GUI for Selective Operation of a Multi-Electrode Catheter

Abstract

The present invention is titled "GUI for Selective Manipulation of a Multi-Electrode Catheter". A system includes a display, an input device, and a processor. The processor is configured to present a GUI to a user on the display, the GUI showing a plurality of electrodes disposed on an inflatable frame of a multi-electrode catheter and indicating which of the electrodes are active and which of the electrodes are inactive. The processor is further configured to (a) receive a first user input via the input device selecting between a single-electrode selection mode and a sector selection mode, (b) when in the single-electrode selection mode, receive a second user input via the input device specifying activation and deactivation of a single one of the electrodes, and (c) when in the sector selection mode, receive a third user input via the input device specifying activation and deactivation of an angular sector including two or more of the electrodes, and activate and deactivate the electrodes in response to the first user input, the second user input, and the third user input.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to controlling medical probes, and more particularly to controlling a cardiac multi-electrode electrophysiology (EP) sensing and ablation catheter using a graphical user interface (GUI). Background Art

[0002] Previously, controlling a tissue ablation process by using a probe with a user interface has been proposed in the patent literature. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2018 / 0368927 describes a computer-implemented method for generating and displaying a graphical user interface (GUI). The method includes displaying, via the GUI, real-time video received from a camera disposed within an ablation catheter. The method further includes displaying, via the GUI, a graphical representation of a plurality of electrodes of the ablation catheter. In one embodiment, one or more controllers communicate with a radiofrequency generator and are configured to: (i) generate real-time video from the ablation catheter for display via the GUI, (ii) generate a graphical representation including electrode icons corresponding to the plurality of electrodes of the ablation catheter for display via the GUI, (iii) receive input via the graphical representation, (iv) select at least some of the electrode icons, and (v) cause the radiofrequency generator to transmit radiofrequency energy to the plurality of electrodes of the ablation catheter corresponding to the selected electrode icons.

[0003] As another example, U.S. Patent 6,625,482 describes a GUI for assisting medical personnel in interpreting data collected by a multi-electrode catheter deployed within the body. The GUI generates and displays an image of the multi-electrode catheter. By manipulating appropriate controls, the medical personnel can change the orientation of the displayed image until it matches the orientation of the actual multi-electrode catheter seen on a fluoroscope. Thereafter, the medical personnel can determine the relative position and orientation of the catheter by referring to the image generated by the GUI. To assist in interpreting the data retrieved by the catheter, individual electrodes and splines are highlighted and labeled. Electrodes that retrieve a particular type of physiological waveform can be automatically identified and highlighted.

[0004] U.S. Patent Application Publication 2007 / 0083193 describes devices, systems, and methods for tissue ablation. Embodiments include an ablation catheter having a series of ablation elements including electrodes attached to a deployable carrier assembly, the electrodes being configured to ablate tissue at low power. The system includes an interface unit having a visual display that provides a visual representation of the geometry of the ablation elements and / or provides selection means for selecting icons disposed on the display. The user interface can be used to perform a variety of functions including, but not limited to: selecting electrodes to receive energy, setting levels, types (bipolar and monopolar), and durations of power, setting catheter and other system threshold levels, setting mapping and other system parameters, initiating and stopping power transmission, canceling alarm states, and performing other functions common to electronic medical devices. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Embodiments of the present invention provide a system that includes a display, an input device, and a processor. The processor is configured to present a graphical user interface (GUI) to a user on the display, the graphical user interface showing a plurality of electrodes disposed on an inflatable frame of a multi-electrode catheter and indicating which of the electrodes are active and which of the electrodes are inactive. The processor is further configured to (a) receive a first user input via the input device that selects between a single electrode selection mode and a sector selection mode, (b) when in the single electrode selection mode, receive a second user input via the input device that specifies activation and deactivation of a single one of the electrodes, and (c) when in the sector selection mode, receive a third user input via the input device, the third user input specifying activation and deactivation of an angular sector that includes two or more of the electrodes, and activate and deactivate the electrodes in response to the first user input, the second user input, and the third user input.

