Catheter and system for monitoring tissue contact
US6471693B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 10, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 29, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 10, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2090/065
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A cryocatheter for treatment of tissue has a tip adapted to provide a signal indicative of the quality and/or orientation of the tip contact with surrounding tissue. In one embodiment, a signal conductor extends through the catheter to the tip and connects to a thermally and electrically conductive shell or cap that applies an RF current to the region of tissue contacted by the tip. The tissue impedance path between the signal lead and a surface electrode mounted on the patient's skin is monitored to develop a quantitative measure of tissue contact at the distal tip, which is preferably displayed on the screen of a catheter monitoring console. In yet a further embodiment, the catheter is provided with a split tip having temperature monitoring sensors, such as thermistors, mounted on opposed halves of the tip so as to sense temperature on two sides of the catheter axis. The thermistor signals are processed to determine and display differential temperature between the two sides of the tip, thus revealing which side lies in contact. In yet a further aspect of the first embodiment, two separate and distinct high frequency electrical signals are applied to the two halves of a split meta…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.