System and method for treating arrhythmias in the heart using information obtained from heart wall motion

Abstract

A system and method for treating an arrhythmia in a heart are provided. The system includes an electronic control unit configured to monitor movement of one or more position sensor over a period of time. The position sensors may, for example, comprise electrodes or coils configured to generate induced voltages and currents in the presence of electromagnetic fields, The positions sensors are in contact with portions of heart tissue and changes in position are representative of motion of that tissue. The electronic control unit is further configured to generate an indicator, responsive to the movements of the sensors over the period of time, of a characteristic of the heart affected by delivery of ablation energy to heart tissue. In this manner, the effectiveness and safety of cardiac tissue ablation for treatment of the arrhythmia can be assessed and a post-ablation therapy regimen determined.

1 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method for monitoring the delivery of ablation energy in a heart, the method comprising:
 monitoring movement of a first position sensor over a period of time, the first position sensor in contact with the heart; and,   generating an indicator, responsive to the movement of the first position sensor over the period of time, of a characteristic of the heart affected by delivery of the ablation energy.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of adjusting a parameter associated with the delivery of the ablation energy responsive to the indicator. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of monitoring movement of a second position sensor over the period of time, the second position sensor in contact with a second portion of tissue of the heart, the indicator generated responsive to the movement of the first position sensor and the movement of the second position sensor over the period of time. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the generating step includes the substep of determining a distance between the first position sensor and the second position sensor over the period of time. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the generating step includes the substep of determining whether the distance meets a predetermined characteristic relative to a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the generating step includes the substeps of:
 determining a velocity of the first position sensor over the period of time; and 
 computing an index responsive to the distance and the velocity. 
 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the generating step includes the sub step of determining whether the movement of the first position sensor over the period of time meets a predetermined characteristic relative to a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the generating step includes the sub step of determining a velocity of the first position senor over the period of time. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the generating step includes the sub step of determining whether a magnitude of the movement of the first position sensor meets a predetermined characteristic relative to a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the generating step includes the sub step of determining a direction of the movement of the first position sensor. 
     
     
         32 . A system for treating an arrhythmia in a heart, comprising:
 an electronic control unit configured to
 monitor, during delivery of ablation energy to a first portion of tissue of the heart, movement of a first position sensor over a period of time, the first position sensor in contact with the heart; and, 
 generate an indicator, responsive to the movement of the first position sensor over the period of time, of a characteristic of the heart affected by delivery of the ablation energy. 
   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , the electronic control unit further configured to adjust a parameter associated with the delivery of the ablation energy responsive to the indicator. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32 , the electronic control unit further configured to monitor movement of a second position sensor over the period of time, the second position sensor in contact with a second portion of tissue of the heart, the indicator generated responsive to the movement of the first position sensor and the movement of the second position sensor over the period of time. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to determine a distance between the first position sensor and the second position sensor over the period of time. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35  wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to determine whether the distance meets a predetermined characteristic relative to a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 35  wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to:
 determine a velocity of the first position sensor over the period of time; and 
 compute an index responsive to the distance and the velocity. 
 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to determine whether the movement of the first position sensor over the period of time meets a predetermined characteristic relative to a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to determine a velocity of the first position senor over the period of time. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to determine whether a magnitude of the movement of the first position sensor meets a predetermined characteristic relative to a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40  wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to determine a direction of the movement of the first position sensor. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to generate a map of differences in the velocity of the first position sensor over the period of time. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to generate a map of differences in tissue strain based on the velocity of the first position sensor over the period of time. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising generate a map of differences in tissue strain based on the velocity of the first position sensor over the period of time.