Signal Quality in a Multiplexing System by Actively Disconnecting Unused Connections

Abstract

To provide an electronic device.SOLUTION: An electronic device includes a multiplexer (MUX), a switching array and logic circuitry. The MUX includes multiple input ports and an output port, and is configured to receive, via the input ports, multiple input signals, and to output, via the output port, a selected signal among the input signals. The switching array is coupled to the input ports of the MUX and is configured to receive the input signals and to connect or disconnect each input signal and a corresponding input port. The logic circuitry is electrically coupled to the switching array and to the MUX, and is configured to control the switching array to connect at least the selected signal that the MUX is outputting, and to disconnect all the input signals other than the at least selected signal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to medical systems, and more particularly, to methods and systems for improving signal quality in medical systems.

Background Art

[0002] Some medical systems use multiple electrical leads to sense and route multiple electrical signals.

[0003] For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003 / 0135127 describes a physiological monitoring device using an improved monitoring garment worn by a person to be monitored, and the garment is attached with sensors for monitoring parameters reflecting lung function or parameters reflecting heart function. The monitoring device also includes a unit for receiving data from the sensors and storing the data in a computer-readable medium.

[0004] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003 / 0083584 describes a "lead-off indicator" of an ECG device for indicating that one or more of a plurality of ECG electrodes are not properly fixed to a patient, thereby eliminating the need for a conventional high-frequency drive signal. Instead, common-mode input noise is used as a drive signal to a reference electrode so that one of the electrodes defining an ECG vector is not properly fixed. An impedance balancing circuit is provided for generating a signal that enables identification of a lost electrode when the ECG system does not utilize the right leg electrode as a reference.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] One embodiment of the invention described in this specification provides an electronic device including a multiplexer (MUX), a switching array, and a logic circuit. The MUX includes a plurality of input ports and an output port, and is configured to receive a plurality of input signals via the input ports and output a selected signal among the input signals via the output port. The switching array is coupled to the input ports of the MUX, receives the input signals, and is configured to connect or disconnect between each input signal and its respective input port. The logic circuit is electrically coupled to the switching array and the MUX, and is configured to control the switching array so as to connect at least the selected signal output by the MUX and disconnect all input signals other than at least the selected signal.

[0006] In some embodiments, the switching array is configured to receive a plurality of input signals via a plurality of respective electrical leads, each of the electrical leads contributing to its respective parasitic capacitance when connected to the MUX, and the logic circuit is configured to reduce the total parasitic capacitance in the MUX by disconnecting input signals other than at least the selected signal. In other embodiments, the electronic device includes an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). In still other embodiments, each of the input signals includes a signal selected from a list consisting of an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal, an electrogram (EGM) signal, and a position signal.

[0007] In one embodiment, the input signals include analog signals, and the MUX is configured to output at least the selected signal to an analog-to-digital converter. In another embodiment, the logic circuit is configured to control which of the plurality of input signals the MUX selects at a given time.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention, in an electronic device comprising: (i) a multiplexer (MUX) having a plurality of input ports for receiving a plurality of input signals and an output port for outputting a selected one of the input signals; and (ii) a switching array coupled to the input ports of the MUX, there is further provided a method including controlling the switching array to connect at least the selected signals to one or more of each of the input ports and disconnect all input signals other than at least the selected signals. At least the selected signals are received via respective input ports, and the selected signals are output via the output port.

[0009] The present invention will be more fully understood when the following "Detailed Description of the Invention" is considered in conjunction with the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0011] Overview Embodiments of the present invention described below provide an improved technique for multiplexing a plurality of signals, for example, for sampling signals by an analog-to-digital (A / D) converter.

[0012] In some embodiments, a medical system, such as an electrophysiology system, typically acquires and routes a large number of analog signals (e.g., 100) over a large number of long electrical leads. In some embodiments, the system comprises an integrated circuit (IC) device, such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), including a multiplexer (MUX) having a plurality of input ports and output ports.