[0006] In some embodiments, the processor is further configured to automatically update the GUI based on a measured rotational orientation of the inflatable frame. In other embodiments, the processor is further configured to highlight one of a single electrode selection and a sector selection indication based on the selected mode.

[0007] In one embodiment, the GUI includes a diagram of an inflatable balloon catheter. In another embodiment, the GUI includes a diagram of an inflatable basket assembly.

[0008] In some embodiments, the processor is configured to switch between the single electrode selection mode and the sector selection mode in response to a user clicking on a central region of the GUI.

[0009] In some embodiments, in the single electrode selection mode, the processor is configured to activate or deactivate an electrode in response to the user clicking on a GUI element that represents the electrode in the GUI.

[0010] In other embodiments, in the sector selection mode, the processor is configured to activate and deactivate the electrodes in the selected angular sector in response to the user clicking on a GUI element that represents the selected angular sector. In other embodiments, in the sector selection mode, the processor is configured to receive user instructions to perform one or more of widening, narrowing, and rotating the angular sector.

[0011] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method is also provided, the method including presenting a graphical user interface (GUI) to a user on the display, the graphical user interface showing a plurality of electrodes disposed on an inflatable frame of a multi-electrode catheter and indicating which of the electrodes are activated and which of the electrodes are deactivated. Receiving a first user input via an input device, the first user input selecting between a single electrode selection mode and a sector selection mode. When in the single electrode selection mode, receiving a second user input via the input device, the second user input specifying activation or deactivation of a single one of the electrodes. When in the sector selection mode, receiving a third user input via the input device, the third user input specifying activation or deactivation of an angular sector including two or more of the electrodes. Activating and deactivating the electrodes in response to the first user input, the second user input, and the third user input.

[0012] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a non-transitory computer-readable medium is also provided, having a sequence of instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: (a) present a graphical user interface (GUI) to a user on the display, the graphical user interface showing a plurality of electrodes disposed on an inflatable frame of a multi-electrode catheter and indicating which of the electrodes are activated and which of the electrodes are deactivated, (b) receive a first user input via the input device, the first user input selecting between a single electrode selection mode and a sector selection mode, (c) when in the single electrode selection mode, receive a second user input via the input device, the second user input specifying activation or deactivation of a single one of the electrodes, (d) when in the sector selection mode, receive a third user input via the input device, the third user input specifying activation or deactivation of an angular sector including two or more of the electrodes; and (e) activate and deactivate the electrodes in response to the first user input, the second user input, and the third user input.

[0013] In conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the present invention will be more fully understood through the following detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, wherein:

[0014] Figure 1 Schematic illustration of a catheter-based positioning-tracking and balloon ablation system 20 including a GUI according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] Figure 2 is a schematic painted side view of the distal end of a balloon catheter deployed in the region of a pulmonary vein (PV) and its ostium according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0016] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a Figure 1 GUI according to some embodiments of the present invention; and

[0017] Figure 4 A flowchart schematically showing a method for using a Figure 3 GUI according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Overview

[0019] Achieving continuous and comprehensive awareness and control of the multiple possible arrangements of the electrode configuration of a medical probe by a physician (e.g., for safe multi-electrode ablation) is challenging.

[0020] For example, a physician may use a catheter having an inflatable frame (e.g., a balloon or a basket) adapted at its distal end and provided with multiple electrodes, and it is important that the ablation electrodes do not cause collateral damage during ablation. Specifically, based on the received indication, such as if one or more electrodes are to be operated for ablation and there is a potential danger, the physician performing the ablation may want to disable one or more electrodes. In some cases, the physician may want to disable a group of adjacent electrodes.

[0021] For example, in the case of pulmonary vein isolation, the physician may receive an indication that the positioning of some of the electrodes on the inflatable frame is such that if these electrodes are operated for ablation, they may cause collateral damage to sensitive tissue (e.g., phrenic nerve or esophageal tissue). As another example, the physician may receive an indication that the contact of some of the electrodes with the heart tissue is insufficient, and thus, if these electrodes are operated for ablation, a blood clot may be formed in some cases. Given the above complex scenarios involving potential dangers, the physician may benefit from visual input of an updated enable / disable configuration of the ablation electrodes and be able to easily operate it to optimize such a configuration.

