US5876336A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Systems and methods for guiding movable electrode elements within multiple-electrode structure
Assignee: EP Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1997-10-21
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Granted: 1999-03-02
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Expires: 2017-10-21
Abstract
Abstract Systems and related methods guide a movable electrode within an array of multiple electrodes located within the body. The systems and methods employ the movable electrode or at least one of the multiple electrodes on the array to generate and then sense electrical or sonic energy in a predetermined fashion to generates an output that locates the movable electrode within the array.
Inventors
- 👤 David K. Swanson
- 👤 Dorin Panescu
- 👤 James G. Whayne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:47
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/06; A61B18/18; A61B18/1815; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/003; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/0016; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00696; A61B2018/0075; A61B2018/00755; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00839; A61B2018/00875; A61B90/00; A61B90/36; A61B90/37; A61B2090/378; A61B2090/3782; A61B2562/00; A61B2562/04; A61B2562/043; A61B5/00; A61B5/68; A61B5/6846; A61B5/6847; A61B5/6852; A61B5/6858; A61B5/72; A61B5/7203; A61B5/7217
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A system for guiding a movable electrode relative to an array of multiple electrodes located within a human or other animal body, the system comprising an array of multiple electrodes, a movable electrode movable relative to the array, an emitting electrode which comprises either the movable electrode or at least one electrode in the array, an electrical energy generating element coupled to the emitting electrode, the electrical energy generating element conditioning the emitting electrode to emit electrical energy, a sensing electrode which comprises either the movable electrode or at least one electrode in the array, a sensing element coupled to the sensing electrode, the sensing element conditioning the sensing electrode to sense electrical energy emitted by the emitting electrode, and a processing element coupled to the sensing element to analyze electrical energy sensed by the sensing electrode and generate, based upon the analysis, an output that locates the movable electrode relative to the array.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
154 words
A system for guiding a movable electrode relative to an array of multiple electrodes located within a human or other animal body, the system comprising an array of multiple electrodes, a movable electrode movable relative to the array, an emitting electrode which comprises either the movable electrode or at least one electrode in the array, an electrical energy generating element coupled to the emitting electrode, the electrical energy generating element conditioning the emitting electrode to emit electrical energy, a sensing electrode which comprises either the movable electrode or at least one electrode in the array, a sensing element coupled to the sensing electrode, the sensing element conditioning the sensing electrode to sense electrical energy emitted by the emitting electrode, and a processing element coupled to the sensing element to analyze electrical energy sensed by the sensing electrode and generate, based upon the analysis, an output that locates the movable electrode relative to the array.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
182 words
A system for ablating tissue within a heart comprising an array of multiple electrodes for contacting tissue within the heart to sense electrical activity in heart tissue and adapted for attachment to an external processing system for analyzing the sensed electrical activity to locate foci appropriate for ablation, an electrode movable relative to the array and adapted for attachment to an external source of ablating energy to emit the ablating energy into tissue, an electrical energy generating element coupled to an emitting electrode, which comprises either the movable electrode or at least one electrode in the array, the electrical energy generating element conditioning the emitting electrode to emit electrical energy, a sensing element coupled to a sensing electrode, which comprises the movable electrode or at least one electrode in the array, the sensing element conditioning the sensing electrode to sense electrical energy emitted by the emitting electrode, and a processing element coupled to the sensing element to analyze electrical energy sensed by the sensing electrode and generate, based upon the analysis, an output that locates the movable electrode relative to the array.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
182 words
A system for ablating tissue within a heart comprising an array of multiple electrodes for contacting tissue within the heart to sense electrical activity in heart tissue and adapted for attachment to an external processing system for analyzing the sensed electrical activity to locate foci appropriate for ablation, an electrode movable relative to the array and adapted for attachment to an external source of ablating energy to emit the ablating energy into tissue, an electrical energy generating element coupled to an emitting electrode, which comprises either the movable electrode or at least one electrode in the array, the electrical energy generating element conditioning the emitting electrode to emit electrical energy, a sensing element coupled to a sensing electrode, which comprises the movable electrode or at least one electrode in the array, the sensing element conditioning the sensing electrode to sense electrical energy emitted by the emitting electrode, and a processing element coupled to the sensing element to analyze electrical energy sensed by the sensing electrode and generate, based upon the analysis, an output that locates the movable electrode relative to the array.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the electrical energy generating element conditions the emitting electrode to generate an electric field, wherein the sensing element senses with the sensing electrode electric potentials in the electric field, and wherein the processing element generates the output by analyzing spatial variations in the electrical potentials in the electric field.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