[0013] In some embodiments, the MUX is configured to receive a plurality of input signals acquired by various sensors of the electrophysiology system via input ports and output a selected signal among the input signals via an output port. The sensors are typically coupled to the ASIC via long electrical leads. In some embodiments, the signal selected by the MUX is sampled, converted to a digital signal by an A / D converter, and the digital signal is processed by a processor of the system.

[0014] Each electrical lead of the system can have a parasitic capacitance on the order of several picofarads (pF). The 100 leads described above increase the overall capacitance by two orders of magnitude. In some cases, the selected signal is distorted by the large parasitic capacitance caused by the numerous leads connected to the input port of the MUX. Signal distortion typically degrades the quality and reliability (QR) of the processed signal and the overall performance of the electrophysiology system.

[0015] Assuming that only one signal is actually selected by the MUX at any given time, the disclosed technique reduces the parasitic capacitance by disconnecting all input signals other than the selected signal.

[0016] In some embodiments, the ASIC comprises a switching array electrically coupled to the input ports of the MUX and the electrical leads. The switching array is configured to receive input signals via the electrical leads and connect or disconnect between each input signal and its respective input port.

[0017] In some embodiments, the ASIC further includes a logic circuit electrically coupled to the switching array and the MUX. The logic circuit is configured to control the switching array to connect at least the selected signals output by the MUX and disconnect all other input signals. As a result, in some embodiments, only a single electrical lead that transmits the signal currently selected by the MUX is connected to the MUX at any given time. This technique reduces the level of unwanted parasitic capacitance at the MUX input and thus reduces the distortion of the selected signal at the MUX output.

[0018] Description of the System FIG. 1 is a pictorial schematic diagram of a multiplexed medical system 10 for excising tissue of a patient 14, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The purpose of the system 10 shown in FIG. 1 (as well as FIG. 2 below) is to demonstrate an embodiment of multiplexing technology. The disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to any other system in which multiple signals are multiplexed to a single output.

[0019] In some embodiments, the system 10 assists in constructing a pre-excision mapping for mapping the heart 40 of the patient 14 and guiding a medical device within the heart 40 during an excision procedure using the constructed mapping, as detailed below.

[0020] In some embodiments, the system 10 includes a catheter 12 that includes a distal tip 13 that includes a plurality of devices (not shown), such as one or more ablation electrodes, one or more magnetic position sensors, and impedance sensors. In this configuration, the catheter 12 having the distal tip 13 is used as a calibration probe, as described below. During the mapping phase (as well as during the ablation procedure), the physician 16 can insert the catheter 12 into the vasculature of the patient 14 through the insertion point 30 and then guide the catheter tip to the patient's heart. The catheter 12 is then used to map the tissue of the heart 40 before excising the tissue.

[0021] In some embodiments, the operating console 18 includes an RF generator 22 configured to generate an RF ablation signal applied by the catheter 12 onto the tissue of the heart 40.

[0022] In some embodiments, the console 18 includes a processor 20, typically a general - purpose computer, having a front - end and interface circuitry suitable for receiving signals from the catheter 12 and for controlling other components of the system 10 described herein. The processor 20 may be programmed in software to perform the functions used by the system, and the processor stores data for the software in a memory (not shown). This software may be downloaded to the console 18 in electronic form via a network, or may be provided on a non - transitory tangible medium such as an optical storage medium, a magnetic storage medium, or an electronic storage medium. Alternatively, some or all of the functions of the processor 20 may be performed by dedicated components or programmable digital hardware components.

[0023] In some embodiments, the system 10 further includes a magnetic position - tracking system and an impedance - based active current location (ACL) system. Each of these systems can be used to track the position of the distal tip 13 in order to guide the catheter 12 to the ablation site within the heart 40 of the patient 14.

[0024] In some embodiments, the magnetic position - tracking system includes a magnetic - field generator 36 located at a known position outside the patient 14, for example, under the patient's torso. In one embodiment, the console 18 facilitates the execution of the techniques described herein.

[0025] In some embodiments, console 18 includes a drive circuit 21 configured to drive magnetic field generator 36 via cable 38. When distal tip 13 is guided into heart 40 by physician 16, the magnetic position sensor at distal tip 13 generates a position signal in response to the sensed external magnetic field generated by magnetic field generator 36, thereby enabling processor 20 to identify the position of distal tip 13 within the cavities of heart 40.

[0026] The magnetic position sensor is connected to an interface circuit coupled to processor 20 at the catheter proximal end. In one embodiment, the position of distal tip 13 is shown on an image 42 of heart 40 displayed on user display 34. In some embodiments, image 42 is acquired using an anatomical imaging system such as a computed tomography (CT) system or any other suitable imaging technique.

[0027] This magnetic field-based position sensing method is implemented, for example, in the CARTO™ system manufactured by Biosense Webster Inc., Diamond Bar, Calif., the details of which are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,391,199; 6,690,963; 6,484,118; 6,239,724; 6,618,612; and 6,332,089, International Publication No. 96 / 05768, and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2002 / 0065455 (A1); 2003 / 0120150 (A1); and 2004 / 0068178 (A1), the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0028] As described above, system 10 includes an ACL system that can function as an alternative position tracking system for a magnetic field-based system. In some embodiments, the ACL system includes a plurality of electrodes 28 coupled to the body of patient 14 via a patch 29 attached to the skin of patient 14, for example. In the example of FIG. 1, system 10 includes six electrodes, of which electrodes 28a, 28b, and 28c are coupled to the front (e.g., chest) of patient 14, and electrodes 28d, 28e, and 28f are coupled to the back (e.g., torso) of patient 14. As shown in FIG. 1, the electrodes are arranged in pairs as follows: electrodes 28a and 28d face each other on the right side of patient 14, electrodes 28c and 28f face each other on the left side of patient 14, and electrodes 28b and 28e face each other at the upper part of the chest and torso of patient 14.

[0029] In another embodiment, system 10 can include any suitable number of electrodes coupled to the skin of the patient in any suitable arrangement.

[0030] Electrodes 28 are typically connected to processor 20 via cable 32, and the processor receives information from the electrodes, such as impedance values, and is configured to estimate the position of distal tip 13 within heart 40 using the techniques described below based on this information.

[0031] In some embodiments, system 10 may include any other suitable sensing system and / or navigation system, such as, but not limited to, an electrocardiogram (ECG) system (not shown) and / or a voltage-based navigation system (not shown), and a sensor coupled to distal tip 13 measures the voltage gradient applied between external electrodes coupled to the patient's torso.

[0032] The display 34 is typically configured to facilitate the resection procedure by displaying relevant information to the physician 16. For example, the processor 20 can register between the coordinate system of the aforementioned tracking system and the coordinate system of the CT system (from which the image 42 was obtained) so as to display the location and orientation of the distal tip 13 within the image 42, for example, by superimposing an icon representing the distal tip 13 of the catheter 12 onto the image 42 of the heart 40.

[0033] As described above, the electrodes 28 are typically used to guide the catheter 12 within the patient 14's body using impedance-based tracking techniques, such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 8,456,182 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0141798, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Such techniques involve estimating the location and orientation of the distal tip 13 in response to different impedances measured between the distal tip 13 and each of the electrodes 28a - 28f. As described above, the estimated location of the distal tip 13 can be displayed to the physician as a suitable icon on the display 34. Based on this display, the physician 16 can guide the distal tip 13 of the catheter 12 to one or more desired locations within the heart 40.

[0034] In some embodiments, typically, the position and orientation of the distal tip 13 are estimated at any given time by applying an electrical signal of a known amplitude to the distal tip 13, and the resulting voltage and / or current are measured at each pair of electrodes 28. In an alternative embodiment, the electrical signal may be applied by the electrodes 28, and the resulting electrical values may be measured by the distal tip 13.

[0035] In some embodiments, due to these applied electrical signals, pairs of electrodes 28, each disposed at a different position relative to the catheter (e.g., the pair of electrodes 28a and 28d, the pair of electrodes 28c and 28f, and the pair of electrodes 28b and 28e), exhibit different respective electrical values due to different amounts of electrically interfering tissue (and thus different degrees of impedance) between the distal tip 13 and each of the pairs of electrodes 28.

[0036] In some embodiments, these measured electrical values are transmitted to the processor 20 via the cable 32 and the integrated circuit (IC) described below in FIG. 2, and this processor 20 uses these values to estimate the relative location and orientation of the distal tip 13 with respect to the electrodes 28 (whose positions are known). Alternatively, a voltage may be generated between the distal tip of the catheter and the electrodes, and the resulting current flowing through these electrodes may be measured and used to estimate the location and orientation of the distal tip 13.

[0037] As described above, the physician 16 guides the distal tip 13 to investigate multiple locations within the heart 40. In some embodiments, the processor 20 is configured to receive two sets of values from the catheter 12 at each of the investigated locations. The first set includes position coordinates from the magnetic position tracking system, and the second set includes one or more respective electrical values (e.g., current or impedance values from each pair of electrodes 28) from the ACL system.

[0038] In some embodiments, the processor 20 is configured to construct a set of data points, each including a measured position and an electrical value at each position investigated by the distal tip 13. In some embodiments, the electrical values may be related to the position of the distal tip 13. In other embodiments, the electrodes coupled to the distal tip 13 may acquire signals related to electrophysiological (EP) mapping of the tissue of the patient's heart 40 at some or all of the investigated locations.

[0039] This set of data points locates a plurality of selected electrical values at respective positions and is referred to herein as a “mapping.” In one embodiment, once the mapping is complete, it is applied (e.g., during ablation) to the electrical values acquired by the distal tip 13 and / or the electrodes 28 to convert the measured electrical values into position measurements at the heart 40. In some embodiments, separate mappings may be constructed for selected respiratory maneuvers of the patient 14 (e.g., after a full inhalation maneuver, after a full exhalation maneuver, or intermediate an inhalation and an exhalation maneuver). In another embodiment, separate mappings are constructed for each pair of electrodes.

[0040] In the context of the present disclosure and the claims, the terms “position-related signal” and “position signal” are used interchangeably and refer to signals acquired by the position sensors described above. Similarly, the terms “EP-related signal” and “EP signal” are used interchangeably and refer to electrograms (EGM) and ECG signals acquired from the heart 40 using various types of electrodes, including but not limited to voltage electrodes, current electrodes, impedance, and ECG sensing electrodes coupled to the distal tip 13 and the patch 29.

[0041] Note that the position signal and the EP signal are routed to the console 18, for example, via the cable 32 and the catheter 12. In some embodiments, each of the cable 32 and the catheter 12 includes a plurality of electrical leads configured to pass signals from the sensors to the console 18. Typically, each electrical lead has a parasitic capacitance on the order of a few picofarads (pF). In some cases, a multiplexed medical system, such as the system 10, may include more than 100 electrical leads, whereby the cumulative total capacitance of the leads may degrade the overall system performance. For example, the parasitic capacitance may have a similar effect to a low-pass filter that causes signal distortion, thereby reducing the quality and reliability of the signal. In other cases, the parasitic capacitance may cause signal delay, thereby degrading the performance of the system 10.

[0042] Improvement of signal quality by actively disconnecting unused connections Figure 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a part of the integrated circuit (IC) 50 of the console 18 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] In some embodiments, the IC 50 includes a multiplexer (MUX) 55 that includes a plurality of input ports 54A - 54G and an output port 56. In some embodiments, the MUX 55 is configured to receive a plurality of input signals via the input ports 54A - 54G. The MUX 55 is further configured to output a selected one of the received input signals via the output port 56.

[0044] In the example of Figure 2, the signals include analog signals such as the position signal and the EP signal described in Figure 1 above. The selected signal is output via the output port 56 to an analog - to - digital (A / D) converter 62, which is configured to convert the selected analog signal into a digital signal and transmit the digital signal to the processor 20. In a typical application, the processor receives different digitized input signals at different time intervals. For example, a logic circuit may be configured to scan the input signals in a sequential cyclic order. Using such time - division multiplexing (TDM), a single processor can process a plurality of different input signals.

[0045] In some embodiments, the IC 50 includes a switching array 64 that includes switches 66A - 66G respectively coupled to the input ports 54A - 54G via electrical lines 58. In the example of Figure 2, the input signals are received via lead wires 52, which represent, for example, the electrical leads of the cable 32 and the catheter 12 described in Figure 1 above. Note that each input lead wire 52 corresponds to a respective switch (e.g., switch 66A) and a respective input port (e.g., port 54A). In practice, the IC 50 may include more than 100 switches and typically the same number of input ports. As described in Figure 1 above, the total capacitance of the lead wires 52 may be on the order of several hundred pF or more.

[0046] In some embodiments, the switching array 64 is configured to receive input signals and selectively connect or disconnect each input signal to a respective input port. By disconnecting unused input signals, the total capacitance at the input of the MUX 55 is significantly (e.g., 100 times) reduced.

[0047] In some embodiments, the IC 50 further includes a logic circuit 60 that is electrically coupled to the switching array 64 and the MUX 55 via an electrical line 58. The logic circuit 60 is configured to control the switching array 64 to connect the single signal currently selected by the MUX 55 and disconnect all other input signals received from other electrical leads.

[0048] In an alternative embodiment, the logic circuit 60 is configured to control the switching array 64 to connect one or more signals in addition to the signal selected by the MUX 55.

[0049] In the example of FIG. 2, during a given time period, the logic circuit 60 controls the switch 66B to connect the input signal to port 54B of the MUX 55. In one embodiment, the MUX 55 outputs this single input to the A / D device 62 via the output port 56, as shown by the dashed line 70. Note that during a given time period, all other switches of the array 64 disconnect the lead 52 from the input port 54 of the MUX 55 so that their respective input signals are not transmitted to the MUX.

[0050] In some embodiments, the logic circuit 60 is configured to control both the MUX 55 and the switching array 64. In these embodiments, the circuit 60 controls the MUX 55 to, for example, select the input signal received by the input port 54B and synchronously control the switching array 64 to connect only the input signal received by the switch 66B. The logic circuit similarly synchronizes between the selection of each input port 54 and the connection of each switch 66.

[0051] In other embodiments, circuit 60 controls switching array 64 to connect one or more (typically a small number of) input signals in addition to the input signal received by input port 54B. For example, even if MUX 55 selects only the input signal received by input port 54B, circuit 50 can control switching array 64 to connect the input signal received by switch 66B as well as the input signal received by switch 66A.

[0052] In an alternative embodiment, logic circuit 60 controls switching array 64 but does not select the signal to be selected by the MUX. In such an embodiment, logic circuit 60 receives, for example, from a controller (not shown), a control signal indicating selection of input port 54B. In these embodiments, circuit 60 is configured to send the input to array 64 and connect only the input signal received by switch 66B. Synchronization between the control signal and the input signal may be performed by circuit 60 or the controller.

[0053] By allowing electrical connection between only a single lead 52 and MUX 55 at any given time, the undesirable capacitance experienced by MUX 55 is reduced from hundreds of pF to only a few pF.

[0054] In some embodiments, reduction of the level of undesirable capacitance at the input of MUX 55 improves the quality and reliability of the output signal provided to A / D converter 62 and improves the overall performance of the system.

[0055] The configuration of the IC50 shown in FIG. 2 is an exemplary configuration chosen solely for the purpose of clarifying the concept. In alternative embodiments, any other suitable configuration may also be used. The different elements of the IC50 can be implemented using any suitable hardware, such as within an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). In some embodiments, some or all of the functions of the IC50 may be implemented using software, or using a combination of hardware elements and software elements. In some embodiments, the IC50 may further include any suitable volatile or non-volatile memory (not shown), such as random access memory (RAM) or flash memory.

[0056] The embodiments described herein primarily address cardiology systems, but the methods and systems described herein can also be used in other applications, such as in any system where multiple signals are multiplexed into a single output or a small number of outputs.

