Catheter, method and apparatus for generating an electrical map of a chamber of the heart

Claim 2

A catheter and console combination for mapping a chamber of a heart comprising: a console comprising driver circuits operatively connected to at least one electromagnetic field generator for generating an electromagnetic field, the console also comprising a signal processor for determining location information; a catheter comprising: (i) a body having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end having a distal tip; (ii) a contact electrode at said distal tip; (iii) an array of non-contact electrodes on said distal end of said body, said array having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said non-contact electrodes are linearly arranged along a longitudinal axis of said body; and at least one location sensor on said distal end of said body for generating signals in response to the electromagnetic field which is used by the signal processor to determine a location of said contact electrode and a location of said non-contact electrodes, the location of the non-contact electrodes determined by said signal processor from said signals generated by said at least one location sensor, said signal processor during at least an entire cardiac cycle in a first mode of operation acquiring first electrical information from only said non-contact electrodes, and in a second mode of operation acquiring second electrical information from said contact electrode and said non-contact electrodes to represent a minimum volume of the chamber geometry of the heart.

Claim 3

The catheter and console combination of claim 1 wherein said at least one location sensor is proximate to said catheter distal tip.

Claim 4

The catheter and console combination of claim 1 wherein said at least one location sensor comprises a first location sensor and a second location sensor, wherein said array of non-contact electrodes is disposed therebetween, and said second location sensor is disposed proximate to said catheter distal tip.

Claim 5

The catheter and console combination of claim 3 wherein at least one of said first location sensor and said second location sensor provides six degrees of location information.

Claim 6

The catheter and console combination of claim 4 wherein said first location sensor and said second location sensor each provide six degrees of location information.

Claim 7

The catheter and console combination of claim 3 wherein at least one of said first location sensor and said second location sensor is an electromagnetic location sensor.

Claim 8

The catheter and console combination of claim 1 wherein said distal tip contact electrode is a bipolar electrode.

Claim 9

The catheter and console combination of claim 1 wherein said electrode array comprises from about twelve to about thirty-two non-contact electrodes.

Claim 10

The catheter and console combination of claim 8 wherein said array comprises from about sixteen to about twenty-four electrodes.

Claim 11

The catheter and console combination of claim 3 wherein said distal tip contact electrode is a bipolar electrode.

Claim 12

A catheter and console combination comprising: (a) a console comprising driver circuits operatively connected to at least one electromagnetic field generator for generating an electromagnetic field, the console also comprising a signal processor for determining location information; (b) a catheter comprising: (i) a body having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end having a distal tip; an array of non-contact electrodes on said distal end of said body, said array having a proximal end and a distal end; wherein said non-contact electrodes are linearly arranged along a longitudinal axis of said body; and at least one location sensor proximate to said distal tip for generating signals in response to the electromagnetic field which is used by the signal processor to determine a location of said non-contact electrodes, said at least one location sensor comprising a first location sensor and a second location sensor, said first location sensor being proximate to said catheter distal tip and said second location sensor being proximate to said proximal end of said non-contact electrode array, the location of said non-contact electrodes determined by said signal processor from said signals generated by said at least one location sensor, said signal processor using said location of the non-contact electrodes to represent a minimum volume of the chamber geometry of the heart; wherein said at least one location sensor provides six degrees of location information.

Claim 13

A catheter and console combination comprising: (a) a console comprising driver circuits operatively connected to at least one electromagnetic field generator for generating an electromagnetic field, the console also comprising a signal processor for determining location information; (b) a catheter comprising: (i) a body having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end having a distal tip; an array of non-contact electrodes on said distal end of said body, said array having a proximal end and a distal end; wherein said non-contact electrodes are linearly arranged along a longitudinal axis of said body; and at least one location sensor proximate to said distal tip for generating signals in response to the electromagnetic field which is used by the signal processor to determine a location of said non-contact electrodes, said at least one location sensor comprising a first location sensor and a second location sensor, said first location sensor being proximate to said catheter distal tip and said second location sensor being proximate to said proximal end of said non-contact electrode array, the location of said non-contact electrodes determined by said signal processor from said signals generated by said at least one location sensor, said signal processor using said location of the non-contact electrodes to represent a minimum volume of the chamber geometry of the heart; wherein said at least one location sensor provides six degrees of location information.

Claim 14

The catheter and console combination of claim 11 wherein at least one of said first location sensor and said second location sensor is an electromagnetic location sensor.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13 wherein said at least one location sensor comprises a first location sensor and a second location sensor, wherein said array of non-contact electrodes is disposed therebetween, and said second location sensor is disposed proximate to said catheter distal tip.

