Reconfirmation of ecg-assisted catheter tip placement

Abstract

Reconfirmation of the position of a catheter intravascularly placed with the assistance of ECG signals of the patient is disclosed, thus assisting in determination of subsequent catheter displacement within the patient vasculature. In one embodiment a method for reconfirming a position of an indwelling medical device within a body of a patient comprises first placing the medical device within the body of the patient using ECG signals of the patient. A first ECG signal profile relating to an initial position of the indwelling medical device after initial placement of the medical device is stored. A second ECG signal profile relating to the position of the indwelling medical device at a time subsequent to initial placement of the medical device is then acquired. The first ECG signal profile is compared with the second ECG signal profile to determine whether displacement of the indwelling medical device has occurred.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for reconfirming a position of an indwelling medical device within a body of a patient, the method comprising:
 placing the medical device within the body of the patient using ECG signals of the patient;   storing a first ECG signal profile relating to an initial position of the indwelling medical device after initial placement of the medical device is complete;   acquiring a second ECG signal profile relating to a position of the indwelling medical device at a time subsequent to initial placement of the medical device; and   comparing the first ECG signal profile with the second ECG signal profile to determine whether displacement of the indwelling medical device has occurred after initial placement of the medical device.   
     
     
         2 . The method for reconfirming as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the medical device includes a catheter and wherein displacement of the medical device is determined relative to a distal tip of the catheter. 
     
     
         3 . The method for reconfirming as defined in  claim 1 , wherein storing the first ECG signal profile includes storing the first ECG signal profile on a component associated with the medical device or the patient. 
     
     
         4 . The method for reconfirming as defined in  claim 3 , wherein storing the first ECG signal profile includes storing the first ECG signal profile on a card readable by a card reader. 
     
     
         5 . The method for reconfirming as defined in  claim 3 , wherein storing the first ECG signal profile includes storing the first ECG signal profile on the medical device itself. 
     
     
         6 . The method for reconfirming as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the medical device includes a catheter and wherein storing the first ECG profile includes storing the first ECG signal profile on an RFID chip included with the catheter. 
     
     
         7 . The method for reconfirming as defined in  claim 1 , wherein storing the first ECG signal profile includes storing the first ECG signal profile remotely from the medical device. 
     
     
         8 . The method for reconfirming as defined in  claim 1 , wherein storing the first ECG signal profile further includes forwarding ECG signals from an electrode associated with the medical device to an ECG monitor via a conductive path established between the electrode and the ECG monitor. 
     
     
         9 . The method for reconfirming as defined in  claim 8 , wherein comparing the first ECG signal profile with the second ECG signal profile includes depicting the first and second ECG signal profiles as waveforms on a display of the ECG monitor. 
     
     
         10 . The method for reconfirming as defined in  claim 9 , wherein comparing the first and second ECG signal profiles includes comparing P-wave components of the first and second ECG signal profiles. 
     
     
         11 . The method for reconfirming as defined in  claim 10 , wherein storing the first ECG signal profile includes storing the first ECG signal profile in a memory of the ECG signal monitor. 
     
     
         12 . A system for reconfirming the position of a catheter within a patient, the catheter being disposed in proximity to an ECG signal-producing node of the heart of the patient, the system comprising:
 at least one electrode for acquiring a first ECG signal profile, the first ECG signal profile relating to an initial position of a distal tip of the catheter within the patient, the at least one electrode also for acquiring a second ECG signal profile relating to a subsequent position of the distal tip of the catheter within the patient;   a storage component for storing at least the first ECG signal profile; and   an ECG signal monitor that receives the first ECG signal profile from the storage component and also receives the second ECG signal profile, the ECG signal monitor conveying data relating to first and second ECG signal profiles so as to enable determination of whether the subsequent position of the distal tip of the catheter differs from the initial position.   
     
     
         13 . The system for reconfirming as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one electrode for acquiring the first ECG signal profile is included with the catheter within the body of the patient, and wherein the at least one electrode is operably connected to the ECG signal monitor by a conductive path. 
     
     
         14 . The system for reconfirming as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one electrode includes a stylet disposed within a lumen of the catheter, and wherein the conductive path includes a tether operably connected to the at least one electrode. 
     
     
         15 . The system for reconfirming as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one electrode and conductive path includes a conductive solution disposed within a lumen of the catheter. 
     
     
         16 . The system for reconfirming as defined in  claim 15 , wherein a conductive wire is partially disposed in the conductive solution, the conductive wire extending from the catheter and operably connecting to the ECG signal monitor. 
     
     
         17 . The system for reconfirming as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the storage component includes an RFID chip included in the catheter, and wherein the ECG signal monitor includes an RFID encoder/reader for encoding and reading the first ECG signal profile of the RFID chip. 
     
     
         18 . The system for reconfirming as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the RFID chip is a field-programmable chip. 
     
     
         19 . The system for reconfirming as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the storage component is remotely disposed with respect to the catheter. 
     
     
         20 . The system for reconfirming as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the storage component includes a card including a programmable magnetic stripe, and wherein the ECG signal monitor includes a card encoder/reader. 
     
     
         21 . The system for reconfirming as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the ECG signal monitor wirelessly receives the first ECG signal profile from a remote location. 
     
     
         22 . The system for reconfirming as defined in  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first and second ECG signal profiles includes data relating to at least one of a length of the portion of the catheter remaining external to the body of the patient after placement and a web portal where further information can be acquired. 
     
     
         23 . The system for reconfirming as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the ECG signal monitor includes at least one electrode disposed internal to the patient and at least two electrodes for placement of the skin of the patient. 
     
     
         24 . The system for reconfirming as defined in  claim 12 , wherein a first electrode is employed in acquiring the first ECG signal profile and a second electrode is employed in acquiring the second ECG signal profile. 
     
     
         25 . A method for reconfirming a position of a distal tip of a catheter within a vasculature of a patient, the method comprising:
 placing a catheter within the vasculature of the patient using ECG signals of the patient;   storing a first ECG signal profile relating to an initial position of the distal tip of the catheter after initial placement of the catheter is complete;   acquiring a second ECG signal profile relating to a position of the distal tip of the catheter at a time after initial placement of the catheter; and   comparing the first ECG signal profile with the second ECG signal profile to determine whether displacement of the catheter within the vasculature has occurred after initial placement of the catheter.   
     
     
         26 . The method for reconfirming as defined in  claim 25 , wherein comparing the first and second ECG signal profiles includes visually observing first and second ECG waveforms detected by at least one electrode disposed within the patient. 
     
     
         27 . The method for reconfirming as defined in  claim 26 , wherein comparing the first and second ECG signal profiles includes comparing P-wave components of the first and second ECG waveforms, the first and second ECG waveforms depicted in a superimposed fashion on a display of an ECG signal monitor. 
     
     
         28 . The method for reconfirming as defined in  claim 25 , wherein comparing the first and second ECG signal profiles is performed automatically by an ECG signal monitor that receives the first and second ECG signal profiles. 
     
     
         29 . The method for reconfirming as defined in  claim 25 , wherein storing the first ECG signal profile includes:
 acquiring the first ECG signal profile via at least one intravascular electrode; and   storing the first ECG signal profile on a storage component, the storage component encodable by an encoder included with an ECG monitor.