US5954665A — Cardiac ablation catheter using correlation measu…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 82 words

A method for assessing the effectiveness of treatment of abnormal conduction paths in the heart of a subject, comprising: positioning a probe at a treatment site in the heart; sensing respective first and second electrical signals, using the probe, at first and second points in the endocardium in a vicinity of the site; and determining a correlation measure of the first and second signals sensed by the probe, so as to detect an abnormal conduction path in the vicinity of the site.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 82 words

A method for assessing the effectiveness of treatment of abnormal conduction paths in the heart of a subject, comprising: positioning a probe at a treatment site in the heart; sensing respective first and second electrical signals, using the probe, at first and second points in the endocardium in a vicinity of the site; and determining a correlation measure of the first and second signals sensed by the probe, so as to detect an abnormal conduction path in the vicinity of the site.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method according to claim 1, wherein determining the correlation measure comprises performing a time-domain correlation computation.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method according to claim 1, wherein determining the correlation measure comprises computing a phase shift to give a correlation value.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method according to claim 1, wherein determining the correlation measure comprises computing frequency spectra of the first and second signals.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method according to claim 1, wherein sensing the electrical signals comprises receiving bipolar electrogram signals.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 19 words

A method according to any of the preceding claims, and comprising interrupting conduction at the site using the probe.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method according to claim 6, wherein sensing the electrical signals comprises sensing respective first and second signals before interrupting the conduction.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method according to claim 6, wherein sensing the electrical signals comprises sensing respective first and second signals after interrupting the conduction.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 57 words

A method according to claim 6, wherein sensing the electrical signals comprises sensing respective first and second pre-interruption signals before interrupting the conduction and sensing respective first and second post-interruption signals after interrupting the conduction, and comprising comparing the correlation measure of the first and second pre-interruption signals with that of the first and second post-interruption signals.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 53 words

A method according to claim 9, wherein comparing the correlation measure comprises: finding a first correlation measure using the first and second pre-interruption signals; finding a second correlation measure using the first and second post-interruption signals; and calculating a difference of the first and second correlation measures to determine effectiveness of the treatment.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method according to claim 6, wherein interrupting conduction comprises transferring energy between the probe and the site.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method according to claim 11, wherein transferring energy between the probe and the site comprises ablating the site.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method according to claim 12, wherein ablating the site comprises ablating a generally linear area in the vicinity of the site.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method according to claim 12, wherein ablating the site comprises ablating an area having a complex shape in the vicinity of the site.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method according to claim 11, wherein transferring energy between the probe and the site comprises cooling the site.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method according to claim 15, and comprising determining the effect of cooling the site on the correlation of the signals and ablating the site responsive to the effect.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 87 words

A method for mapping electrical activity in the heart of a subject, comprising: positioning a probe at a plurality of sites in the heart; sensing respective first and second electrical signals, using the probe, at first and second points in the endocardium in the respective vicinity of each of the plurality of sites; processing the signals sensed by the probe to determine a correlation measure of the respective first and second signals at each of the plurality of sites; and producing a map of the correlation measures.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 87 words

A method for mapping electrical activity in the heart of a subject, comprising: positioning a probe at a plurality of sites in the heart; sensing respective first and second electrical signals, using the probe, at first and second points in the endocardium in the respective vicinity of each of the plurality of sites; processing the signals sensed by the probe to determine a correlation measure of the respective first and second signals at each of the plurality of sites; and producing a map of the correlation measures.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method according to claim 17, wherein producing the map comprises producing a map showing the location of an abnormal conduction path.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 106 words

A method according to claim 17, and comprising the additional steps of: ablating a lesion at a site in the heart; positioning the probe in a vicinity of the lesion ablated in the tissue, after producing the map; receiving electrical signals, using the probe, from at least two points in the vicinity of the lesion after ablation thereof; processing the signals received by the probe to determine the correlation measure between the signals at the points in the vicinity of the lesion after the ablation; and comparing the measure determined after the ablation to the measure determined before the ablation to determine the effectiveness of treatment.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 58 words

A method for determining the effect of ablation on excitable tissue, comprising: positioning a probe in a vicinity of a lesion ablated in the tissue; receiving electrical signals, using the probe, from at least two points in the vicinity; and processing the signals received by the probe to determine a correlation measure between the signals at the points.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 58 words