A system according to claim 3 wherein the sensing element senses with the sensing electrode phases of the electrical potentials in the electric field, and wherein the processing element generates the output by analyzing spacial variations of the phases sensed in the electric field relative to the phase of the electrical energy generated by the electrical energy generating element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system according to claim 3 wherein the sensing element senses with the sensing electrode amplitudes of the electrical potentials in the electric field, and wherein the processing element generates the output by analyzing spatial variation in the amplitudes in the electric field.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
A system according to claim 5 wherein the sensing element senses with the sensing electrode phases of the electrical potentials in the electric field, and wherein the processing element generates the output by analyzing spacial variations of the phases sensed in the electric field relative to the phase of the electrical energy generated by the electrical energy generating element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the electrical energy generating element emits pulses of electrical energy through the emitting electrode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the electrical energy generating element emits electrical energy in a prescribed wave form through the emitting electrode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 1 or 2 and further including a display element coupled to the processing element to present the output in a real time format that continuously locates the moveable electrode relative to the array.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for ablating tissue within a heart comprising the steps of locating an array of multiple electrodes in contact with tissue within the heart to sense electrical activity in heart tissue to locate foci appropriate for ablation, locating movable ablation electrode relative to the array, conditioning an emitting electrode comprising either the ablation electrode or at least one of the electrodes an the array to emit electrical energy, sensing the emitted electrical energy with a sensing electrode comprising either the ablation electrode or at least one of the electrodes in the array, and processing the sensed electrical energy to generate an output locating the ablation electrode relative to the array.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for ablating tissue within a heart comprising the steps of locating an array of multiple electrodes in contact with tissue within the heart to sense electrical activity in heart tissue to locate foci appropriate for ablation, locating movable ablation electrode relative to the array, conditioning an emitting electrode comprising either the ablation electrode or at least one of the electrodes an the array to emit electrical energy, sensing the emitted electrical energy with a sensing electrode comprising either the ablation electrode or at least one of the electrodes in the array, and processing the sensed electrical energy to generate an output locating the ablation electrode relative to the array.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for ablating tissue within a heart comprising the steps of (a) locating an array of multiple electrodes in contact with tissue within the heart to sense electrical activity in heart tissue to locate foci appropriate for ablation, (b) locating a movable ablation electrode relative to the array, (c) conditioning an emitting electrode comprising either the ablation electrode or at least one of the electrodes in the array to emit electrical energy, (d) sensing the emitted electrical energy with a sensing electrode comprising either the ablation electrode or at least one of the electrodes in the array, and (e) processing the sensed electrical energy to generate an output locating the ablation electrode relative to the array, and (f) moving the ablation electrode relative to the array while repeating steps (c), (d), and (e).
Claim 15
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for ablating tissue within a heart comprising the steps of (a) locating an array of multiple electrodes in contact with tissue within the heart to sense electrical activity in heart tissue to locate foci appropriate for ablation, (b) locating a movable ablation electrode relative to the array, (c) conditioning an emitting electrode comprising either the ablation electrode or at least one of the electrodes in the array to emit electrical energy, (d) sensing the emitted electrical energy with a sensing electrode comprising either the ablation electrode or at least one of the electrodes in the array, and (e) processing the sensed electrical energy to generate an output locating the ablation electrode relative to the array, and (f) moving the ablation electrode relative to the array while repeating steps (c), (d), and (e).