[0057] Accordingly, it will be understood that the above-described embodiments are cited by way of example, and that the present invention is not limited to those specifically shown and described above. Rather, the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and sub-combinations of the various features described above, as well as those variations and modifications thereof that would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description and that are not disclosed in the prior art. Documents incorporated by reference into this patent application are considered an essential part of this application, except that any terms defined in these incorporated documents that conflict with any definition made explicitly or implicitly herein shall be considered only in accordance with the definitions herein.

[0058] 〔Embodiments〕 (1) A multiplexer (MUX) comprising a plurality of input ports and output ports, configured to receive a plurality of input signals via the input ports and output a selected one of the input signals via the output ports. A switching array coupled to the input ports of the MUX, receiving the input signals, and configured to connect or disconnect between each input signal and its respective input port; A logic circuit electrically coupled to the switching array and the MUX, configured to control the switching array to connect at least the selected signal output by the MUX and disconnect all the input signals other than the at least selected signal; An electronic device comprising the above. (2) The switching array is configured to receive the plurality of input signals via a plurality of respective electrical leads, each of the electrical leads contributing to a respective parasitic capacitance when connected to the MUX, and the logic circuit is configured to reduce the total parasitic capacitance in the MUX by disconnecting the input signals other than the at least selected signal. The electronic device according to Embodiment 1. (3) The electronic device according to Embodiment 1, comprising an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). (4) Each of the input signals includes a signal selected from a list consisting of an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal, an electrogram (EGM) signal, and a position signal. The electronic device according to Embodiment 1. (5) The input signal includes an analog signal, and the MUX is configured to output at least the selected signal to an analog-to-digital converter. The electronic device according to Embodiment 1.

[0059] (6) The logic circuit is configured to control which of the plurality of input signals the MUX selects at a given time. The electronic device according to Embodiment 1. (7) (i) A multiplexer (MUX) comprising a plurality of input ports for receiving a plurality of input signals and an output port for outputting a selected signal among the input signals, and (ii) a switching array coupled to the input ports of the MUX, in an electronic device, controlling the switching array to connect at least the selected signal to one or more of the input ports and disconnect all the input signals other than the at least selected signal; receiving at least the selected signal via each of the input ports and outputting the selected signal via the output port; A method comprising. (8) Controlling the switching array includes receiving the plurality of input signals via a plurality of respective electrical leads, each of the electrical leads contributing to a respective parasitic capacitance when connected to the MUX, and disconnecting all the input signals other than the at least selected signal includes reducing the total parasitic capacitance in the MUX, the method according to embodiment 7. (9) Each of the input signals includes a signal selected from the list consisting of an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal, an electrogram (EGM) signal, and a position signal, the method according to embodiment 7. (10) The input signals include analog signals, and outputting the selected signal includes outputting the selected signal to an analog-to-digital converter, the method according to embodiment 7.

[0060] (11) Controlling the switching array includes controlling which of the plurality of input signals the MUX selects at a given time, the method according to embodiment 7.