[0022] As another example, the physician may want to selectively use a partial electrode set to sense important electrophysiological signals and avoid collecting irrelevant signals from other electrodes (such as electrodes immersed in the blood pool of the heart chamber). To this end, the physician may also benefit from visual input of an updated enable / disable configuration of relevant / irrelevant electrodes.

[0023] Embodiments of the present invention described below provide techniques to assist a physician in realizing and easily controlling various arrangements of the electrode configurations of a medical probe, e.g., to plan and apply ablation in a spatially selectable manner to ensure safe ablation. The disclosed embodiments provide a graphical user interface (GUI) to the physician that allows the physician to select and adjust the operating configuration of multiple electrodes by enabling and disabling individual electrodes or groups of electrodes. The physician can optimize the operating configuration based on indications received before and during the ablation procedure.

[0024] In some embodiments, the disclosed GUI shows a front view of an inflatable frame (e.g., a balloon) that includes a diagram of the electrodes and a list of them listed in numerical order, e.g., #1, #2, … #9, #10. The GUI also provides a single electrode selection mode, where clicking on any given electrode (using a mouse or touch display or other suitable input device) toggles the electrode between an ablation-enabled state and an ablation-disabled state.

[0025] In addition, by clicking on the central area of the shown frame, the user can switch between the single electrode selection mode and the sector selection mode. In the sector selection mode, an angular segment (i.e., a “sector”) by default covers multiple (e.g., three) electrodes. Once selected, the angular segment is highlighted or emphasized in another graphical manner. The position of the sector can be changed using a suitable input device such as a mouse or touch display. In addition, clicking once with the input device enables / disables the group of electrodes. In the sector selection mode, the user can rotate the selected (e.g., highlighted) segment, widen the selected segment to include more electrodes, or narrow the highlighted segment to include fewer electrodes. Widening or narrowing can be performed from either of the two boundaries of the angular segment or symmetrically using a two-finger gesture on a touch display.

[0026] In some embodiments, a system is provided that includes a display, an input device, and a processor configured to: (a) present a graphical user interface (GUI) on the display to a user, the graphical user interface showing a plurality of electrodes disposed on an inflatable frame of a multi-electrode catheter and indicating which of the electrodes are active and which of the electrodes are inactive, (b) receive a first user input via the input device that selects between a single electrode selection mode and a sector selection mode, (c) when in the single electrode selection mode, receive a second user input via the input device that specifies activation or deactivation of a single one of the electrodes, (d) when in the sector selection mode, receive a third user input via the input device that specifies activation or deactivation of an angular sector that includes two or more of the electrodes; and (e) activate and deactivate the electrodes in response to the first user input, the second user input, and the third user input.

[0027] During an ablation procedure, the inflatable frame (e.g., a balloon or a basket) may rotate, either intentionally or unintentionally, within an organ. As described below, the rotation can be detected and the sequence of deactivated electrodes displayed on the display can be automatically changed to compensate for the rotation, e.g., from #10, #1, #2 to #1, #2, #3. In other words, when rotation of the inflatable frame is detected, the processor may modify the subset of active / inactive electrodes to compensate for the rotation.

[0028] Typically, the processor is programmed in software that includes a specific algorithm that enables the processor to perform each of the above-described processor-related steps and functions.

[0029] By providing the disclosed GUI, the spatially selective multi-electrode ablation technique using the GUI can be readily used by a physician, thereby providing a safer multi-electrode ablation treatment.

[0030] System Description

[0031] Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a catheter-based positioning-tracking and balloon ablation system 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the system including a GUI 46. The system 20 includes a catheter 21 that is adapted at a distal end 22a of an axis 22 of the catheter with a radiofrequency ablation inflatable balloon 40 that includes a plurality of electrodes 50 (see inset 25). In the embodiments described herein, the electrodes 50 are used to ablate tissue at the ostium 51 of a PV in a heart 26.

