Patent ID: 6256540
Filing Date: 2001-07-03
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
A system for examining tissue within a heart, comprising:at least three spaced apart electrodes,an invasive catheter device for locating at least two of the electrodes within the heart for contact with endocardial tissue,a generator operable in one mode for transmitting electrical current in a first path through a region of heart tissue between a first pair of the electrodes, at least one of which is within the heart, the generator being operable in another mode for transmitting electrical current in a second path through heart tissue in the region between a second pair of electrodes, at least one of which is within the heart, without substantially altering the position of the first pair of electrodes, anda processor configured for deriving tissue electrical characteristics based, at least in part, upon sensing impedances of the endocardial tissue lying in the first and second paths, and further for deriving iso-characteristic data from the endocardial tissue electrical characteristics.