A method for determining the effect of ablation on excitable tissue, comprising: positioning a probe in a vicinity of a lesion ablated in the tissue; receiving electrical signals, using the probe, from at least two points in the vicinity; and processing the signals received by the probe to determine a correlation measure between the signals at the points.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 36 words

A method according to claim 20, and comprising comparing the correlation measure with a previous correlation measure determined by processing signals received from at least two of the at least two points before ablating the tissue.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 45 words

A method according to claim 20, wherein receiving signals from the at least two points comprises receiving signals from a plurality of pairs of points, and wherein processing the signals comprises producing a correlation map of the tissue, indicative of the effect of the ablation.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 17 words

A method according to any of claims 17-22, wherein receiving electrogram signals comprises receiving bipolar electrogram signals.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 23 words

A method according to any of claims 17-22, wherein processing the signals to determine the correlation measure comprises performing a time-domain correlation computation.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 27 words

A method according to any of claims 17-22, wherein processing the signals to determine the correlation measure comprises computing a phase shift to give a correlation value.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 19 words

A method according to any of claims 17-22, wherein processing the signals comprises computing frequency spectra of the signals.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 61 words

Intracardiac apparatus, comprising: an elongate probe for insertion into the heart of a subject, said probe having distal and proximal ends and comprising at least two sensing electrodes near the distal end of the probe, for sensing signals in the heart tissue; and signal analyzer circuitry, which receives the signals from the probe and calculates a correlation measure of the signals.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 61 words

Intracardiac apparatus, comprising: an elongate probe for insertion into the heart of a subject, said probe having distal and proximal ends and comprising at least two sensing electrodes near the distal end of the probe, for sensing signals in the heart tissue; and signal analyzer circuitry, which receives the signals from the probe and calculates a correlation measure of the signals.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 12 words

Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the sensing electrodes comprise bipolar electrodes.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 30 words

Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the probe comprises a position sensor, which generates signals responsive to the position of the probe with respect to an external frame of reference.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the probe is positioned at a plurality of locations in the heart, and the signal analyzer circuitry produces a map of the correlation measures determined at the plurality of locations.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 22 words

Apparatus according to any of claims 27-30, wherein the probe comprises a tissue ablation device adjacent the distal end of the probe.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the ablation device comprises an ablation electrode, and wherein one of the at least two sensing electrodes is also an ablation electrode.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 25 words

Apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the ablation device is disposed over and substantially covers the outer surface of the distal end of the probe.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 42 words

Apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the ablation device and electrodes have positions along an outer, radial surface of the probe, wherein one electrode is axially proximal to the ablation device, and the other electrode is axially distal to the ablation device.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 19 words

Apparatus according to claim 31, and comprising a cooler, for cooling the heart tissue, adjacent to the ablation device.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus according to claim 31, and comprising a cooler thermally coupled to the ablation device, which cools the heart tissue.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 93 words

Apparatus for determining the effectiveness of treatment of abnormal conduction in the heart of a subject, comprising: an elongate probe for insertion into the heart of the heart, said probe having distal and proximal ends and comprising at least two sensing electrodes near the distal end of the probe, for sensing activation signals in the heart tissue; and signal analyzer circuitry, which receives the activation signals from the probe, determines a correlation measure thereof, and compares a first correlation measure determined before the treatment with a second correlation measure determined after the treatment.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 93 words

Apparatus for determining the effectiveness of treatment of abnormal conduction in the heart of a subject, comprising: an elongate probe for insertion into the heart of the heart, said probe having distal and proximal ends and comprising at least two sensing electrodes near the distal end of the probe, for sensing activation signals in the heart tissue; and signal analyzer circuitry, which receives the activation signals from the probe, determines a correlation measure thereof, and compares a first correlation measure determined before the treatment with a second correlation measure determined after the treatment.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 12 words

Apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the sensing electrodes comprise bipolar electrodes.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 35 words

Apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the probe comprises a position sensor near the distal end thereof, which generates signals responsive to the position of the probe with respect to an external frame of reference.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the probe is positioned at a plurality of locations in the heart, and the signal analyzer circuitry produces a map of the correlation measures determined at the plurality of locations.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-09-20	2003-03-22	2003-09-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-09-20	2007-03-22	2007-09-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-09-20	2011-03-22	2011-09-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Cardiac ablation catheter using correlation measure

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