초록 ▼

The present invention is a device localization system that uses one or more ultrasound reference catheters to establish a fixed three-dimensional coordinate system within a patient's heart using principles of triangulation. The coordinate system is represented graphically in three-dimensions on a vi

The present invention is a device localization system that uses one or more ultrasound reference catheters to establish a fixed three-dimensional coordinate system within a patient's heart using principles of triangulation. The coordinate system is represented graphically in three-dimensions on a video monitor and aids the clinician in guiding other medical devices, which are provided with ultrasound transducers, through the body to locations at which they are needed to perform clinical procedures. In one embodiment of a system according to the present invention, the system is used in the heart to help the physician guide mapping catheters for measuring electrical activity, and ablation catheters for ablating selected regions of cardiac tissue, to desired locations within the heart.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [15.]15. A system for displaying position data corresponding to a location within a human heart, comprising:a catheter positionable within a chamber of the heart, the catheter having at least one ultrasonic target transducer mounted thereon;a plurality of catheter-mounted ultr

[ What is claimed is:] [15.]15. A system for displaying position data corresponding to a location within a human heart, comprising:a catheter positionable within a chamber of the heart, the catheter having at least one ultrasonic target transducer mounted thereon;a plurality of catheter-mounted ultrasonic reference transducers positionable within the human body for ultrasonic communication with the target transducer;a controller coupled to the transducers for causing the transducers to generate and/or receive ultrasound signals, including for causing reference transducers to receive ultrasound signals emitted by other reference transducers;a processor coupled to the transducers for recording the elapsed time at which the signals from each emitting one of the transducers are received by the receiving ones of the transducers, the processor programmed to determine the location of the target catheter transducers with respect to the reference transducers based on the recorded times, and for generating location data representing a location associated with the target catheter;a storage location for electronically storing the location data representing the location associated with the target catheter;a graphical display for displaying an image representing the location data for a selected portion of a physiological cycle on a graphical display.