Patent ID: 6233477
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A catheter system comprising:a locator catheter comprising a catheter shaft having a distal tip section, a distal end, a proximal end and at least one lumen extending therebetween, wherein at least one electrode is secured at said distal tip section; a handle attached to the proximal end of said catheter shaft; an ultrasound crystal secured on the catheter shaft proximal to the distal end for transmitting ultrasound signals; a connector secured to the proximal end of said handle;a reference catheter comprising at least three ultrasound crystal beacons for receiving the ultrasound signals transmitted from the ultrasound crystal secured to the locator catheter, wherein at least one beacon is movable on said reference catheter and controllable by a beacon deployment mechanism at the handle, said beacons having coordinates that are pre-set with reference to an external location calibration system, wherein said beacons can emit and receive ultrasound signals;said external location calibration system for receiving signals from the crystal beacons and constantly calibrating the coordinates of the beacons on the reference catheter; anda data acquisition computer connected to the location calibration system for determining the location of the locator catheter.