Apparatus and method for cardiac ablation

A cardiac mapping and ablation system for locating and ablating a tachycardia site of origin in an endocardium of a subject's heart, comprising:

• a cluster of electrodes;
• catheter means for disposing said cluster of electrodes about the endocardium site-by-site, each electrode capable of detecting a discernable arrival time of intracardiac electrogram signals emanating from the tachycardia site of origin;
• means for computing an estimated position of the tachycardia site of origin by interpolation of arrival times of intracardiac electrogram signals detected at a plurality of electrodes among said cluster;
• means for interactively forming and displaying a map of said estimated position of the tachycardia site of origin and each of the plurality of electrodes interpolated therefrom;
• and
• means for supplying power to at least one of said cluster of electrodes when said at least one of said cluster of electrodes is placed substantially coincident with the tachycardia site of origin, thereby to effect ablation to the tachycardia site.

A cardiac mapping system for locating a tachycardia site of origin in an endocardium of a subject's heart, comprising:

• a cluster of electrodes;
• catheter means for disposing said cluster of electrodes about the endocardium site-by-site, each electrode capable of detecting a discernable arrival time of intracardiac electrogram signals emanating from the tachycardia site of origin;
• means for computing an estimated position of the tachycardia site of origin by interpolation of arrival times of intracardiac electrogram signals detected by a plurality of electrodes among said cluster;
• means for interactively forming and displaying a map of said estimated position of the tachycardia site of origin and each of the plurality of electrodes interpolated therefrom.

A method for cardiac mapping and ablation of a tachycardia site in an endocardium of a subject's heart, comprising the steps of:

• disposing a cluster of electrodes about the endocardium site-by-site, each electrode capable of detecting a discernable arrival time of intracardiac electrogram signals emanating from the tachycardia site of origin;
• interactively displaying a map derived from said arrival times of intracardiac electrogram signals, said map including the cluster of electrodes and a display of arrival time associated with each electrode, whereby those electrodes being closer to the tachycardia site of origin than others will register earlier arrival times than others, and electrodes that are substantially coincident with the tachycardia site of origin will register an earliest possible arrival time, thereby said map providing guidance for moving said cluster of electrodes in the direction of those electrodes having earlier arrival times;
• and
• supplying power to at least one of said cluster of electrodes when said at least one of said cluster of electrodes is placed substantially coincident with the tachycardia site of origin, thereby to effect ablation to the tachycardia site.

A method of cardiac mapping and ablation for locating and ablating a tachycardia site of origin in an endocardium of a subject's heart, comprising the steps of:

• disposing by means of a catheter a cluster of electrodes about the endocardium site-by-site, each electrode capable of detecting a discernable arrival time of intracardiac electrogram signals emanating from the tachycardia site of origin;
• computing an estimated position of the tachycardia site of origin by interpolation of arrival times of intracardiac electrogram signals detected at a plurality of electrodes among said cluster;
• interactively forming and displaying a map of said estimated position of the tachycardia site of origin and each of the plurality of electrodes interpolated therefrom;
• and
• supplying power to at least one of said cluster of electrodes when said at least one of said cluster of electrodes is placed substantially coincident with the tachycardia site of origin, thereby to effect ablation to the tachycardia site.