emit electrical energy into the myocardium through the electrodes, and a signal acquisition element adapted to be electrically coupled to the emitting electrodes for detecting, independently for each emitting electrode, at least one acquired signal resulting from the emission of electrical energy by the respective electrode, the acquired signal varying with electrical contact between the respective emitting electrode and the myocardium to differentiate between the presence of the electrical contact and the absence of the electrical contact.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 6 and further including means for comparing the acquired signal for each emitting electrode with an expected signal to determine the presence or absence of the electrical contact.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system according to claim 6 and further including a processing element electrically coupled to the signal acquisition element that, independently for each emitting electrode, compares the acquired signal for each emitting electrode with an expected signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system according to claim 8 and further including an output element for generating, independently for each emitting electrode, a unitary contact-indicating output for the respective emitting electrode based upon the comparison, the unitary contact-indicating output indicating the presence or absence of the electrical contact.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system according to claim 9 wherein the output element generates, independently for each emitting electrode, a unitary contact-confirm output for the respective electrode if the acquired signal for the respective electrode compares with the expected signal and a unitary contact-contrary output for the respective electrode if the acquired signal does not compare with the expected signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 9 wherein the processing element correlates the independent unitary contact-indicating output for each emitting electrode to derive a compound contact-indicating output indicating the aggregate of the electrical contact for the multiple electrode array.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 6 wherein the energy generating element generates electrical energy that does not activate the myocardium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 12 wherein the generated electrical energy is an electric current, and wherein the signal acquisition element detects tissue impedance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 6 wherein the energy generating element generates electrical energy that activates the myocardium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 14 wherein the generated electrical energy is a pacing signal, and wherein the signal acquisition element detects electrograms.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 6 and further including means for conditioning at least one electrode on the first and second support splines to emit a therapeutic signal into the myocardium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 6 and further including means for conditioning at least one electrode on the first and second support splines to obtain a diagnostic signal from the myocardium.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
148 words
A system for evaluating electrical contact between the myocardium and an electrode inside the heart comprising an energy generating element for electrical connection to the electrode to emit electrical energy into the myocardium through the electrode that activates the myocardium, a signal acquisition element adapted to be electrically coupled to the electrode for detecting at least one acquired signal resulting from the emission of electrical energy by the electrode, the acquired signal varying with electrical contact between the electrode and the myocardium to differentiate between electrical contact and the absence of electrical contact, a processing element electrically coupled to the signal acquisition element to compare the acquired signal for the electrode with an expected signal, and an output element for generating a contact-indicating output for the electrode based upon the comparison, the contact-indicating output indicating the presence or absence of electrical contact between the electrode and the myocardium.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
148 words
A system for evaluating electrical contact between the myocardium and an electrode inside the heart comprising an energy generating element for electrical connection to the electrode to emit electrical energy into the myocardium through the electrode that activates the myocardium, a signal acquisition element adapted to be electrically coupled to the electrode for detecting at least one acquired signal resulting from the emission of electrical energy by the electrode, the acquired signal varying with electrical contact between the electrode and the myocardium to differentiate between electrical contact and the absence of electrical contact, a processing element electrically coupled to the signal acquisition element to compare the acquired signal for the electrode with an expected signal, and an output element for generating a contact-indicating output for the electrode based upon the comparison, the contact-indicating output indicating the presence or absence of electrical contact between the electrode and the myocardium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system according to claim 18 wherein the acquired signal is an electrogram.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
157 words
A system for evaluating electrical contact between the myocardium and multiple electrodes inside the heart comprising an energy generating element for electrical connection to the electrodes to emit electrical energy into the myocardium in a predetermined sequence through at least two electrodes, a signal acquisition element adapted to be electrically coupled to the electrodes for detecting, independently for each emitting electrode, at least one acquired signal resulting from the emission of electrical energy by the respective electrode, the acquired signal varying with electrical contact between the respective electrode and the myocardium to differentiate between the presence of the electrical contact and the absence of the electrical contact, a processing element electrically coupled to the signal acquisition element that compares, independently for each emitting electrode, the acquired signals for the respective electrode with an expected signal, and an output element for generating, independently for each emitting electrode, a contact-indicating output for the respective electrode based upon the comparison.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
