# US 11,439,354 B2 · System and method for three-dimensionally mapping heart by using sensing information of catheter

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- Number: US 11,439,354 B2
- Document ID: US11439354B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/483,039
- Filed: 2018-02-05
- Published: 2020-05-21
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2017-02-03
- Assignees: The Asan Foundation; University of Ulsan Foundation for Industry Cooperation
- Applicants: The Asan Foundation; University of Ulsan Foundation for Industry Cooperation
- Inventors: Chang Mo Hwang; Young Hak Kim; Gi Byoung Nam; Jae Soon Choi; Gi Seok Jeong
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439354B2

## CPC

- A61B 5/6852: {Catheters}
- A61B 1/00: Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes (examination of body cavities or body tracts using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/12; endoscopic instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/04); Illuminating arrangements therefor (for the eyes A61B3/00)
- A61B 1/313: for introducing through surgical openings, e.g. laparoscopes
- A61B 5/287: Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
- A61B 5/339: Displays specially adapted therefor
- A61B 34/20: Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
- A61B 90/06: {Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for}
- A61B 18/1492: {having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00243: {cardiac}
- A61B 2018/00029: {open}
- A61B 2018/00351: {Heart}
- A61B 2018/00357: {Endocardium}
- A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation}
- A61B 2018/00595: {Cauterization}
- A61B 2018/00839: {Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG}
- A61B 2034/105: {Modelling of the patient, e.g. for ligaments or bones}
- A61B 2034/2051: {Electromagnetic tracking systems}
- A61B 2034/2053: {Tracking an applied voltage gradient}
- A61B 2034/2061: {using shape-sensors, e.g. fiber shape sensors with Bragg gratings}
- A61B 2090/064: {for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension}
- A61B 2090/065: {for measuring contact or contact pressure}
- A61B 2218/002: Irrigation
- A61B 2562/0209: Special features of electrodes classified in A61B5/24, A61B5/25, A61B5/283, A61B5/291, A61B5/296, A61B5/053
- A61M 25/0147: {with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

The present invention is a system for three-dimensionally mapping a heart, comprising: a mapping catheter including three or more optical cores each of which has a plurality of FBGs disposed in the lengthwise direction of a catheter body, and a plurality of electrodes disposed in the lengthwise direction of the catheter body and exposed on the outer circumferential surface of the catheter body, wherein the electrodes make contact with the inner wall of the heart; and a mapping processor for calculating coordinates of the FBGs by wavelength information of reflected light received from the three or more optical cores, and calculating coordinates of the electrodes from the coordinates of the FBGs so as to build a three-dimensional shape of the heart by using a sample point at which the plurality of electrodes make contact.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A three-dimensional (3D) heart mapping system, comprising:
a mapping catheter including at least three optical cores each having a plurality of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) disposed in a lengthwise direction of a catheter body, wherein the spacing between the adjacent fiber Bragg gratings of the plurality of fiber Bragg gratings arranged along the catheter body increases in a distal direction of the catheter body, and a plurality of electrodes disposed in the lengthwise direction of the catheter body and exposed on an outer circumferential surface of the catheter body, wherein the plurality of electrodes are configured to come into contact with an inner wall of a heart; and
a mapping processor configured to calculate coordinates of the plurality of FBGs based on optical wavelength information of reflected light received from the at least three optical cores and calculate coordinates of the plurality of electrodes from the coordinates of the plurality of FBGs and construct a 3D shape of the heart by using sample points of the plurality of electrodes configured to be in contact with the inner wall of the heart.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The 3D heart mapping system of claim 1, wherein the mapping catheter includes the catheter body having a first area defined by a path formed with at least one channel, and a second area defined by a front end provided with a tip to be condensed as an external force is applied, and the plurality of FBGs are configured to sense the 3D shape of the catheter body based on optical wavelength information of a group of the plurality of FBGs disposed in the first area, and sense the external force applied to the tip based on optical wavelength information of another group of the plurality of FBGs disposed in the second area.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The 3D heart mapping system of claim 1, wherein the mapping catheter is configured to form a loop at a front end, when the plurality of electrodes are connected to respective driving wires and the catheter body is bent at points at which the plurality of electrodes are located by the driving wires being pulled in or pulled out, and the mapping processor is configured to calculate coordinates of plurality of FBGs corresponding to locations of the plurality of electrodes at which a pressure is sensed when the loop is configured to come into contact with the inner wall of the heart, and to obtain the sample points in a linear form.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The 3D heart mapping system of claim 3, wherein the mapping catheter is configured to be steered to scan the inner wall of the heart by the loop.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The 3D heart mapping system of claim 1, wherein the mapping processor includes:
a control module configured to set a path of the mapping catheter to remotely control the mapping catheter, wherein the control module is configured to measure a pressure to be applied to a tip of the mapping catheter using optical wavelength information by the plurality of FBGs, and set a branch point entering the heart based on a pattern of change in external force generated when the tip is not in contact with blood vessels.

### Claim 6

A three-dimensional (3D) heart mapping method, comprising:
step (a) of measuring a physiological response from an electrode exposed on a surface of a mapping catheter, wherein the mapping catheter includes an optical fiber having a plurality of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) disposed in a lengthwise direction of a catheter body, wherein the spacing between the adjacent fiber Bragg gratings of the plurality of fiber Bragg gratings arranged along the catheter body increases in a distal direction of the catheter body;
step (b) of calculating coordinates of the plurality of FBGs located on a same cross section as the electrode from which the physiological response is measured in step (a);
step (c) of calculating a coordinate of the electrode from which the physiological response is measured, from the coordinates of the plurality of FBGs calculated in step (b); and
step (d) of constructing a 3D shape of a heart by sampling the coordinate of the electrode calculated in step (c).

### Claim 7

A mapping catheter comprising:
a catheter body having a first area defined by a path in which at least one channel is formed, and a second area defined by a front end at which a tip to be condensed as an external force is applied is provided;
an optical fiber penetrating in the at least one channel and having a plurality of fiber Bragg gratings (FBG)s disposed in a lengthwise direction of the catheter body, wherein the spacing between the adjacent fiber Bragg gratings of the plurality of fiber Bragg gratings arranged along the catheter body increases in a distal direction of the catheter body; and
a plurality of electrodes exposed on a surface of the catheter body and disposed in the lengthwise direction of the catheter body,
wherein the FBGs are configured to sense a shape of the catheter body on which the electrodes are located based on optical wavelength information associated with optical wavelengths that change when the catheter body is configured to come into contact with an inner wall of a heart.