Physical cable lead identifier for medical systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9522048-B1
Application number	US-201514804825-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 21, 2015
Priority date	Jul 21, 2015
Publication date	Dec 20, 2016
Grant date	Dec 20, 2016

Abstract

In the present invention, an electrophysiology (EP) mapping or recording device for obtaining and recording information on a patient connected to the EP system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a display connected to the CPU, a catheter connected to the CPU by a catheter input module and configured to supply a physiological signal to the CPU via the input module and a catheter identification system connected between the input module catheter and the CPU. The identification system includes a driver circuit that communicates with the CPU to determine a color of a visual representation of the signal from the catheter on the display and a light source connected to the driver circuit. The light source is operated by the driver circuit to emit light corresponding to the color of the representation on the display to identify the catheter in conjunction with the representation on the display.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A catheter identification system for associating a catheter connected to an electrophysiology (EP) recording or mapping device with a visual representation of a signal from the catheter on a display for the device, the identification system comprising:
a) a driver circuit operably connectable to the device and configured to communicate with a central processing unit of the device to determine a color of the visual representation of the signal on the display; and
b) a light source operably connected to the driver circuit, wherein the light source is operated by the driver circuit to emit light corresponding to the color of the visual representation on the display.

2. The identification system of claim 1 wherein the light source is a multi-chromatic light source.

3. The identification system of claim 2 wherein the light source is a multi-chromatic LED.

4. The identification system of claim 1 further comprising an input module within which the driver circuit and light source are positioned.

5. The identification system of claim 4 wherein the input module comprises:
a. a number of connection ports each adapted to engage a catheter inserted therein; and
b. a number of light sources, each light source disposed adjacent a connection port and operably connected to the driver circuit.

6. The identification system of claim 5 wherein the number of light sources are each enclosed within the input module.

7. The identification system of claim 1 wherein the driver circuit comprises:
a. a connector operably engageable with the mapping and recording device;
b. a circuit controller operably connected to the light source and to the connector, the circuit controller configured to communicate with the mapping and recording device via the connector to selectively operate the light source.

8. The identification system of claim 7 further comprising an over-writable memory module operably connected to the circuit controller, the over-writable memory module configured to receive and retain information concerning a particular configuration for the device for use by the circuit controller in operating the light source.

9. The identification system of claim 7 further comprising a non-volatile memory module operably connected to the circuit controller, the non-volatile memory module configured to retain information concerning operational parameters of the device for use by the circuit controller in operating the light source.

10. The identification system of claim 9 wherein the light source is a multi-chromatic LED.

11. The identification system of claim 10 wherein the circuit controller is configured to operate the multi-chromatic LED to emit light of different intensities from various diodes forming the LED.

12. An EP device for obtaining and recording information on a patient connected to the EP system, the EP device comprising:
a. an amplifier including a catheter input module;
b. a computer operably connected to the amplifier and including a central processing unit connected to the amplifier and a display connected to the central processing unit;
c. at least one catheter connected to the catheter input module and configured to supply a physiological signal to the computer via the input module and amplifier; and
d. a catheter identification system operably connected between the input module catheter and the central processing unit, the identification system comprising:
i. a driver circuit configured to communicate with the central processing unit to determine a color of a visual representation of the signal on the display; and
ii. a light source operably connected to the driver circuit, wherein the light source is operated by the driver circuit to emit light corresponding to the color of the visual representation on the display.

13. The EP device of claim 12 wherein the driver circuit comprises:
a. a connector operably engageable with the central processing unit;
b. a circuit controller operably connected to the light source and to the connector, the circuit controller configured to communicate with the central processing unit via the connector to selectively operate the light source.

14. The EP device of claim 12 wherein the input module comprises:
a. a number of connection ports engageable with the at least one catheter; and
b. a number of light sources, each light source disposed adjacent a connection port and operably connected to the driver circuit.

15. The EP device of claim 14 wherein each light source is a multi-chromatic LED.

16. The EP device of claim 15 wherein the circuit controller is configured to operate each multi-chromatic LED to emit light of different intensities from various diodes forming the LED.

17. A method of identifying a catheter connected to an EP device having a display, the method comprising the steps of:
a) providing a catheter identification system operably connected between a catheter input module an a central processing unit of the EP device, the identification system including a driver circuit configured to communicate with the central processing unit to determine a color of a visual representation of a signal from the catheter on the display and a light source operably connected to the driver circuit, wherein the light source is operated by the driver circuit to emit light corresponding to the color of the visual representation on the display;
b) connecting the catheter to the catheter input module;
c) determining the color of the representation of the signal for the catheter on the display;
d) operating the light source to emit a color corresponding to the color of the representation of the signal on the display.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of operating the light source further comprises the step of altering the operation of the light source in response to anomalies detected by the central processing unit in the signal from the catheter.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of operating the light source further comprises the step of altering the operation of the light source in response to activation of a tracing function in the central processing unit.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of operating the light source further comprises the step of altering the operation of the light source in response to sending pulses to the catheter from the central processing unit.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Schmit Rodger F
• Warner Adrian F
• Schneidewend Daniel R
• Stiemke Timothy P

Classifications

• A61B5/742

  using visual displays (displays for heart-related electrical signals, e.g. ECG, A61B5/339) · CPC title

• G08B5/36

  using visible light sources · CPC title

• A61B90/92 Primary

  coded with colour · CPC title

• A61B5/042

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A61B5/6852

  Catheters · CPC title