Claim 16
Independent Claim
173 words
A system for guiding a movable catheter body within an array of multiple electrode located within a human or other animal body, the system comprising an array of multiple electrodes, a movable catheter body movable relative to the array, the movable catheter body carrying at least one electrode, an emitting electrode which comprises either an electrode on the movable catheter body or at least one electrode in the array, an electrical energy generating element coupled to the emitting electrode, the electrical energy generating element conditioning the emitting electrode to emit electrical energy, a sensing electrode which comprises either an electrode on the movable catheter body or at least one electrode in the array, a sensing element coupled to the sensing electrode, the sensing element conditioning the sensing electrode to sense electrical energy emitted by the emitting electrode, and a processing element coupled to the sensing element to analyze electrical energy sensed by the sensing electrode and generate, based upon the analysis, an output that locates the movable catheter body relative to the array.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
173 words
A system for guiding a movable catheter body within an array of multiple electrode located within a human or other animal body, the system comprising an array of multiple electrodes, a movable catheter body movable relative to the array, the movable catheter body carrying at least one electrode, an emitting electrode which comprises either an electrode on the movable catheter body or at least one electrode in the array, an electrical energy generating element coupled to the emitting electrode, the electrical energy generating element conditioning the emitting electrode to emit electrical energy, a sensing electrode which comprises either an electrode on the movable catheter body or at least one electrode in the array, a sensing element coupled to the sensing electrode, the sensing element conditioning the sensing electrode to sense electrical energy emitted by the emitting electrode, and a processing element coupled to the sensing element to analyze electrical energy sensed by the sensing electrode and generate, based upon the analysis, an output that locates the movable catheter body relative to the array.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
201 words
A system for ablating tissue within a heart comprising an array of multiple electrodes for contacting tissue within the heart to sense electrical activity in heart tissue and adapted for attachment to an external processing system for analyzing the sensed electrical activity to locate foci appropriate for ablation, a movable catheter body movable relative to the array, the movable catheter body carrying at least one electrode adapted for attachment to an external source of ablating energy to emit the ablating energy into tissue, an electrical energy generating element coupled to an emitting electrode, which comprises either an electrode on the movable catheter body or at least one electrode in the array, the electrical energy generating element conditioning the emitting electrode to emit electrical energy, a sensing element coupled to a sensing electrode, which comprises an electrode on the movable catheter body or at least one electrode in the array, the sensing element conditioning the sensing electrode to sense electrical energy emitted by the emitting electrode, and a processing element coupled to the sensing element to analyze electrical energy sensed by the sensing electrode and generate, based upon the analysis, an output that locates the movable catheter body relative to the array.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
201 words
A system for ablating tissue within a heart comprising an array of multiple electrodes for contacting tissue within the heart to sense electrical activity in heart tissue and adapted for attachment to an external processing system for analyzing the sensed electrical activity to locate foci appropriate for ablation, a movable catheter body movable relative to the array, the movable catheter body carrying at least one electrode adapted for attachment to an external source of ablating energy to emit the ablating energy into tissue, an electrical energy generating element coupled to an emitting electrode, which comprises either an electrode on the movable catheter body or at least one electrode in the array, the electrical energy generating element conditioning the emitting electrode to emit electrical energy, a sensing element coupled to a sensing electrode, which comprises an electrode on the movable catheter body or at least one electrode in the array, the sensing element conditioning the sensing electrode to sense electrical energy emitted by the emitting electrode, and a processing element coupled to the sensing element to analyze electrical energy sensed by the sensing electrode and generate, based upon the analysis, an output that locates the movable catheter body relative to the array.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
A system according to claim 12 or 13 wherein the electrical energy generating element conditions the emitting electrode to generate an electric field, wherein the sensing element senses with the sensing electrode electric potentials in the electric field, and wherein the processing element generates the output by analyzing spatial variations in the electrical potentials in the electric field.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
