Temporary pacing lead navigation system

A computing system comprising:

• a memory;
• sensing circuitry coupled to a plurality of surface electrodes placed onto skin of the patient;
• signal generation circuitry coupled to a lead electrode on a distal portion of an implantable medical lead within vasculature of a patient;
• and
• processing circuitry coupled to the memory, the sensing circuitry, and the signal generation circuitry, the processing circuitry configured to:
• output an electrical signal from the lead electrode within vasculature of a patient, wherein the electrical signal is directionally impeded by an expandable member of the implantable medical lead in an expanded configuration;
• sense the electrical signal through each of the plurality of surface electrodes;
• determine, for each respective surface electrode of the plurality of surface electrodes, a value of the sensed electrical signal corresponding to an impedance between the respective surface electrode and the lead electrode;
• and
• determine a position and an orientation of the distal portion of the implantable medical lead within the vasculature of the patient based on the determined values of the sensed electrical signal.

A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause processing circuitry within a device to:

• output, through a lead electrode on a distal portion of an implantable medical lead within vasculature of a patient, an electrical signal, wherein the implantable medical lead further comprises an expandable member that is in an expanded state while the electrical signal is outputted, wherein the expandable member is configured, when expanded, to directionally-impede the electrical signal;
• sense, through each of a plurality of surface electrodes positioned on the patient, the electrical signal;
• determine, for each respective surface electrode of the plurality of surface electrodes, a value of the sensed electrical signal corresponding to an impedance between the respective surface electrode and the lead electrode;
• and
• determine a position and an orientation of the distal portion of the implantable medical lead within the vasculature of the patient based on the determined values of the sensed electrical signal.