Apparatus for magnetically deployable catheter with mosfet sensor and method for mapping and ablation

Abstract

A mapping and ablation catheter is described. In one embodiment, the catheter includes a MOSFET sensor array that provides better fidelity of the signal measurements as well as data collection and reduces the error generated by spatial distribution of the isotropic and anisotropic wavefronts. In one embodiment, the system maps the change in potential in the vicinity of an activation wavefront. In one embodiment, the mapping system tracks the spread of excitation in the heart, with properties such as propagation velocity changes. In one embodiment, during measurement, the manifold carrying the sensor array expands from a closed position state to a deployable open state. Spatial variation of the electrical potential is captured by the system's ability to occupy the same three-dimensional coordinate set for repeated measurements of the desired site. In one embodiment, an interpolation algorithm tracks the electrogram data points to produce a map relative to the electrocardiogram data.

1 . A catheterization method, comprising:
 guiding a distal end of a catheter to a desired region of tissue;   spreading sensor arms of said catheter;   establishing contact between said sensor arms and the region of tissue;   sensing a position of said sensor arms;   measuring activation potential data using sensors provided to said sensor arms;   measuring impedance data of tissue between said sensor arms using contacts provided to said sensor arms; and   displaying a map of activation potential and impedance of said region of tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using said activation potential data and said impedance data in a calculation to predict an RF ablation lesion. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising creating an RF ablation lesion. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said sensors comprise MOSFET sensors. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said contacts comprise PN junctions. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said contacts comprise alternating PN junctions. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising calculating an angle between an E vector and an energy vector in said region of tissue. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising identifying anomalies in activation vector spreads where an angle between said E vector and said energy vector exceeds a threshold. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said position of said sensor arms is measured using radar. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said position of said sensor arms is measured using X-rays. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 calculating a desired direction of movement for said distal end;   computing a magnetic field needed to produce said movement;   controlling a plurality of electric currents and pole positions to produce said magnetic field; and   measuring a location of said distal end.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising controlling one or more electromagnets to produce said magnetic field. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising simulating a magnetic field before creating said magnetic field.