A novel apparatus and method for rapidly generating an electrical map of a chamber
of a heart utilizes a catheter including a body having a proximal end and a distal
end. The distal end has a distal tip and an array of non-contact electrodes having
a proximal end and a distal end and at least one location sensor. Preferably, two
location sensors are utilized. The first location sensor is preferably proximate
to the catheter distal tip and the second location sensor is preferably proximate
to the proximal end of the non-contact electrode array. The catheter distal end
further preferably includes a contact electrode at its distal tip. Preferably,
at least one and preferably both of the location sensors provide six degrees of
location information. The location sensor is preferably an electromagnetic location
sensor. The catheter is used for rapidly generating an electrical map of the heart
within at least one cardiac cycle and preferably includes cardiac ablation and
post-ablation validation.
