BIOSENSE WEBSTER (ISRAEL), LTD. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160128771 | CATHETER WITH ADJUSTABLE ARCUATE DISTAL SECTION - A catheter includes an elongated body, a distal assembly with a shape-memory member defining a generally circular form, and a control handle adapted to actuate a deflection puller wire for deflecting a portion of the elongated body, and a contraction wire for contracting the generally circular form. The generally circular form which carries at least one ring electrode has an off-edge configuration relative to the elongated body such that a longitudinal axis of the elongated body does not intersect the circumference of the circular form and the generally circular form spirals about the longitudinal axis of the elongated body. Moreover, the circular form can have an on-axis configuration such that the longitudinal axis of the elongated body is axially aligned with a central longitudinal axis of the circular form, or an off-axis configuration such that these axes are axially offset from each other. In a more detailed embodiment, the catheter has a distal assembly with a helical form or a crescent form carrying a plurality of irrigated ablation ring electrodes and a plurality of smaller ring electrodes adapted for impedance recording or PV potential recording. A support member with shape memory extends through the distal assembly to provide the helical or crescent form. The support member has a varying stiffness along its length, for example, a decreasing stiffness toward a distal end of the support member. The support member can also be hollow so that it can receive a mandrel whose stiffness is greater than that of the support member. | 05-12-2016 |
20160120427 | REAL-TIME COLORING OF ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL MAP - Catheterization of the heart is carried out with a probe having a plurality of electrodes and sensors by displaying an electroanatomical map of the heart on a monitor. During a time interval that does not exceed a duration of a cardiac cycle of the heart the following steps are performed: reading data from at least one of the electrodes and sensors, and invoking a processor to perform an algorithm on the data. The data is one of a plurality of inputs of the algorithm, and the result of the algorithm includes a transformation of the data. The method is further carried out by rendering the result of the algorithm on the monitor to modify the electroanatomical map. | 05-05-2016 |
20160120426 | REGISTRATION MAPS USING INTRA-CARDIAC SIGNALS - Cardiac catheterization is facilitated by generating first and second electroanatomic maps of a heart of a subject and designating common spatial locations that correspond to first electrical events on the first electroanatomic map and second electrical events on the second electroanatomic map. The common spatial locations of the first electroanatomic map and the second electroanatomic map are aligned to establish an aligned map, and using the location data on the aligned map to guide a probe to a point of interest. | 05-05-2016 |
20160113723 | ENLARGEMENT OF TRACKING VOLUME BY MOVEMENT OF IMAGING BED - A medical system, includes an imaging apparatus, which includes an array of detectors, which define an imaging volume and form images of a region within a body of a patient that is positioned in the imaging volume. A movable bed transports the body of the patient through the imaging volume. An invasive probe is inserted into a lumen within the body of the patient. A tracking apparatus includes a field transducer positioned in the imaging apparatus and defining a tracking volume within the imaging apparatus, and generates an indication of a location of the invasive probe within the tracking volume responsively to an interaction between the field transducer and the invasive probe. A controller controls the movable bed in response to the location of the invasive probe indicated by the tracking apparatus. | 04-28-2016 |
20160104312 | REAL-TIME SIMULATION OF FLUOROSCOPIC IMAGES - A method includes registering a first coordinate system of a fluoroscopic imaging system and a second coordinate system of a magnetic position tracking system. A three-dimensional (3D) map of an organ of a patient is computed using the magnetic position tracking system. A field-of-view (FOV) of the fluoroscopic imaging system in the second coordinate system is calculated using the registered first and second coordinate systems. Based on the 3D map and the calculated FOV, a two-dimensional (2D) image that simulates a fluoroscopic image that would be generated by the fluoroscopic imaging system is created, and the 2D image that simulates the fluoroscopic image is displayed. | 04-14-2016 |
20160067457 | MEDICAL DEVICE CONTROL HANDLE - A medical device control handle has with a distal component which is adjustable by an actuator assembly by means of a puller member or wire. The actuator assembly includes a user interface rotational dial, a detent tab washer and a spool, where the dial is rotationally coupled to the detent tab washer which transmits rotational movement of the dial to the spool. The spool has a shaft body and a drum end onto which an proximal end portion of the puller member can be wound to manipulate or adjust the distal component. Rotational movement of the detent washer is limited to prevent overrotation and breakage of the puller member. At least one washer is mounted on the shaft body of the spool to help apply compression load on the actuator assembly in friction-inducing contact with one or more components of the actuator assembly. | 03-10-2016 |
20160051797 | UNIDIRECTIONAL CATHETER CONTROL HANDLE WITH TENSIONING CONTROL - A catheter includes a tip electrode with a shell and a support member to provide a plenum chamber. The plug is formed with a U-shaped passage for a safety line to wrap around and secure the support member (with the shell affixed thereto) to the catheter. Additional passages are formed in the plug to accommodate components such as irrigation tubing, lead wire and thermocouple wire pair. A method of manufacture provides distal installation and/or anchoring of the safety line, lead wire and thermocouple wire pair in the support member prior to sealing the support member and mounting the shell. | 02-25-2016 |
20160048960 | MARKING OF FLUOROSCOPE FIELD-OF-VIEW - A method includes registering a first coordinate system of a fluoroscopic imaging system and a second coordinate system of a magnetic position tracking system. A three-dimensional (3D) map of an organ of a patient, which is produced by the magnetic position tracking system, is displayed. A 3D volume that would be irradiated by the fluoroscopic imaging system is calculated using the registered first and second coordinate systems. The calculated 3D volume is marked on the 3D map. | 02-18-2016 |
20160045123 | LINE OF BLOCK DETECTION - Cardiac catheterization is performed by recording electrograms from a multi-electrode probe at respective locations in the heart, determining slopes and annotations in the electrograms within time windows, establishing relationships among the slopes and annotations of the electrograms, and determining lines of conduction block in the heart from the relationships. | 02-18-2016 |
20160038047 | WAVEFRONT ANALYSIS BASED ON ABLATION PARAMETERS - A method, including recording parameters indicative of a quality of ablation performed at one or more sites in a region of a human heart, and receiving a set of electrophysiological signals indicative of a wave of electrical activation flowing through the region. The method further includes identifying locations within the region at which the wave is blocked from flowing and estimating confidence levels with respect to a blockage of the wave at the locations in response to the signals and the parameters. The method also includes displaying a map of the human heart including an indication of the confidence levels. | 02-11-2016 |
20160018602 | ELECTRO-OPTICAL CONNECTOR WITH HOT ELECTRICAL CONTACT PROTECTION - A cable connector, including a housing having a base and a lip, which surrounds the base and defines an aperture configured to receive a mating plug. The cable connector also includes a plurality of electrical contacts enclosed by the housing and configured to convey electrical signals, the electrical contacts having respective first proximal and first distal ends, the first proximal ends being implanted in the base so that the first distal ends are recessed within the aperture at a first distance from the base. The cable connector additionally includes one or more optical fiber terminals containing end portions of respective optical fibers configured to convey optical signals and having respective second proximal and second distal ends, the second proximal ends being implanted in the base so that the second distal ends are recessed within the aperture at a second distance from the base, which is greater than the first distance. | 01-21-2016 |
20150374448 | ASSISTIVE MANUAL ZEROING VISUALIZATION - A probe having a contact force sensor is inserted into a cardiac chamber and an image of the blood pool is generated. A portion of the blood pool is removed from the image to retain a remaining portion of the blood pool. A determination is made that the distal segment of the probe is within the remaining portion of the blood pool, and responsively to the determination the contact force sensor is manually zeroed. | 12-31-2015 |
20150374260 | REAL-TIME GENERATION OF MRI SLICES - A method includes displaying a position of a distal end of a medical probe that is being navigated in an organ of a patient on a three-dimensional (3D) map of the organ. In response to an event, a plane of interest including the distal end is selected, a real-time Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) slice of the organ is acquired at the selected plane, and the MRI slice is displayed overlaid on the 3D map. | 12-31-2015 |
20150342671 | CATHETER ELECTRODE WITH MULTIPLE THERMOCOUPLES - A medical probe includes an elongate body for insertion into an organ of a patient, and an electrode that is attached to the elongate body. Multiple thermocouples are disposed at respective different locations of the electrode and electrically coupled to the electrode, and are configured to sense respective temperatures at the locations. | 12-03-2015 |
20150342662 | IDENTIFICATION AND VISUALIZATION OF GAPS BETWEEN CARDIAC ABLATION SITES - A method includes receiving locations of multiple ablation sites formed on a surface of a heart. Distances are measured among at least some of the ablation sites based on the locations. One or more gaps between the ablation sites, which meet an alerting criterion, are identified. The identified gaps are indicated to an operator. | 12-03-2015 |
20150327921 | CATHETER TIP WITH MICROELECTRODES - Apparatus, having an insertion tube that is configured to be inserted into a body cavity. The apparatus also includes a distal tip connected to the insertion tube, the distal tip having an external surface and a cavity formed in the external surface, the cavity being surrounded by a region of the external surface having a curvature. The apparatus further includes a microelectrode configured to fit into the cavity so that a surface of the microelectrode is contoured, located and oriented to conform with the curvature of the region. | 11-19-2015 |
20150305646 | CHECKING FOR PERFORATION OF THE EPICARDIUM USING MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - Cardiac ablation is monitored to detect hemopericardium by iteratively acquiring magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data that includes the pericardium, measuring the pericardium by analyzing the sets of MRI data, making a determination that a measurement of the pericardium in consecutive sets of MRI data differ, and responsively to the determination reporting a change in configuration of the pericardium. | 10-29-2015 |
20150289776 | PLACEMENT OF ELECTRODES IN PROXIMITY TO THE HEART - A method, consisting of receiving respective electrocardiograph (ECG) signals from body-surface electrodes at respective locations in proximity to a heart of a subject. The ECG signals may be processed to generate respective signal parameters characteristic of positions of the body-surface electrodes with respect to the heart, and the respective locations may be adjusted so as to achieve a specified geometrical relationship between the body-surface electrodes and the heart in response to the respective signal parameters. | 10-15-2015 |
20150272665 | SEALED TWO-WAY MAGNETIC MANIFOLD - An irrigated medical device, including an inlet tube configured to receive an irrigation fluid from a pressurized fluid source, at least first and second outlet tubes configured to deliver the irrigation fluid to respective outlets of the device, a manifold containing a chamber coupled between the inlet tube and at least the first and second outlet tubes, and a ball including a magnetic material contained inside the chamber. The irrigated medical device also includes a magnetic field generator disposed outside the chamber and configured to generate a variable magnetic field within the chamber so as to move the ball between at least a first position in which the first outlet tube is blocked, a second position in which the second outlet tube is blocked, and a third position, in which neither of the outlet tubes is blocked. | 10-01-2015 |
20150257665 | MULTIPLE LED SENSORS ON A FIBEROPTIC CABLE USED AS A CATHETER - A fiberoptic waveguide connectable to an optical receiver, and a plurality of electro-optical elements optically coupled to the waveguide. The electro-optical elements each have a first electrode with a first polarity, and a second electrode with a second polarity. A light-emitting diode is linked to the first electrode and configured for illuminating the waveguide responsively to an electrical potential between the first electrode and the second electrode at a respective wavelength. The waveguide may be incorporated into a catheter for insertion into a subject, such as a cardiac catheter. | 09-17-2015 |
20150250424 | MULTI-ARM CATHETER WITH SIGNAL TRANSMISSION OVER BRAID WIRES - A medical probe includes an insertion tube for insertion into a patient's body, and multiple arms that are attached to a distal end of the insertion tube. Each arm includes a braid of wires that traverse the arm. Multiple electrodes are coupled to the arms and electrically connected to respective selected wires of the braid. The electrodes are configured to exchange signals over the wires with a system external to the patient body. | 09-10-2015 |
20150247944 | CALIBRATION JIG FOR A FLAT LOCATION PAD - An apparatus includes a detector assembly, a positioning unit, and interface circuitry. The detector assembly includes an array of multiple magnetic field detectors. The positioning unit is configured to fix the detector assembly at one or more known positions relative to a location pad, which generates magnetic fields for performing position measurements on an intra-body magnetic field detector using a positioning system. The interface circuitry is configured to output electrical signals that are produced by the magnetic field detectors of the detector assembly when the detector assembly is fixed at the known positions, so as to calibrate the position measurements performed by the positioning system. | 09-03-2015 |
20150238102 | DETERMINATION OF REFERENCE ANNOTATION TIME FROM MULTI-CHANNEL ELECTRO-CARDIOGRAM SIGNALS - A method includes receiving a plurality of mapping electro-cardiogram (ECG) signals from respective mapping electrodes coupled to a surface of a heart of a patient. Multiple reference ECG signals are received from respective reference electrodes coupled to the patient. The multiple reference ECG signals are jointly processed, so as to produce a single timing reference indicative of cardiac cycle timing of the heart. The single timing reference is applied to the mapping ECG signals. | 08-27-2015 |
20150223762 | SYNCHRONIZING BETWEEN IMAGE SEQUENCES OF THE HEART ACQUIRED AT DIFFERENT HEARTBEAT RATES - A method for performing a medical procedure includes holding a non-linear dependence between the duration of a given phase within a cardiac cycle and a respective heartbeat rate. First and second image sequences of the dynamic activity of the heart of a patient, acquired at respective different first and second heartbeat rates of the heart, are received. Synchronization between the first and second image sequences is performed based on the non-linear dependence, on the first and second heartbeat rates, and on a given common heartbeat rate. The first and second image sequences are played in synchronization with the common heartbeat rate. | 08-13-2015 |
20150223717 | DYNAMIC CANCELLATION OF MRI SEQUENCING NOISE APPEARING IN AN ECG SIGNAL - A method, consisting of, while imaging a patient using an initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence, receiving an initial set of electrocardiograph (ECG) signals from the patient. The method includes identifying initial noise in the initial set of ECG signals arising from the initial MRI sequence, and characterizing the initial noise in terms of frequency components thereof. The method further includes generating a relation between parameters defining the initial MRI sequence and the frequency components, computing a filter by applying the relation to the parameters of a subsequent MRI sequence, and applying the computed filter to reduce noise in a further set of ECG signals, received from the patient, while imaging the patient using the subsequent MRI sequence. | 08-13-2015 |
20150223715 | CATHETER WITH TRANSVERSE BRANCHES - Apparatus, including a flexible insertion tube, having a distal segment that is configured to be inserted into a body organ. A plurality of elastic branches are connected to the distal segment of the insertion tube at different, respective locations and extend transversely away from the insertion tube at the respective locations. There are one or more respective electrodes disposed on each of the elastic branches and there are conductors traversing the elastic branches so as to couple the electrodes to the insertion tube. | 08-13-2015 |
20150223712 | ANALOG CANCELLATION OF MRI SEQUENCING NOISE APPEARING IN AN ECG SIGNAL - A method, including, while imaging a patient using an initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence, generating an initial MRI reference signal in response to the initial MRI sequence using a reference sensor placed in proximity to the patient. The method further includes identifying, by locking on to the initial MRI reference signal, noise that will be generated in electrocardiograph (ECG) signals received from the patient, and computing a programmable correction to be applied to the ECG signals to reduce the noise. The method also includes applying the programmable correction to reduce the noise in the ECG signals, received from the patient, while imaging the patient using a subsequent MRI sequence and while locking on to a subsequent MRI reference signal generated in response to the subsequent MRI sequence using the reference sensor. | 08-13-2015 |
20150217087 | CATHETER CLIPS - A device for gripping a catheter, including a first jaw having a first exterior side and a first radial passage. The device has a second jaw having a second exterior side, opposite the first exterior side, and a second radial passage. The device also has a resilient joint connecting the first and second jaws so that manual compression of the first exterior side toward the second exterior side causes relative rotation between the first and second jaws that mutually aligns the first and second radial passages, such that the catheter can be inserted through the first and second radial passages, and so that releasing the manual compression causes the first and second jaws to rotate so that the first and second radial passages are no longer mutually aligned and so that the catheter passes through and is gripped by the device along mutually aligned first and second central axes. | 08-06-2015 |
20150208942 | DOUBLE BIPOLAR CONFIGURATION FOR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION ANNOTATION - Catheterization of the heart is carried out by inserting a probe having electrodes into a heart of a living subject, recording a bipolar electrogram and a unipolar electrogram from one of the electrodes at a location in the heart, and defining a window of interest wherein a rate of change in a potential of the bipolar electrogram exceeds a predetermined value. An annotation is established in the unipolar electrogram, wherein the annotation denotes a maximum rate of change in a potential of the unipolar electrogram within the window of interest. A quality value is assigned to the annotation, and a 3-dimensional map is generated of a portion of the heart that includes the annotation and the quality value thereof. | 07-30-2015 |
