Shift and drift correction in impedance-based medical device navigation using impedance measurements at external patch electrodes

摘要

Systems and methods are provided for determining the characteristics of device electrodes placed on medical devices in the body. A plurality of measurement electrodes are coupled to the outer surface of the body and establish a current transmission path through the body. An electronic control unit (ECU) is configured to cause the transfer of current between a pair of active electrodes selected from the measurement electrodes, thereby generating a voltage across the device electrode. The ECU receives impedance signals from a plurality of passive electrodes in the measurement electrode other than the active electrode. The ECU establishes a virtual reference electrode at a reference position in the body in response to the impedance signal, and calculates the position of the device in response to the voltage applied to the device electrode and the reference position of the reference electrode. The ECU can also calculate the impedance at the device and the measurement electrode.