[0032] The proximal end of catheter 21 is connected to a console 24 that includes an ablation power source 45. Console 24 includes a processor 41 that presents a GUI 46, where a user can operate GUI 46, for example, from a touch display 27, to allow a physician to view a diagram of balloon 40 and electrodes 50, and enable or disable one or more electrodes 50 as ablation electrodes using the disclosed GUI 46 tools, as Figure 3 described. In one embodiment, touch display 27 also serves as an input device for receiving user input. Additionally or alternatively, any other suitable input device, such as a mouse, trackball, or keyboard, may be used.

[0033] An ablation protocol that includes ablation parameters is stored in a memory 48 of console 24, and the ablation parameters include criteria against which the processor 41 or the physician 30 compares indications from electrodes 50 to decide whether to enable or disable the electrodes.

[0034] The physician 30 inserts the distal end 22a of shaft 22 through a sheath 23 into the heart 26 of a patient 28 lying on a workbench 29. The physician 30 advances the distal end of shaft 22 to a target position in the heart 26 and / or deflects the distal end of the shaft relative to the sheath 23 by manipulating shaft 22 using a manipulator 32 near the proximal end of the catheter. During insertion of the distal end 22a, balloon 40 is held in a collapsed configuration by sheath 23. By containing balloon 40 in the collapsed configuration, sheath 23 also serves to minimize vascular trauma along the path to the target position.

[0035] Once the distal end 22a of shaft 22 has reached the heart 26, the physician 30 retracts sheath 23 and partially inflates balloon 40, and further manipulates shaft 22 to navigate balloon 40 to the ostium 51 of the pulmonary vein.

[0036] In one embodiment, the physician 30 navigates the distal end of shaft 22 to the target position by tracking the position of balloon 40 using the impedance measured between electrodes 50 and surface electrodes 38.

[0037] To perform its functions, processor 41 includes an electrode impedance sensing module 47. In this illustrative system, impedance-sensing module 47 receives the measured electrical impedance signals between electrodes 50 and surface electrodes 38, which are considered to be attached by wires that pass through cable 37 to the chest of patient 28. Electrodes 50 are connected to processor 41 by wires that pass through shaft 22, and the processor 41 controls an interface circuit 44 located in console 24.

[0038] A method for using the impedance tracking electrodes such as electrode 50 measured as described above to track the position is implemented in various medical applications, for example, in CARTO produced by Biosense-Webster (Irvine, California). TM It is implemented in the system and is described in detail in U.S. Patents 7,756,576, 7,869,865, 7,848,787, and 8,456,182, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference and copies are provided in the appendix herein. This method is sometimes referred to as Advanced Catheter Location (ACL). In one embodiment, the console 24 drives the display 27, which displays the tracked position of the balloon 40 inside the heart 26.

[0039] When at the target position (e.g., at the ostium 51), the physician 30 fully inflates the balloon 40 and places the electrodes 50 equally spaced around the entire perimeter of the balloon 40 in contact with the ostium 51 tissue.

[0040] Next, in some embodiments, the physician 30 measures the impedance of each of the electrodes, for example, using the impedance sensing module 47 as described above. The processor 41 compares the measured impedance of each electrode with a preset threshold. If the electrode impedance is below or equal to the preset impedance threshold, meaning the electrode is in contact with blood rather than making good contact with tissue, the processor 41 indicates this on the GUI 46 on the display 27 to disable the electrode. On the other hand, if the electrode impedance is above the preset threshold, meaning the electrode makes good contact with tissue, the processor presents the electrode as an enabled ablation electrode via the GUI. In another embodiment, the processor 41 can update the GUI 46 to indicate the electrodes near sensitive tissue near the ostium 51.

[0041] In other embodiments, the system 20 provides an indication on the GUI regarding the electrodes 50, such as their position relative to sensitive tissue (such as the esophagus or nerve), to assist the physician in deciding which electrode or group of electrodes to disable.

