Method and system for detecting contact status using electrode

A system for use with a medical device configured for insertion within a patient, comprising:

• a signal generator configured to apply a drive signal to one or more pairs of electrodes located on the medical device;
• a measurement circuit configured to measure responses of the electrode pairs to the drive signal;
• a contact assessment module configured to generate bipolar electrode complex impedance (BECI) values for each of the electrode pairs, determine a baseline BECI value representing a minimum BECI value measured during a collection period, measure, subsequently measure a BECI value generated in response to the applied drive signals over a given interval, measure a peak-to-peak value associated with the measured BECI values over the given interval, and determine a contact status based on a combination of the baseline BECI value, the measured BECI value, and the peak-to-peak value associated with the measured BECI values;
• and
• a display for displaying proximities of the electrodes relative to the tissue based on outputs received from the contact assessment module.

A contact assessment system for determining a contact state of an electrode included as part of an electrode pair located at a distal end of a medical instrument, the system comprising:

• input configured to receive signals collected in response to a source signal applied across the electrode pair;
• and
• a processor configured to, upon execution of specific program instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium:
• calculate a bipolar electrode complex impedance (BECI) values based on the received input signals during a collection period;
• determine a baseline BECI value representing a minimum value measured during the collection period;
• and
• determine a contact status by subsequently applying drive signals between the electrode pair over a given interval, measuring a BECI value generated in response to the applied drive signals over the given interval, measuring a peak-to-peak value associated with the measured BECI values over the given interval, and utilizing a combination of the baseline BECI value, the measured BECI value, and the peak-to-peak value associated with the measured BECI values to determine the contact status of the electrode.