The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 25, 2014
Filed:
Oct. 12, 2006
Saurav Paul, Minnetonka, MN (US);
Chou Thao, Brooklyn Park, MN (US);
Kedar Ravindra Belhe, Minnetonka, MN (US);
Reed R. Heimbecher, Hamel, MN (US);
Saurav Paul, Minnetonka, MN (US);
Chou Thao, Brooklyn Park, MN (US);
Kedar Ravindra Belhe, Minnetonka, MN (US);
Reed R. Heimbecher, Hamel, MN (US);
St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc., St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
An electrode catheter and a method for assessing catheter-tissue contact for tissue ablation are disclosed. An exemplary electrode catheter comprises a flexible catheter shaft. At least one piezoelectric sensor is oriented coaxial to the flexible catheter shaft. The at least one piezoelectric sensor is responsive to movement of the flexible catheter shaft by generating electrical signals corresponding to the amount of movement. The system may also include an output device electrically connected to the at least one piezoelectric sensor. The output device receives the electrical signals for dynamically assessing a level of contact between the flexible catheter shaft and a moving tissue. In another exemplary embodiment, the system may be implemented in a hydrodynamic environment.