Catheter configuration interface and related system

1. A system for implementing a procedure for the diagnosis or treatment of tissue in a body, comprising:

an electronic control unit configured to:

generate a graphical user interface on a display, said graphical user interface depicting an image of said tissue;

receive a first input regarding a first target location on said tissue;

identify a catheter for use in said procedure;

determine a first configuration for a distal end of said catheter at said first target location, said first configuration chosen from among a plurality of potential configurations for said distal end of said catheter, each of said plurality of potential configurations based on a structural characteristic of said catheter; and

superimpose a first representation of said distal end of said catheter on said image of said tissue at said first target location, wherein said first representation depicts said distal end of said catheter in said first configuration.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic control unit is further configured to generate control signals to guide said distal end of said catheter to said first location and to assume said first configuration at said first location.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic control unit is further configured to:

receive a second input regarding a second target location of said tissue;

determine a second configuration for said distal end of said catheter at said second target location; and

superimpose a second representation of said distal end of said catheter on said image of said tissue at said second target location, wherein said second representation depicts said distal end of said catheter in said second configuration.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said electronic control unit is further configured to:

select one location of said first and second target locations; and

generate control signals to guide said distal end of said catheter to said one location of said first and second target locations and to assume a corresponding one of said first and second configurations at said one location.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said electronic control unit is further configured to generate control signals to guide said distal end of said catheter to another location of said first and second target locations and to assume a corresponding one of said first and second configurations at said another location.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein said electronic control unit is further configured to suggest an order of said first and second target locations for diagnosis or treatment.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic control unit is further configured, in identifying said catheter, to receive identifying information from said catheter upon connection of said catheter to said electronic control unit.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic control unit is further configured, in identifying said catheter, to receive a second input through an input device connected to said electronic control unit.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic control unit is further configured, in determining said first configuration, to:

generate said plurality of potential configurations for said distal end of said catheter;

display a plurality of icons on said graphical user interface, each icon of said plurality of icons corresponding to a potential configuration in at least a subset of said plurality of potential configurations; and

recognize a selected configuration from among said plurality of potential configurations as said first configuration responsive to a second input.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein a value for a visual characteristic associated with each of said plurality of icons varies responsive to a characteristic associated with one of said catheter and said tissue.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic control unit is further configured, in determining said first configuration, to select said first configuration from among said plurality of potential configurations for said distal end of said catheter.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said electronic control unit selects said first configuration responsive to a characteristic associated with said tissue.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic control unit is further configured to generate an alert if said first configuration cannot be implemented at said first target location.

14. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a computer storage medium having a computer program encoded thereon for implementing a procedure for the diagnosis or treatment of tissue in a body, said computer program including code for:

generating a graphical user interface on a display, said graphical user interface depicting an image of said tissue;

receiving a first input regarding a first target location on said tissue;

identifying a catheter for use in said procedure;

determining a first configuration for a distal end of said catheter at said first target location, said first configuration chosen from among a plurality of potential configurations for said distal end of said catheter, each of said plurality of potential configurations based on a structural characteristic of said catheter; and

superimposing a first representation of said distal end of said catheter on said image of said tissue at said first target location wherein said first representation depicts said distal end of said catheter in said first configuration.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 14 wherein said computer program includes code for generating control signals to guide said distal end of said catheter to said first location and to assume said first configuration at said first location.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 14 wherein said computer program includes code for:

receiving a second input regarding a second target location of said tissue;

determining a second configuration for said distal end of said catheter at said second target location;

superimposing a second representation of said distal end of said catheter on said image of said tissue at said second target location, wherein said second representation depicts said distal end of said catheter in said second configuration;

selecting one location of said first and second target locations; and

generating control signals to guide said distal end of said catheter to said one location of said first and second target locations and to assume a corresponding one of said first and second configurations at said one location.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 16 wherein said computer program includes code for generating control signals to guide said distal end of said catheter to another location of said first and second target locations and to assume a corresponding one of said first and second configurations at said another location.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 14 wherein said code for determining said first configuration includes code for:

generating said plurality of potential configurations for said distal end of said catheter;

displaying a plurality of icons on said graphical user interface, each icon of said plurality of icons corresponding to a potential configuration in at least a subset of said plurality of potential configurations; and

recognizing a selected configuration from among said plurality of potential configurations as said first configuration responsive to a second input.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 18 wherein a value for a visual characteristic associated with each of said plurality of icons varies responsive to a characteristic associated with one of said catheter and said tissue.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 14 wherein said computer program includes code for generating an alert if said first configuration cannot be implemented at said first target location.

21. A system for implementing a procedure for the diagnosis or treatment of tissue in a body, comprising:

means for generating a graphical user interface on a display, said graphical user interface depicting an image of said tissue;

means for receiving a first input regarding a first target location on said tissue;

means for identifying a catheter for use in said procedure;

means for determining a first configuration for a distal end of said catheter at said first target location, said first configuration chosen from among a plurality of potential configurations for said distal end of said catheter, each of said plurality of potential configurations based on a structural characteristic of said catheter; and

means for superimposing a first representation of said distal end of said catheter on said image of said tissue at said first target location, wherein said first representation depicts said distal end of said catheter in said first configuration.