[0042] As further shown in the illustration 25, the distal end 22a includes a magnetic position sensor 39, which is contained within the distal end 22a, just proximal to the inflatable balloon 40. During the navigation of the distal end 22a within the heart 26, the console 24 receives a signal from the magnetic position sensor 39 in response to a magnetic field from the external field generator 36, for example, to measure the orientation and angular orientation of the ablation balloon 40 within the heart, and as described above, presents the tracking information on the display 27. The magnetic field generator 36 is placed at a known position outside the patient 28, for example, under the patient's workbench 29. The console 24 also includes a drive circuit 34 configured to drive the magnetic field generator 36.

[0043] Direction sensing methods using external magnetic fields are implemented in various medical applications, such as in the CARTO TM The invention is implemented in a system and is described in detail in U.S. Patents 5,391,199, 6,690,963, 6,484,118, 6,239,724, 6,618,612 and 6,332,089, PCT Patent Publication WO 96 / 05768, and U.S. Patent Application Publications 2002 / 0065455 Al, 2003 / 0120150 Al and 2004 / 0068178 Al, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference and copies are provided in the Appendix.

[0044] In one embodiment, the signal from the magnetic position sensor 39 is also used to TM The system performs position sensing.

[0045] The processor 41 is typically a general purpose computer having a suitable front end and interface circuitry 44 for receiving signals from the catheter 21 and for applying radiofrequency energy therapy to the left atrium of the heart 26 via the catheter 21, and for controlling other components of the system 20. The processor 41 typically includes software in a memory 48 of the system 20 that is programmed to implement the functions described herein. The software may be downloaded to the computer in electronic form over a network, for example, or it may alternatively or additionally be disposed and / or stored on a non-transitory tangible medium such as a magnetic memory, an optical memory, or an electronic memory. Specifically, the processor 41 operates as disclosed herein and includes Figure 4 , which enables the processor 41 to perform the disclosed steps, as further described below.

[0046] Although Figure 1 A multi-electrode balloon catheter is described, but the principles of the present technology are applicable to any catheter having a distal end fitted with multiple electrodes, such as the aforementioned lasso catheters and basket catheters.

[0047] GUI for Selective Operation of a Multi-Electrode Catheter

[0048] Figure 2 is deployed in the region of the pulmonary vein (PV) and its ostium 51 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 Schematic pictorial side view of a balloon catheter. The balloon catheter is used to ablate 51 tissue to isolate the source of the arrhythmia. The balloon 40 has ten electrodes 50 disposed on a membrane 71 of the balloon. Electrical power can be delivered independently from the ablation power source 45 to each of the ten electrodes 50, depending on the level of physical contact of each electrode 50 with the tissue during ablation.

[0049] likeFigure 2 As can be seen, electrode 50a is not in good contact with the tissue. Based on the impedance reading from electrode 50a being lower than or equal to a preset impedance value, the processor 41 determines the inadequate physical contact of electrode 50a. Accordingly, the processor 41 indicates this on the GUI 46 on the display 27 such that the physician 30 can disable electrode 50a.

[0050] On the other hand, electrode 50b is in good contact with the tissue. Based on the impedance reading from electrode 50b being higher than a preset threshold impedance value, the processor 41 determines the adequate physical contact of electrode 50b. Accordingly, the processor 41 can indicate on the GUI 46 on the display 27 that ablation electrode 50b is enabled.

[0051] Figure 2 The painted side view shown is selected by way of example, where other embodiments are also possible. For example, in another embodiment, a set of electrodes 50 may be shown as not being in sufficient contact with the tissue.

[0052] Figure 3 For some embodiments in accordance with the present invention Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the GUI 46. Figure 3 Box I of shows how the GUI 46 shows (60) the balloon 40 using a front view of the balloon, the front view of which includes a diagram (62) of the electrodes 50, which includes a numerically ordered list of the electrodes, such as #1, #2, …… #9, #10.