157 words
A system for evaluating electrical contact between the myocardium and multiple electrodes inside the heart comprising an energy generating element for electrical connection to the electrodes to emit electrical energy into the myocardium in a predetermined sequence through at least two electrodes, a signal acquisition element adapted to be electrically coupled to the electrodes for detecting, independently for each emitting electrode, at least one acquired signal resulting from the emission of electrical energy by the respective electrode, the acquired signal varying with electrical contact between the respective electrode and the myocardium to differentiate between the presence of the electrical contact and the absence of the electrical contact, a processing element electrically coupled to the signal acquisition element that compares, independently for each emitting electrode, the acquired signals for the respective electrode with an expected signal, and an output element for generating, independently for each emitting electrode, a contact-indicating output for the respective electrode based upon the comparison.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 20 wherein the energy generating element generates electrical energy that activates the myocardium.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system according to claim 21 wherein the acquired signal is an electrogram.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 20 wherein the energy generating element generates electrical energy that does not activate the myocardium.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 23 wherein the acquired signal is a tissue impedance measurement.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
163 words
A method for evaluating electrical contact between the myocardium and a multiple electrode array inside the heart comprising the steps of deploying a multiple electrode array into a chamber of the heart, the array comprising first and second circumferentially spaced splines for contacting circumferentially spaced endocardial regions, each spline supporting at least one electrode, electrically sensing electrical contact between at least one electrode on the first spline and the myocardium in a first endocardial region to generate a first unitary contact-indicating output indicating the presence or absence of the electrical contact in the first region, and electrically sensing electrical contact between at least one electrode on the second spline and the myocardium in a second endocardial region circumferentially spaced from the first region to generate a second unitary contact-indicating output indicating the presence or absence of the electrical contact in the second region, wherein, in electrically sensing electrical contact, the respective electrode is caused to emit an electrical signal that activates the myocardium.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
163 words
A method for evaluating electrical contact between the myocardium and a multiple electrode array inside the heart comprising the steps of deploying a multiple electrode array into a chamber of the heart, the array comprising first and second circumferentially spaced splines for contacting circumferentially spaced endocardial regions, each spline supporting at least one electrode, electrically sensing electrical contact between at least one electrode on the first spline and the myocardium in a first endocardial region to generate a first unitary contact-indicating output indicating the presence or absence of the electrical contact in the first region, and electrically sensing electrical contact between at least one electrode on the second spline and the myocardium in a second endocardial region circumferentially spaced from the first region to generate a second unitary contact-indicating output indicating the presence or absence of the electrical contact in the second region, wherein, in electrically sensing electrical contact, the respective electrode is caused to emit an electrical signal that activates the myocardium.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 25 and further including the step of correlating the first and second unitary contact-indicating outputs to generate a compound contact-indicating output indicating the aggregate of the electrical contact between the myocardium and the multiple electrode array.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 25 wherein, in electrically sensing electrical contact, electrograms are sensed.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
82 words
A method according to claim 25 wherein the steps of electrically sensing electrical contact comprises the steps of emitting electrical energy into the myocardium independently through the electrodes, and detecting, independently for each emitting electrode, at least one acquired signal resulting from the emission of electrical energy by the respective electrode, the acquired signal varying with electrical contact between the respective emitting electrode and the myocardium to differentiate between the presence of the electrical contact and the absence of the electrical contact.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 28 wherein the steps of generating the first and second unitary contact-indicating outputs include comparing the acquired signal for each emitting electrode with an expected signal to determine the presence or absence of the electrical contact.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method according to claim 29 wherein the steps of generating the first and second unitary contact-indicating outputs include generating, independently for each emitting electrode, a unitary contact-confirm output for the respective electrode if the acquired signal for the respective electrode compares with the expected signal and a unitary contact-contrary output for the respective electrode if the acquired signal does not compare with the expected signal.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 25 and further including the step of conditioning at least one electrode on the first and second support splines to emit a therapeutic signal into the myocardium.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 25 and further including the step of conditioning at least one electrode on the first and second support splines to obtain a diagnostic signal from the myocardium.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-02-04 | 2000-08-05 | 2001-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-02-04 | 2004-08-05 | 2005-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-02-04 | 2008-08-05 | 2009-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |