US Patent 7848787 Relative impedance measurement

A method for calibrating impedance includes coupling at least first, second, and third electrodes at respective locations to a surface of a body of a subject. A first current passing through the body between the first and second body-surface electrodes is measured, and a second current passing through the body between the first and third body-surface electrodes is measured. From the first and second currents, a contact factor is derived that is indicative of the impedance between at least one of the body-surface electrodes and the surface of the body. Also described are methods for sensing the position of a probe and for detecting tissue contact based on a relation between currents from the probe to body-surface electrodes.