20150208938 | HYBRID BIPOLAR/UNIPOLAR DETECTION OF ACTIVATION WAVEFRONT - A bipolar electrogram and a unipolar electrogram are recorded from electrodes of a probe, and differentiated with respect to time. Peaks are identified in the differentiated bipolar electrogram. An activity window is defined that includes bipolar activity about the peaks. An extreme negative value in the differentiated unipolar electrogram within the activity window is reported as a unipolar activation onset. In one aspect, an annotation is selected from candidate minima in the differentiated unipolar electrogram within the activity window by excluding candidates that fail to correlate with activity in the bipolar electrogram. | 07-30-2015 |
20150208935 | ENHANCED ECG CHART PRESENTATION - A method, including collecting first data samples of electrical potentials produced by a heart at a sequence of sampling times, and collecting second data samples of ancillary data with respect to the heart at the sampling times. Based on the first and second data samples, a trace of the electrical potentials collected at the sampling times is presented, on a display, the trace having a pseudo-three-dimensional (3D) characteristic that varies responsively to the ancillary data collected at each of the sampling times. | 07-30-2015 |
20150201864 | SIGNAL TRANSMISSION USING CATHETER BRAID WIRES - A probe includes an insertion tube, a magnetic field sensor, a dummy load mounted adjacent to the magnetic field sensor, and a braid. The braid includes multiple braid wires that traverse a length of the insertion tube. A first pair of the braid wires is connected across the magnetic field sensor, and a second pair of the braid wires is connected across the dummy load. | 07-23-2015 |
20150190610 | CABLE ARRANGER - Catheterization employing a cable extending from the catheter to a fixed point of attachment is performed by providing a sensor to detect rotation of the catheter about its longitudinal axis, the rotation causing the cable to form a twist. The cable extends through a cable arranger that operates to remove the twist. A controller receives signals from the sensor and generates control signals to actuate the cable arranger responsively to the signals from the sensor. | 07-09-2015 |
20150178448 | REAL-TIME COMMUNICATION BETWEEN MEDICAL DEVICES OVER A DICOM NETWORK - A method includes sending from a first medical device to a second medical device a request for data using a communication protocol that includes messages for conveying medical measurement results. In response to the request, at least one message is produced in the second medical device that includes the requested data and a dummy payload instead of the medical measurement results, and the at least one message is sent from the second medical device to the first medical device using the communication protocol. | 06-25-2015 |
20150176961 | ADAPTIVE FLUOROSCOPE LOCATION FOR THE APPLICATION OF FIELD COMPENSATION - Compensation for a field-perturbing element in a magnetic tracking system for locating a probe is achieved by creating a reaction field model while the field-perturbing element is in known positions. A magnetic field location sensor is disposed between the field-perturbing element and magnetic field generators of the tracking system. Magnetic field readings from the location sensor and from a magnetic field sensor on the probe are taken while the field-perturbing element is present. The position of the field-perturbing element is estimated from the location sensor readings, and a predicted reaction field calculated from the reaction field model. A compensated measurement is obtained by subtracting the predicted reaction field from the field detected by the location sensor. The readings from the probe sensor are adjusted using the compensated measurement in order to calculate the true position of the probe. | 06-25-2015 |
20150173829 | TORSION REDUCTION SYSTEM - An apparatus, including an insertion tube having a proximal tube end and a distal tube end that includes an electrode, a first irrigation line including proximal and distal irrigation line ends and configured to supply fluid from the distal irrigation line end through apertures in the tube, and an electrical line including a proximal electrical line end and a distal electric line end coupled to the electrode. The apparatus includes a slip ring unit having a stator, a rotor connected to the proximal electrical line end, and a hollow channel extending through respective centers of the stator and the rotor along a longitudinal axis of the slip ring unit. The apparatus includes a rotary joint in fluid communication with the proximal irrigation line end, an angle sensor configured to detect torsion of the proximal irrigation line end, and a drive mechanism coupled to rotate the rotor responsively to the torsion. | 06-25-2015 |
