Patent ID: 11883152
Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 6:
7. An apparatus, comprising:
an electrical generator and measurer;
a processor circuit in communication with a catheter configured to contact tissue within a body at a contact angle, wherein the processor circuit is configured to:
control the electrical generator and measurer to:
emit from a first electrode of the catheter a first electrical signal,
emit from a second electrode of the catheter a second electrical signal,
emit from a third electrode of the catheter a third electrical signal; and
measure using the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode a plurality of voltages associated with the first electrical signal, the second electrical signal, and the third electrical signal;

calculate a first interelectrode impedance based on the plurality of voltages;
calculate a different, second interelectrode impedance based on the plurality of voltages;
for each angle of a plurality of hypothetical angles, calculate a set of a first hypothetical contact force for the angle and a second hypothetical contact force for the angle, wherein the first hypothetical contact force and the second hypothetical contact force are calculated based on the first interelectrode impedance and the second interelectrode impedance, respectively;
compare the first hypothetical contact force and the second hypothetical contact force in each set and select an angle of the plurality of hypothetical angles based on closeness of first hypothetical contract force and the second hypothetical contact force to each other in the set of the selected angle;
determine the contact angle based on the selected angle; and
output a representation indicative of the contact angle.