[0053] Box I shows a single electrode selection mode, where the user clicks (461) on any given electrode to toggle that electrode between an enabled state and a disabled state. Once selected, the electrode is highlighted or emphasized in another graphical manner.

[0054] Figure 3 Box II of shows how the user can switch to a sector mode by clicking on the central region 64 of the balloon to switch between the sector mode shown by the dashed segment 68 and the single electrode mode. Once selected, the angular segment is highlighted or emphasized in another graphical manner. As shown, segment 68 includes a set of adjacent electrodes 66. In the sector mode, the size (usually default set to three electrodes) and position of the sector can be changed using a suitable input device (such as a mouse or a touch display). Additionally, depending on the position where the user clicks in region 64 (e.g., the top part or the bottom part, and the left part or the right part), a single click can enable / disable any group of electrodes above the perimeter.

[0055] Box III shows the GUI tool in sector mode that enables the user to rotate the selected segment 70. Box IV shows another GUI tool in sector mode that enables the user to widen the selected segment 70 to disable more electrodes or narrow the segment 70 to disable fewer electrodes. Widening or narrowing can be performed from either boundary of the two boundaries of the segment or symmetrically using a two-finger gesture on the touch display.

[0056] During the ablation procedure, the balloon 40 may be rotated intentionally or unintentionally. The rotation can be detected by the aforementioned CARTO system, and the sequence of disabled electrodes can be automatically changed to compensate for the rotation, such as from #10, #1, #2 to #1, #2, #3.

[0057] Figure 4 A flowchart of a method for using the Figure 3 GUI 46 is schematically shown according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the presented embodiment, the algorithm performs a process that begins at: At the balloon catheter navigation step 80, the physician 30 uses, for example, the electrode 50 as an ACL sensing electrode to navigate the balloon catheter to a target position within the lumen of the patient, such as at the ostium 51.

[0058] Next, at the balloon catheter positioning step 82, the physician 30 positions the balloon catheter at the ostium 51. Next, at the balloon inflation step 84, the physician 30 fully inflates the balloon 40 to bring the lumen wall into contact with the electrode 50 over the entire circumference of the lumen.

[0059] Next, at the electrode indication step 86, the physician 30 receives an indication regarding, for example, the position and adequacy of the physical contact of each electrode 50 with the tissue.

[0060] For example, the system can use the impedance sensing module 47 as described above to indicate that one or more electrodes are in contact with blood rather than in good contact with the tissue, and then the processor 41 updates the GUI 46 to indicate that the electrode or group of electrodes should be prohibited from being used as ablation electrodes, as described below.

[0061] At the electrode configuration step 88, the processor 41 checks whether an isolated electrode or a group of adjacent electrodes is indicated. If an isolated electrode is indicated, then in the mode selection step 90, the processor 41 keeps the GUI46 in the single electrode mode. Based on this indication, the physician can disable the electrode, as Figure 3 described in box I of

[0062] If a set of adjacent electrodes is indicated, in mode switching step 92, the processor 41 switches the GUI 46 to sector mode. Based on this indication, assuming that the indication (94) is of a hazard (e.g., causing collateral damage to tissue or a blood clot), in electrode set disabling step 96 the physician disables the indicated electrode set using the sector mode as described above.

[0063] Figure 4 The exemplary flowcharts shown are chosen solely for clarity of concept. In alternative embodiments, additional steps may be performed, such as automatically rotating the indicated section to compensate for catheter rotation.

[0064] Although Figure 4 a multi-electrode balloon catheter has been described, the principles of the present technology also apply to any catheter having a distal end adapted with multiple electrodes, such as the foregoing basket catheter.

[0065] Although the embodiments described herein primarily seek to address pulmonary vein isolation, the methods and systems described herein may also be used for other applications that require determination of occlusion, such as, for example, renal denervation, and generally for ablation of other organs.

