System and method for intraprocedural assessment of geometry and compliance of valve annulus for trans-catheter valve implantation

A method for determining the dimensions of a native valve annulus, the method comprising:

• delivering a sensing catheter to a native valve annulus, the sensing catheter including a plurality of splines having a contracted condition and a radially expanded condition, each of the splines including a sensing coil;
• deploying the plurality of splines from the contracted condition to the radially expanded condition;
• generating at least one magnetic field that induces a potential in each of the sensing coils;
• determining a first position of each of the sensing coils based on the induced potentials;
• and
• determining a dimension of the native valve annulus based on the first positions of the sensing coils.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a shaft extending in a longitudinal direction;
• a plurality of splines attached to the shaft, the splines having an expanded condition spaced radially outward from the shaft;
• at least one sensing coil located on each of the splines;
• and
• an expandable balloon positioned between the shaft and the splines.