Electroanatomical mapping system

Abstract

Apparatus for use with an electroanatomical mapping system, an elongated needle assembly having a distal energy emitter configured to be detectable by the electroanatomical mapping system, an energy-delivery assembly having at least one sensor configured to receive, at least in part, the distal energy emitter of the elongated needle assembly in such a way that the distal energy emitter and said at least one sensor are movable relative to each other. The apparatus includes a signal-interface assembly. The signal-interface assembly includes a signal-input section configured to be signal connectable to said at least one sensor of the energy-delivery assembly. A signal-output section is configured to be signal connectable to an input section of the electroanatomical mapping system.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An energy delivery assembly for transseptal puncture adapted for use with an electroanatomical mapping system, the assembly comprising:
 a medical sheath having a dilator lumen;   a medical dilator configured to advance through the dilator lumen of the medical sheath, the medical dilator having a puncture device lumen;   an energy puncture device having a distal portion including a distal energy emitter configured to be detectable by the electroanatomical mapping system, the puncture device configured to advance through the puncture device lumen;   at least one sensor coupled to at least one of the medical sheath and the medical dilator such that the distal energy emitter and said at least one sensor are movable relative to each other; and   a signal-interface assembly including a signal-input section configured to be operably coupled to said at least one sensor and a signal-output section configured to be operably coupled to an input section of the electroanatomical mapping system;   wherein the electroanatomical mapping system is configured to operably couple to the signal-interface assembly and to display spatial positions of the at least one sensor and the distal energy emitter.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the energy-delivery assembly further includes a wire extending along a length of the puncture device, the wire electrically connected to the distal energy emitter. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the medical sheath has at least one sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the medical dilator has a least one sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4  wherein the puncture device is a radio-frequency puncture needle. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the signal-interface assembly is configured to receive at least one sensor signal from the at least one sensor and to convey the least one sensor signal to the electroanatomical mapping system. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the signal-interface assembly is configured to receive an energy signal associated with the energy-delivery assembly and convey the energy signal to the electroanatomical mapping system. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a display device configured to be electrically connected to the electroanatomical mapping system. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein the electroanatomical mapping system is configured to output mapping information to the display device, the mapping information includes a spatial position of the distal energy emitter and the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a mapping cable configured to split into multiple conductors each having at least one dedicated pin electrically connected to at least one sensor, the mapping cable also configured to interface with the signal-interface assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the signal-interface assembly is configured to convey electrical signals from an aspect of the energy-delivery assembly to enable visualization of aspects of the energy-delivery assembly via a display device of the electroanatomical mapping system. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the at least one sensor includes a dilator sensor coupled to the medical dilator and a sheath sensor coupled to the medical sheath. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein the medical sheath is steerable and includes a handle having a steering adjustment knob. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13  wherein the handle includes a conductor cable adapted to operably couple with the signal-interface assembly.