System for sharing electrocardiogram electrodes and transducers

摘要

A device having a combined electrode (20) and position tracking transducer (30) mounted to a surgical instrument, such as a catheter (10). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electrode (20) serves dual functions, namely as a standard ECG electrode for communicating an ECG voltage, and as an electrode transducer, such as a conductor for a transducer. The combined ECG electrode and position tracking transducer minimizes the amount of space needed on the surgical instrument and the number of required components.