Claims

1. a multiplexer (MUX) having a plurality of input ports and an output port, configured to receive a plurality of input signals transmitted from a plurality of sensors provided in a catheter of a medical system via the plurality of input ports, and to output a selected signal of the plurality of input signals via the output port; a switching array comprising a plurality of switches coupled to the plurality of input ports of the multiplexer, each of the plurality of switches configured to receive a respective one of the plurality of input signals and to connect or disconnect between each of the plurality of input signals transmitted from the plurality of sensors and each of the plurality of input ports; a logic circuit electrically coupled to the switching array and the multiplexer, the logic circuit using time division multiplexing to connect and disconnect each of the plurality of switches, and to connect and disconnect each of the plurality of input ports corresponding to each of the plurality of switches to the output port in a sequential order, and to control the switching array such that when one of the plurality of input signals is sent to the multiplexer, all input signals other than the one of the plurality of input signals are not sent to the multiplexer; Equipped with the switching array is configured to receive the input signals via a plurality of electrical leads; the plurality of electrical leads being at least 100 electrical leads, each of the plurality of electrical leads having a parasitic capacitance of at least 1 picofarad, the plurality of electrical leads having a total parasitic capacitance of at least 100 picofarad; the plurality of sensors includes a position sensor that detects a position of the catheter, and a potential sensor that detects a potential of tissue in contact with the catheter; the plurality of input signals include a plurality of position signals at a plurality of positions of the moving catheter detected by the position sensor, and a plurality of electric potential signals at a plurality of locations of the tissue detected by the electric potential sensor; the plurality of input signals are analog signals, the multiplexer is configured to output the plurality of input signals to an analog-to-digital converter, the analog-to-digital converter digitally converting the plurality of position signals and the plurality of potential signals; The processor is configured to receive a plurality of digital position signals obtained by digitally converting the plurality of position signals by the analog-to-digital converter, and a plurality of digital potential signals obtained by digitally converting the plurality of potential signals by the analog-to-digital converter, and to construct a data set including each of the plurality of digital position signals and each of the plurality of digital potential signals.

2. 2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein each of the electrical leads contributes a respective parasitic capacitance when connected to the multiplexer, and the logic circuit is configured to reduce a total parasitic capacitance in the multiplexer by preventing all of the input signals other than the one of the plurality of input signals from being transmitted to the multiplexer.

3. 10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

4. 2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the logic circuitry is configured to control which of the plurality of input signals the multiplexer selects at a given time.

5. 1. An electronic device comprising: (i) a multiplexer (MUX) having a plurality of input ports for receiving a plurality of input signals transmitted from a plurality of sensors provided in a catheter of a medical system and an output port for outputting a selected signal from the plurality of input signals; (ii) a switching array having a plurality of switches coupled to the plurality of input ports of the multiplexer, each of the plurality of switches being configured to receive a respective one of the plurality of input signals and to connect or disconnect each of the plurality of input signals transmitted from the plurality of sensors to each of the plurality of input ports; and (iii) a logic circuit electrically coupled to the switching array and the multiplexer, the logic circuitry controls the switching array such that, in a sequential order using time division multiplexing, the logic circuitry connects and disconnects each of the plurality of switches and connects and disconnects each of the plurality of input ports and the output port corresponding to each of the plurality of switches such that when one of the plurality of input signals is sent to the multiplexer, all input signals other than the one of the plurality of input signals are not sent to the multiplexer; the multiplexer outputting the one of the plurality of input signals via the output port; Including, the switching array is configured to receive the input signals via a plurality of electrical leads; the plurality of electrical leads being at least 100 electrical leads, each of the plurality of electrical leads having a parasitic capacitance of at least 1 picofarad, the plurality of electrical leads having a total parasitic capacitance of at least 100 picofarad; the plurality of sensors includes a position sensor that detects a position of the catheter, and a potential sensor that detects a potential of tissue in contact with the catheter; the plurality of input signals include a plurality of position signals at a plurality of positions of the moving catheter detected by the position sensor, and a plurality of electric potential signals at a plurality of locations of the tissue detected by the electric potential sensor; the plurality of input signals are analog signals, the multiplexer is configured to output the plurality of input signals to an analog-to-digital converter, the analog-to-digital converter digitally converting the plurality of position signals and the plurality of potential signals; A method in which a processor is configured to receive a plurality of digital position signals obtained by digitally converting the plurality of position signals by the analog-to-digital converter, and a plurality of digital potential signals obtained by digitally converting the plurality of potential signals by the analog-to-digital converter, and to construct a data set including each of the plurality of digital position signals and each of the plurality of digital potential signals.

6. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein each of the electrical leads contributes a respective parasitic capacitance when connected to the multiplexer, and wherein preventing all input signals other than the one of the plurality of input signals from being transmitted to the multiplexer comprises reducing a total parasitic capacitance in the multiplexer.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein controlling the switching array comprises controlling which of the plurality of input signals the multiplexer selects at a given time.

Images