System and method for assessing lesions in tissue

1. A guidance system for a catheter, comprising:

an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to:

analyze first and second components of a complex impedance between an electrode and tissue;

analyze a state of contact between the electrode and the tissue;

determine location coordinates of the electrode over a period of time to analyze a stability of the electrode location; and

assess lesion formation in at least one site on the tissue according to the first and second complex impedance components, according to the state of contact, and according to the stability of the electrode location; and

a display device, electrically coupled with said ECU, configured to provide feedback to a user for manipulating the catheter according to said lesion formation assessment.

2. The guidance system of claim 1 , wherein the state of contact comprises one or more of a contact pressure, a contact force, a temperature, a change in temperature, and a fluid flow rate.

3. The guidance system of claim 1 , wherein said ECU is configured to assess lesion formation by calculating an index responsive to at least the first and second complex impedance components and to the state of contact.

4. The guidance system of claim 3 , wherein said ECU is configured to assess lesion formation by calculating an index rate by:

receiving a first set of said location coordinates corresponding to a first location of the electrode and a second set of said location coordinates corresponding to a second location of the electrode;

calculating an index change between a first index calculated responsive to first and second components of a first complex impedance acquired while the electrode is located at the first location and a second index calculated responsive to first and second components of a second complex impedance acquired while the electrode is located at the second location over a predetermined time interval;

calculating a change in the first and second sets of location coordinates; and

calculating an index rate by dividing the index change by the change in the first and second sets of location coordinates.

5. The guidance system of claim 4 , wherein said ECU is configured to assess lesion formation by comparing the index rate to one or more thresholds.

6. The guidance system of claim 3 , wherein the index is responsive to at least the first and second complex impedance components, a temperature, and a contact force.

7. The guidance system of claim 6 , wherein the index is additionally responsive to a measure of trabeculation.

8. The guidance system of claim 3 , wherein said ECU is configured to assess lesion formation by comparing the index to one or more thresholds.

9. The guidance system of claim 1 , wherein assessing lesion formation comprises determining whether a change in the complex impedance is due to a change in the state of contact or a change in the tissue.

10. A system for generating an electroanatomical map, comprising:

an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to:

analyze first and second components of a complex impedance between an electrode and tissue;

analyze a state of contact between the electrode and the tissue;

determine location coordinates of the electrode over a period of time to analyze a stability of the electrode location;

assess lesion formation in at least one site on the tissue based on the complex impedance values, the contact state, and the stability of the electrode location; and

generate an electroanatomical map containing a plurality of assessed lesion sites; and

a display device, electrically coupled with said ECU, configured to display respective tissue characteristics associated with each of the plurality of assessed lesion sites.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the state of contact comprises one or more of a contact pressure, a contact force, a temperature, a change in temperature, and a fluid flow rate.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein said ECU is configured to assess lesion formation by calculating an index responsive to at least the first and second complex impedance components and to the state of contact.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein said ECU is configured to assess lesion formation by calculating an index rate by:

receiving a first set of said location coordinates corresponding to a first location of the electrode and a second set of said location coordinates corresponding to a second location of the electrode;

calculating an index change between a first index calculated responsive to first and second components of a first complex impedance acquired while the electrode is located at the first location and a second index calculated responsive to first and second components of a second complex impedance acquired while the electrode is located at the second location over a predetermined time interval;

calculating a change in the first and second sets of location coordinates; and

calculating an index rate by dividing the index change by the change in the first and second sets of location coordinates.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein said ECU is configured to assess lesion formation by comparing the index rate to one or more thresholds.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the index is responsive to at least the first and second complex impedance components, a temperature, and a contact force.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the index is additionally responsive to a measure of trabeculation.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein said ECU is configured to assess lesion formation by comparing the index to one or more thresholds.

18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the respective tissue characteristics are placed on the electroanatomical map.

19. The system of claim 10 , wherein assessing lesion formation comprises determining whether a change in the complex impedance is due to a change in the state of contact or a change in the tissue.