20150173643 | LOW-PROFILE LOCATION PAD FOR MAGNETIC-BASED INTRA-BODY PROBE TRACKING SYSTEM - A location pad includes a housing having a flat surface and multiple field generators. The multiple field generators are fixed to the housing and are configured to generate respective magnetic fields having respective axes that are perpendicular to the flat surface. | 06-25-2015 |
20150157381 | PERICARDIAL CATHETER WITH TEMPERATURE SENSING ARRAY - A catheter adapted for use in the pericardial sac to sense temperature of an ablation site and surrounding heart tissue within one of the heart's ventricles or atria via proximity with the epicardium in the pericardial sac, includes a catheter body and a temperature sensing array adapted for placement on and contact with the epicardium. The temperature sensing array may comprise a 2-D body, with a surface adapted to contact an area on the epicardial tissue or in pericardial space. The array may also comprise at least one finger member, each having at least one temperature sensing location. The array may further comprise an elongated body having a generally circular configuration, a distal portion of which is movable to a spirally inward position. | 06-11-2015 |
20150157267 | DYNAMIC MAPPING POINT FILTERING USING A PRE-ACQUIRED IMAGE - A method, including acquiring a body cavity image and receiving first and second sets of mapping points from a probe inserted into the cavity. A first registration, having a first cumulative error value, is performed between the first set's mapping points and the image, each of the first set's mapping points having a respective first point error value, and a 3D anatomical map is generated including the first set's mapping points whose respective first point error values are less than a specified threshold. A second registration is performed between the received mapping points and the image, each of the received mapping points having a respective second point error value, the second registration having a second cumulative error value lower than the first cumulative error value, and an updated 3D anatomical map is generated including the received mapping points whose respective second point error values are less than the specified threshold. | 06-11-2015 |
20150148816 | ROBOTIC ASSISTER FOR CATHETER INSERTION - Apparatus for controlling motion of an invasive probe relative to a sheath enclosing the probe. The apparatus includes an outer casing, configured for connection to the sheath. The apparatus further includes a drive mechanism, fixedly connected to the outer casing. The drive mechanism has a first set of components, configured to translate the probe along a direction parallel to an axis of the probe, in order to advance and retract the probe with respect to the sheath in a translational stepwise manner. The drive mechanism also includes a second set of components, configured to rotate the probe around the axis of the probe, in order to rotate the probe clockwise and counter-clockwise, with respect to the sheath, in a rotational stepwise manner. | 05-28-2015 |
20150141982 | MULTI-ELECTRODE BALLOON CATHETER WITH CIRCUMFERENTIAL AND POINT ELECTRODES - A catheter has a balloon electrode assembly with at least one compliant balloon member and at least one electrode carried on an outer surface of the balloon member for accomplishing circumferential sensing or ablation in a tubular region of the heart, including a pulmonary vein or ostium. The catheter may also include an electrode assembly with a tip and/or ring electrode distal of the balloon electrode assembly adapted for focal contact. | 05-21-2015 |
20150141798 | TRACKING OF CATHETER FROM INSERTION POINT TO HEART USING IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENTS - A subject-specific skeletal model of a body is created, and an intended path of a catheter within the body is defined in the model. While the probe is inserted into the body electrical currents are passed through the body between at least one electrode in the probe and through respective electroconductive location pads that are disposed at a plurality of locations on the body surface along the intended path. Based on respective characteristics of the currents passing through the plurality of locations, position coordinates of the probe are iteratively determined. The actual path of the probe is tracked with reference to in the model using the iteratively determined position coordinates to determine whether the actual path corresponds to the intended path. | 05-21-2015 |
20150141785 | FLEXIBLE MULTIPLE-ARM DIAGNOSTIC CATHETER - A medical probe includes a distal end and an elongate body for insertion into an organ of a patient. The distal end is connected to the elongate body and includes multiple arms that, when inserted into the organ, extend to form multiple respective spirals each having electrodes disposed thereon. | 05-21-2015 |
