A method for catheter navigation within realistic three-dimensional cardiac anatomy

We recently combined noncontact mapping and intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) in a single catheter-system that permitted detailed, single-beat, 3-D electrical-anatomical imaging of the heart. In the present study we developed a nonfluoroscopic electrode-catheter localization method and integrated it with noncontact electrical-anatomical imaging. The difference in nonfluoroscopic electrode locations compared to ICE was 6.3±3.4 mm, while error in reproducibility of the nonfluoroscopic method was 0.7±1.0 mm. Therefore, accurate and reproducible nonfluoroscopic localization and navigation of standard electrode-catheters within true and detailed 3-D images of cardiac anatomy is feasible. This approach may facilitate diagnosis of arrhythmias and advance their therapy.