System and method of using rf wire to distinguish anatomy after transseptal puncture

A transseptal surgical system configured to puncture an atrial septum within a heart of a patient, the transseptal surgical system comprising:

• an electrosurgical crossing assembly configured to couple to a radiofrequency (RF) energy source, the electrosurgical crossing assembly comprising:
• a delivery component having an elongate shaft defining a longitudinally extending lumen, and
• a crossing member adapted to be disposed within the lumen and coupled to the RF energy source, the crossing member having a crossing member distal tip extendable from the lumen, the crossing member distal tip having a crossing member electrode adapted to deliver the RF energy;
• and
• a controller coupled to the electrosurgical crossing assembly, the controller configured to:
• receive an intracardiac electrogram (EGM) reading signal from the crossing member electrode,
• compare the EGM reading signal to both of aortic EGM characteristics having information to identify EGM signals emanating from the aorta and left atrial EGM characteristics having information to identify EGM signals emanating from the left atrium to determine a location of the crossing member electrode within cardiac anatomy, and
• generate one of an alert if the crossing member electrode is determined to be within the aorta and a confirmation notice if the crossing member electrode is determined to be within the left atrium.

A method of puncturing an atrial septum with a heart of patient with a crossing member having a crossing member electrode adapted to deliver a radiofrequency (RF) energy, the method comprising:

• receiving an intracardiac electrogram (EGM) reading signal from the crossing member electrode;
• comparing the EGM reading signal to at least one of aortic EGM characteristics having information to identify EGM signals emanating from the aorta and left atrial EGM characteristics having information to identify EGM signals emanating from the left atrium to determine a location of the crossing member electrode within cardiac anatomy;
• and
• generating an alert if the crossing member electrode is determined to be within the aorta.