SYSTEM FOR EXAMINING CARDIAC TISSUE ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS

摘要

Systems and methods examine heart tissue morphology using three or more spaced apart electrodes (38), at least two of which are located within the heart (12) in contact with endocardial tissue. The systems and methods transmit electrical current through a region of heart tissue lying between selected pairs of the electrodes (38), at least one of the electrodes (38) in each pair being located within the heart (12). The systems and methods derive the electrical characteristic of tissue lying between the electrode (38) pairs based, at least in part, upon sensing tissue impedances. The systems and methods make possible the use of multiple endocardial electrodes (38) for making multiple measurements of the electrical characteristics of heart tissue. Multiplexing can be used to facilitate date processing. The systems and methods almost make possible the identification of regions of low relative electrical characteristics, indicative of infarcted tissue, without invasive surgical techniques.