Claim 18

The method of claim 14 wherein said second location sensor is proximate to the proximal end of said array of non-contact electrodes.

Claim 19

The method of claim 15 wherein at least one of said first location sensor and said second location sensor provides six degrees of location information.

Claim 20

The method of claim 16 wherein said first location sensor and said second location sensor each provide six degrees of location information.

Claim 21

The method of claim 14 wherein at least one of said location sensors is an electromagnetic location sensor.

Claim 22

The method of claim 13 wherein said contact electrode is a bipolar electrode.

Claim 23

The method of claim 13 wherein said array of non-contact electrodes comprises from about twelve to about thirty-two non-contact electrodes.

Claim 24

The method of claim 20 wherein said array of non-contact electrodes comprises from about sixteen to about twenty-four non-contact electrodes.

Claim 25

The method of claim 14 including determining said geometry of said heart chamber from the location information provided by of each of said location sensors.

Claim 26

The method of claim 13 wherein said generating step (e) comprises computing the location of said contact electrode and each of said non-contact electrodes, said locations being the location of said contact electrode and said non-contact electrodes during acquisition of said electrical and location information.

Claim 27

The method of claim 23 wherein said chamber geometry is derived from the location of said contact electrode and each of said non-contact electrodes during acquisition step (d).

Claim 28

The method of claim 24 wherein said electrical map is derived from: (i) The location of said contact electrode and of each of said non-contact electrodes during acquisition of said electrical and location information; and from (ii) The electrical information acquired by the contact electrode at each of said contact points.

Claim 29

The method of claim 25 wherein said electrical characteristics intermediate said contact points are derived from the electrical information acquired from said non-contact electrodes.

Claim 30

The method of claim 23 wherein said electrical map is derived from: the location of said contact electrode and of each of said non-contact electrodes during acquisition of said electrical and location information; and from ii) The electrical information acquired by said contact electrode and each of said non-contact electrodes.

Claim 31

The method of claim 13 , including ablating a portion of said heart chamber based on said electrical map.

Claim 32

The method of claim 28 which further comprises validating the effectiveness of the ablation procedure.

Claim 33

The method of claim 29 wherein said validation comprises acquiring additional electrical information from said catheter following said ablation procedure.

Claim 36

The method of claim 31 including ablating a portion of said heart chamber based on said electrical map.

Claim 37

The method of claim 32 which further comprises validating the effectiveness of the ablation procedure.

Claim 38

The method of claim 33 wherein said validation comprises acquiring additional electrical information from said catheter following said ablation procedure.

Claim 39

Apparatus for generating an electrical map of a chamber of a heart, said map depicting an electrical characteristic of the chamber as a function of chamber geometry, said apparatus comprising: a console comprising driver circuits operatively connected to at least one electromagnetic field generator for generating an electromagnetic field, the console also comprising a signal processor for determining location information; a catheter comprising: a body having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end having a distal tip; a contact electrode at said distal tip; an array of non-contact electrodes on said distal end of said body, said array having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said non-contact electrodes are linearly arranged along a longitudinal axis of said body; and at least one location sensor on said distal end of said body for generating signals in response to the electromagnetic field which is used by said signal processor to determine a location of said contact electrode and a location of said non-contact electrodes, the location of the non-contact electrodes determined by said signal processor from said signals generated by said at least one location sensor, said signal processor using said location of the non-contact electrodes to represent a minimum volume of the chamber geometry of the heart; said catheter being adapted to contacting a wall of said chamber of said heart with said contact electrode at a plurality of contact points; said signal processor operatively connected to said catheter for acquiring location information from said-location sensors, and in a first mode of operation acquiring first electrical information only from said non-contact electrodes, and in a second mode of operation acquiring second electrical information from said contact electrode and said non-contact electrodes, over at least one cardiac cycle while said contact electrode is in contact with each of said contact points, said signal processor also generating an electrical map of said heart chamber from said acquired location information and one of said first electrical information and said second electrical information.

