Mapping catheter as well as mapping catheter apparatus and associated method

Abstract

The invention relates to a mapping catheter for determination of data of an area of an organ embodied as a flat surface, especially of the heart, to be presented graphically, with at least one thermosensor essentially aligned in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the mapping catheter for determination of temperature-related data which is arranged at a tip of the mapping catheter being provided in the distal area of the mapping catheter for introduction into the organ.

1 .- 24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . A mapping catheter for determining data of an area of an organ of a patient, comprising:
 a distal area of the mapping catheter that introduces into the organ; and   a thermosensor that determines a temperature related data of the area of the organ of the patient, wherein the thermosensor is arranged at a tip of the mapping catheter and is aligned in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the mapping catheter.   
   
   
       26 . The mapping catheter as claimed in  claim 25 ,
 wherein the thermosensor is arranged on an element at the distal area of the mapping catheter,   wherein the element is unfoldable into a grid-like structure comprising an open surface or a closed surface, and   wherein the open surface is a screen type surface and the closed surface is a balloon type surface.   
   
   
       27 . The mapping catheter as claimed in  claim 25 ,
 wherein a plurality of thermosensors are arranged in the distal area of the mapping catheter and are aligned at least partly in a plurality of different directions, and   wherein the different directions are at least partly radial or transverse to the longitudinal axis of the mapping catheter.   
   
   
       28 . The mapping catheter as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the thermosensor is aligned to lie on the area of the organ. 
   
   
       29 . The mapping catheter as claimed in  claim 25 , further comprising a device for cooling down or heating up a part of the area of the organ,
 wherein the device comprises a cooling element, or a heating element, or a lumen for injecting a cold or a warm liquid, and   wherein the cooling element is a Peltier element, the heating element is a heating coil, and the cold or warm liquid is a saline solution.   
   
   
       30 . The mapping catheter as claimed in  claim 25 , further comprising a sensor for determining data selected from the group consisting of: electrophysiological data of the patient, physiological data of the patient, biometric data of the patient, and position data of the mapping catheter. 
   
   
       31 . The mapping catheter as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the area of the organ is a flat surface and the organ is the patient's heart. 
   
   
       32 . A mapping catheter apparatus for determining a temperature related data of an area of an organ of a patient, comprising:
 a mapping catheter comprising a distal area that introduces into the organ;   a thermosensor that determines the temperature related data, wherein the thermosensor is arranged at a tip of the mapping catheter and is aligned in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the mapping catheter; and   a control device that processes the temperature related data of the thermosensor.   
   
   
       33 . The mapping catheter apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the control device processes the temperature related data in a real time. 
   
   
       34 . The mapping catheter apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the control device detects a position or an orientation of the mapping catheter based on a position sensor system of the mapping catheter. 
   
   
       35 . The mapping catheter apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the mapping catheter is integrated with an ablation catheter or an electrophysiological catheter. 
   
   
       36 . The mapping catheter apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 , further comprising a device for cooling down or heating up a blood in contact with the area of the organ, wherein the device is an infusion pump controlled by the control device. 
   
   
       37 . The mapping catheter apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 ,
 wherein the thermosensor repeatedly determines the temperature related data based on a signal of the control device for a continuous determination or a determination at a specific interval, and   wherein the control device determines a profile for temperature vs. time from the repeated temperature related data.   
   
   
       38 . The mapping catheter apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 ,
 wherein the control device actives the thermosensor to determine the temperature related data, and   wherein the activation is based on a signal of an electrocardiogram of the patient.   
   
   
       39 . The mapping catheter apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 ,
 wherein the control device determines a temperature gradient from the temperature related data, and   wherein the temperature gradient is determined after a cooling down or a heating up of at least a part of the area of the organ or a blood in contact with the area of the organ.   
   
   
       40 . A method for graphically presenting a temperature related data of an area of an organ of a patient, comprising:
 arranging a thermosensor at a tip of a mapping catheter;   aligning the thermosensor in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the mapping catheter;   measuring the temperature related data of the area of the organ by inserting the mapping catheter into the organ;   processing the temperature related data by a control device; and   graphically presenting the temperature related data on an image output device.   
   
   
       41 . The method as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the temperature related data is graphically presented by a color or a brightness coding related to an anatomical presentation of the area of the organ. 
   
   
       42 . The method as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the temperature related data is presented interactively with a user via an input device. 
   
   
       43 . The method as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the temperature related data is overlaid at least partly with an electrophysiological data of the patient or a biometric data of the patient and is presented in an area of an anatomical presentation of the organ as a supplement to the electrophysiological data or the biometric data. 
   
   
       44 . The method as claimed in  claim 40 ,
 wherein a structure is recognized in the presentation of the temperature related data by an image processing or pattern detection program, and   wherein the structure is an existing cicatricial tissue or an ablation lesion and is overlaid on an anatomical or an electrophysiological presentation of the area of the organ.