Active detection of sensor transition from covered to exposed
AssigneeSt. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.
InventorsAnthony D. Hill, D. Curtis DENO, Ram BALACHANDRAN, Braden ELIASON
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An introducer may comprise a shaft and a proximal electrode. The shaft may have a proximal end portion and an interior lumen, the interior lumen configured to receive a catheter therethrough. The proximal electrode may be coupled with the proximal end portion and may be configured to act as an electrical source or sink so as to create an electrical field within the interior lumen. A position of an electrode coupled with the catheter may be determined according to the electrical field.
Claims20
An exterior coaxial elongate medical device configured to be coupled with an interior coaxial medical device having an interior electrode, the exterior coaxial elongate medical device comprising:
- a shaft having a proximal end portion and an interior lumen, said interior lumen configured to receive the interior coaxial medical device therethrough;
- a proximal electrode coupled with said proximal end portion, said proximal electrode configured to act as an electrical source or sink so as to create an electrical field within said interior lumen;
- wherein a position of the interior electrode may be determined according to said electrical field.
A method of determining the relative positions of an interior electrode coupled with an interior coaxial medical device and a shaft of an exterior coaxial medical device, the method comprising:
- driving an electrical current between a proximal electrode coupled with a proximal end of the interior coaxial medical device and a distal electrode so as to create an electrical field within an interior lumen of the exterior coaxial medical device, at least a portion of the interior coaxial medical device disposed within the interior lumen;
- measuring an electrical potential with the interior electrode according to the electrical field;
- and
- determining whether the interior electrode is within the shaft of the exterior coaxial medical device according to the measured electrical potential.
An electronic control unit (ECU) for determining the position of an interior electrode coupled with an interior coaxial medical device relative to a distal end opening of a shaft of an exterior coaxial medical device, the exterior coaxial medical device including an interior lumen configured to receive the interior coaxial medical device and a proximal electrode, the ECU configured to:
- drive an electrical current between the proximal electrode and a distal electrode so as to create an electrical field within the interior lumen of the exterior elongate medical device;
- measure an electrical potential with the interior electrode;
- and
- determine a position of the interior electrode relative to the distal opening of the exterior elongate medical device shaft according to said measured electrical potential.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.