Method and system for assisting a user in guiding a catheter during a cardial operation

A computerized apparatus having a processor coupled with a memory unit, the processor being adapted to perform the steps of:

• obtaining electrical information from a plurality of electrodes disposed on a distal end assembly of a catheter within a heart of a patient as the catheter is being maneuvered within the heart;
• dynamically identifying a portion of the distal end assembly that is displaced from tissue wall of the heart, based upon the electrical information received from the plurality of electrodes;
• generating a visual representation of the distal end assembly;
• dynamically distorting the visual representation by stretching a shape of the identified portion of the distal end assembly in a manner that provides a visual indication of a direction extending outwardly from the portion identified, wherein the direction extending outwardly from the portion identified is the direction available for steering the distal end assembly away from the tissue wall or along the tissue wall;
• and
• rendering the visual representation as dynamically distorted to a display device.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium retaining program instructions configured to cause a processor to perform actions, which program instructions implement:

• obtaining electrical information from a plurality of electrodes disposed on a distal end assembly of a catheter within a heart of a patient as the catheter is being maneuvered within the heart;
• dynamically identifying a portion of the distal end assembly that is displaced from tissue wall of the heart, based upon the electrical information received from the plurality of electrodes;
• generating a visual representation of the distal end assembly;
• dynamically distorting the visual representation by stretching a shape of the identified portion of the distal end assembly in a manner that provides a visual indication of a direction extending outwardly from the portion identified, wherein the direction extending outwardly from the portion identified is the direction available for steering the distal end assembly away from the tissue wall or along the tissue wall;
• and
• rendering the visual representation as dynamically distorted to a display device.