Systems and methods for modeling both unobstructed and obstructed portions of a catheter

An electrical mapping system for internal tissue, the electrical mapping system modeling both obstructed and unobstructed portions of a catheter, comprising:

• a catheter body comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion, the catheter body supporting a plurality of electrodes electrically connected to an output device;
• a rendering component operatively associated with the output device, the rendering component receiving raw data from the plurality of electrodes and generating a plurality of images based on the raw data, the rendering component overlaying the plurality of data images on one another to generate a three-dimensional image representing both the internal tissue and a visible portion of the catheter body;
• and
• an enhancement component configured to overlay a silhouette on the three-dimensional image, the silhouette representing at least one obstructed portion of the catheter body using the positional data for the catheter body.

A catheter system for use in electrical mapping of internal tissue, comprising:

• a catheter body extending between a distal tip and a proximal portion, the catheter body including a plurality of mapping electrodes supported in the distal tip for use in acquiring mapping information;
• a rendering component configured to generate a three-dimensional image based on the mapping information, the three-dimensional image representing an outer boundary of the internal tissue and a visible portion of the catheter body relative to the outer boundary of the internal tissue;
• and
• an enhancement component configured to overlay a silhouette of at least one obstructed portion of the catheter body on the three-dimensional image.

A method for mapping cardiac tissue and modeling both unobstructed and obstructed portions of an electrode catheter, comprising:

• introducing an electrode catheter into a chamber of a heart to be mapped, and moving the electrode catheter relative to a surface of the heart, wherein a plurality of electrodes contact the surface of the heart to generate mapping coordinates;
• generating a three-dimensional image based on the mapping information, the three-dimensional image representing the surface of the heart and an unobstructed portion of the electrode catheter;
• determining which portion of the electrode catheter is obstructed;
• and
• overlaying a silhouette representing at least one obstructed portion of the electrode catheter in the three-dimensional image.