[0066] Accordingly, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are cited by way of example, and the invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described above. Rather, the scope of the invention includes combinations and sub-combinations of the various features described above, as well as their variations and modifications, which would occur to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not disclosed in the prior art. Documents incorporated by reference into this patent application are considered an integral part of this application, except that if any terms defined in these incorporated documents conflict with the definitions expressly or implicitly given in this specification, only the definitions in this specification should be considered.

Claims

1. A system for using a graphical user interface (GUI), comprising: A display; An input device; And A processor configured to: Present the GUI to a user on the display, the GUI showing a plurality of electrodes disposed on an inflatable frame of a multi-electrode catheter and indicating which of the electrodes are active and which are inactive; Receive a first user input via the input device, the first user input selecting between a single electrode selection mode and a sector selection mode; When in the single electrode selection mode, receive a second user input via the input device, the second user input specifying activation or deactivation of a single one of the electrodes; When in the sector selection mode, receive a third user input via the input device, the third user input specifying activation or deactivation of a corner sector including two or more of the electrodes; and Activate and deactivate the electrodes in response to the first user input, the second user input, and the third user input.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to automatically update the GUI based on a measured rotational orientation of the inflatable frame.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to highlight one of a single electrode selection and a sector selection indication based on the selected mode.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the GUI includes a diagram of an inflatable balloon catheter.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the GUI includes a diagram of an inflatable basket assembly.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to switch between the single electrode selection mode and the sector selection mode in response to a user clicking on a central region of the GUI.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein In the single electrode selection mode, the processor is configured to activate or deactivate the electrode in response to the user clicking on a GUI element representing the electrode in the GUI.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein In the sector selection mode, the processor is configured to activate and deactivate the electrodes in the selected corner sector in response to the user clicking on a GUI element representing the selected corner sector.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein In the sector selection mode, the processor is configured to receive user instructions to perform one or more of widening, narrowing, and rotating the corner sector.

10. A method for using a graphical user interface (GUI), comprising: Present the GUI to a user on a display, the GUI showing a plurality of electrodes disposed on an inflatable frame of a multi-electrode catheter and indicating which of the electrodes are active and which are inactive; Receive a first user input via an input device, the first user input selecting between a single electrode selection mode and a sector selection mode; When in the single electrode selection mode, receive a second user input via the input device, the second user input specifying activation or deactivation of a single one of the electrodes; When in the sector selection mode, a third user input is received via the input device, the third user input specifying activation or deactivation of an angular sector including two or more of the electrodes; and activate and deactivate the electrodes in response to the first user input, the second user input, and the third user input.

11. The method according to claim 10, and including automatically updating the GUI according to the measured rotational orientation of the expandable frame.

12. The method according to claim 10, and including highlighting one of single electrode selection and sector selection indication according to the selected mode.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein presenting the GUI includes presenting a diagram of an expandable balloon catheter.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein presenting the GUI includes presenting a diagram of an expandable basket assembly.

15. The method according to claim 10, and including switching between the single electrode selection mode and the sector selection mode in response to the user clicking on the central region of the GUI.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein, In the single electrode selection mode, activating or deactivating an electrode includes responding to the user clicking on a GUI element representing the electrode in the GUI.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein In the sector selection mode, activating and deactivating the electrodes in the angular sector includes responding to the user clicking on a GUI element representing the selected angular sector.

18. The method according to claim 10, wherein In the sector selection mode, receiving the third user input includes receiving a user instruction to perform one or more of widening, narrowing, and rotating the angular sector.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a sequence of instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: present a graphical user interface GUI to a user on a display, the GUI showing a plurality of electrodes disposed on an expandable frame of a multi-electrode catheter and indicating which of the electrodes are activated and which of the electrodes are deactivated; receive a first user input via an input device, the first user input selecting between a single electrode selection mode and a sector selection mode; when in the single electrode selection mode, receive a second user input via the input device, the second user input specifying activation or deactivation of a single one of the electrodes; when in the sector selection mode, receive a third user input via the input device, the third user input specifying activation or deactivation of an angular sector including two or more of the electrodes; and activate and deactivate the electrodes in response to the first user input, the second user input, and the third user input.

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