Claim 40

Apparatus for generating an electrical map of a chamber of a heart, said map depicting an electrical characteristic of the chamber as a function of chamber geometry, said apparatus comprising: a console comprising driver circuits operatively connected to at least one electromagnetic field generator for generating an electromagnetic field, the console also comprising a signal processor for determining location information; a catheter comprising: a body having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end having a distal tip; a contact electrode at said distal tip; an array of non-contact electrodes on said distal end of said body, said array having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said non-contact electrodes are linearly arranged along a longitudinal axis of said body; and at least one location sensor on said distal end of said body for generating signals in response to the electromagnetic field which is used by said signal processor to determine a location of said contact electrode and a location of said non-contact electrodes, the location of the non-contact electrodes determined by said signal processor from said signals generated by said at least one location sensor, said signal processor using said location of the non-contact electrodes to represent a minimum volume of the chamber geometry of the heart; said catheter being adapted to contacting a wall of said chamber of said heart with said contact electrode at a plurality of contact points; said signal processor operatively connected to said catheter for acquiring location information from said-location sensors, and in a first mode of operation acquiring first electrical information only from said non-contact electrodes, and in a second mode of operation acquiring second electrical information from said contact electrode and said non-contact electrodes, over at least one cardiac cycle while said contact electrode is in contact with each of said contact points, said signal processor also generating an electrical map of said heart chamber from said acquired location information and one of said first electrical information and said second electrical information.

Claim 41

The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said catheter comprises a first location sensor and a second location sensor.

Claim 42

The apparatus of claim 36 wherein at least one of said first location sensor and said second location sensor is an electromagnetic location sensor.

Claim 43

The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said first location sensor is proximate to said catheter distal tip.

Claim 44

The apparatus of claim 38 wherein said second location sensor is proximate to the proximal end of said electrode array.

Claim 45

Apparatus for generating an electrical map of a chamber of a heart, said map depicting an electrical characteristic of the chamber as a function of chamber geometry, said apparatus comprising: (a) console comprising driver circuits operatively connected to at least one electromagnetic field generator for generating an electromagnetic field, the console also comprising a signal processor for determining location information; (b) catheter comprising: a catheter including a body having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end having a distal tip; an array of non-contact electrodes on said distal end of said body, said array having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said non-contact electrodes are linearly arranged along a longitudinal axis of said body; and at least one location sensor proximate to said catheter distal tip for generating signals in response to the electromagnetic field which is used by the signal processor to determine a location of said non-contact electrodes, said at least one location sensor comprising a first location sensor and a second location sensor, wherein said array of non-contact electrodes is disposed therebetween, and said second location sensor is disposed proximate to said catheter distal tip, the location of said non-contact electrodes determined by said signal processor for said signals generated by said at least one location sensor, said signal processor using said location of said non-contact electrodes to represent a minimum volume of the chamber geometry of the heart; said catheter being adapted to contacting a wall of said chamber of said heart with said catheter distal tip at a plurality of contact points; said signal processor acquiring electrical information and location information from each of said electrodes and location sensors, respectively, over at least one cardiac cycle while said catheter distal tip is in contact with each of said contact points; said signal processor also generating an electrical map of said heart chamber from said acquired location and electrical information, wherein said at least, one location sensor provides six degrees of location information.

Claim 46

Apparatus for generating an electrical map of a chamber of a heart, said map depicting an electrical characteristic of the chamber as a function of chamber geometry, said apparatus comprising: (a) console comprising driver circuits operatively connected to at least one electromagnetic field generator for generating an electromagnetic field, the console also comprising a signal processor for determining location information; (b) catheter comprising: a catheter including a body having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end having a distal tip; an array of non-contact electrodes on said distal end of said body, said array having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said non-contact electrodes are linearly arranged along a longitudinal axis of said body; and at least one location sensor proximate to said catheter distal tip for generating signals in response to the electromagnetic field which is used by the signal processor to determine a location of said non-contact electrodes, said at least one location sensor comprising a first location sensor and a second location sensor, wherein said array of non-contact electrodes is disposed therebetween, and said second location sensor is disposed proximate to said catheter distal tip, the location of said non-contact electrodes determined by said signal processor for said signals generated by said at least one location sensor, said signal processor using said location of said non-contact electrodes to represent a minimum volume of the chamber geometry of the heart; said catheter being adapted to contacting a wall of said chamber of said heart with said catheter distal tip at a plurality of contact points; said signal processor acquiring electrical information and location information from each of said electrodes and location sensors, respectively, over at least one cardiac cycle while said catheter distal tip is in contact with each of said contact points; said signal processor also generating an electrical map of said heart chamber from said acquired location and electrical information, wherein said at least, one location sensor provides six degrees of location information.

Claim 47

The apparatus of claim 40 wherein at least one of said first location sensor and said second location sensor is an electromagnetic location sensor.