59 words
A system according to claim 14 wherein the sensing element senses with the sensing electrode phases of the electrical potentials in the electric field, and wherein the processing element generates the output by analyzing spacial variations of the phases sensed in the electric field relative to the phase of the electrical energy generated by the electrical energy generating element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system according to claim 14 wherein the sensing element senses with the sensing electrode amplitudes of the electrical potentials in the electric field, and wherein the processing element generates the output by analyzing spacial variations in the amplitudes in the electric field.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
59 words
A system according to claim 16 wherein the sensing element senses with the sensing electrode phases of the electrical potentials in the electric field, and wherein the processing element generates the output by analyzing spacial variations of the phases sensed in the electric field relative to the phase of the electrical energy generated by the electrical energy generating element.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 12 or 13 wherein the electrical energy generating element emits pulses of electrical energy through the emitting electrode.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 12 or 13 where in the electrical energy generating element emits electrical energy in a prescribed wave form through the emitting electrode.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system according to claim 12 or 13 and further including a display element coupled to the processing element to present the output in a real time format that continuously locates the moveable catheter body relative to the array.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for ablating tissue within a heart comprising the steps of locating an array of multiple electrodes in contact with tissue within the heart to sense electrical activity in heart tissue to locate foci appropriate for ablation, locating a movable catheter body carrying at least one ablation electrode relative to the array, conditioning an emitting electrode comprising either an ablation electrode on the movable catheter body or at least one of the electrodes in the array to emit electrical energy, sensing the emitted electrical energy with a sensing electrode comprising either an ablation electrode on the movable catheter body or at least one of the electrodes in the array, and processing the sensed electrical energy to generate an output locating the movable catheter body relative to the array.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for ablating tissue within a heart comprising the steps of locating an array of multiple electrodes in contact with tissue within the heart to sense electrical activity in heart tissue to locate foci appropriate for ablation, locating a movable catheter body carrying at least one ablation electrode relative to the array, conditioning an emitting electrode comprising either an ablation electrode on the movable catheter body or at least one of the electrodes in the array to emit electrical energy, sensing the emitted electrical energy with a sensing electrode comprising either an ablation electrode on the movable catheter body or at least one of the electrodes in the array, and processing the sensed electrical energy to generate an output locating the movable catheter body relative to the array.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for ablating tissue within a heart comprising the steps of (a) locating an array of multiple electrodes in contact with tissue within the heart to sense electrical activity in heart tissue to locate foci appropriate for ablation, (b) locating a movable catheter body carrying at least one ablation electrode relative to the array, (c) conditioning an emitting electrode comprising either an ablation electrode on the movable catheter body or at least one of the electrodes in the array to emit electrical energy, (d) sensing the emitted electrical energy with a sensing electrode comprising either an ablation electrode on the movable catheter body or at least one of the electrodes in the array, and (e) processing the sensed electrical energy to generate an output locating the movable catheter body relative to the array, and (f) moving the movable catheter body relative to the array while repeating steps (c), (d), and (e).
Claim 30
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for ablating tissue within a heart comprising the steps of (a) locating an array of multiple electrodes in contact with tissue within the heart to sense electrical activity in heart tissue to locate foci appropriate for ablation, (b) locating a movable catheter body carrying at least one ablation electrode relative to the array, (c) conditioning an emitting electrode comprising either an ablation electrode on the movable catheter body or at least one of the electrodes in the array to emit electrical energy, (d) sensing the emitted electrical energy with a sensing electrode comprising either an ablation electrode on the movable catheter body or at least one of the electrodes in the array, and (e) processing the sensed electrical energy to generate an output locating the movable catheter body relative to the array, and (f) moving the movable catheter body relative to the array while repeating steps (c), (d), and (e).
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