20150133759 | Reverse ECG Mapping - Methods and systems for preparing electroanatomic maps of the heart operate using a probe that has been inserted into a heart chamber by emitting electrical calibration signals from external locations that are outside the subjects body, receiving the calibration signals in a plurality of intracardiac electrodes on the probe, and determining functional relationships between the emitted calibration signals and the received calibration signals. Thereafter, electrophysiological signals from respective origins in the heart are detected in the external locations, and the functional relationships are applied to the detected electrophysiological signals to calculate intracardiac potentials at the respective origins. | 05-14-2015 |
20150126995 | USING CATHETER POSITION AND TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT TO DETECT MOVEMENT FROM ABLATION POINT - Ablation is carried out by bringing a probe into contact with a target tissue. The probe has a plurality of temperature sensors and an ablation electrode on its distal portion. The temperature sensors are distributed circumferentially about the longitudinal axis such that the probe has an omnidirectional temperature sensitivity. After verifying that contact exists between the probe and the target tissue, and while applying energy through the ablation electrode data from the temperature sensors is repetitively recorded. Thereafter, responsively to detection of a drop in temperature with respect to the baseline temperature level, it is concluded that a loss of contact between the probe and the target tissue has occurred. The operator is thereupon alerted. | 05-07-2015 |
20150126895 | ELECTRICALLY TRANSPARENT CATHETER SHEATH - A sheath includes an elongate tube, which has an outer wall that surrounds an inner lumen and has multiple holes along the tube penetrating the outer wall. Multiple electrically-conducting elements are inserted in the respective holes, so as to allow transmission of electrical current between the inner lumen and an exterior of the outer wall. | 05-07-2015 |
20150126882 | SEGMENTED BALLOON CATHETER - A catheter has an inflatable assembly at its distal portion, including a containment chamber, an axial core and a plurality of longitudinally oriented partitions extending from the axial core to the wall of the chamber to divide the containment chamber into at least four inflatable sectors. Hydraulic valves are connected to respective sectors to enable selective inflation of the sectors by a fluid when the valves are connected to a source of the fluid, and at least one surface electrode is mounted on each of the sectors. When introduced into a heart chamber and diametrically opposed sectors are inflated the assembly is stably fixed against the walls of the heart chamber and readings can be obtained from the surface electrodes of the inflated sectors. | 05-07-2015 |
20150119686 | SERIALLY CONNECTED AUTONOMOUS LOCATION PADS - An apparatus, including a bus having electrical power and data lines, and a plurality of location pads, which are positionable at different, respective locations with respect to a body cavity in which the object is located, and which are connected to the bus in series so as to receive electrical power and exchange data signals over the bus. Each location pad includes multiple radiator coils and driving circuitry configured to select, responsively to the data signals, different respective driving frequencies for the coils and to generate, using the electrical power from the bus, driving signals to drive the coils to produce magnetic fields at the respective driving frequencies. The apparatus also includes a console, which is configured to receive and process sensor signals from a magnetic sensor fixed to the object, in response to the magnetic fields in the body cavity, in order to compute position coordinates of the object. | 04-30-2015 |
20150112229 | REAL-TIME ESTIMATION OF TISSUE PERFORATION RISK DURING MINIMALLY INVASIVE MEDICAL PROCEDURE - A method for performing a medical procedure, includes coupling a tip of a probe to tissue in an organ of a patient in order to apply the medical procedure using the probe. A force exerted by the tip on the tissue and a displacement of the tip created by the force are measured. A dependence of the force on the displacement is calculated. Based on the calculated dependence, a risk level of perforation of the tissue is estimated. | 04-23-2015 |
20150112149 | MAPPING FORCE AND TEMPERATURE FOR A CATHETER - A method for displaying information, including receiving measurements, with respect to an invasive probe inside a body of a subject, of probe parameters consisting of a force exerted by the probe on tissue of the subject and temperatures measured by sensors of the probe. The method further includes, responsively to the measurements, displaying in a single map on a display screen a graphical representation of a distribution of the temperatures in a vicinity of the probe and superimposing thereon a vector representation of the force. | 04-23-2015 |
20150105770 | PATIENT-SPECIFIC PRE-SHAPED CARDIAC CATHETER - A method includes receiving one or more images of an organ of a patient. A physical model of at least a target region of the organ is manufactured based on the images. A distal tip of a medical probe is pre-shaped to fit a surface of the physical model corresponding to the target region. | 04-16-2015 |
20150100043 | CATHETER WITH CROSS-BRAIDED PROXIMAL SECTION AND HELICAL-COILED DISTAL END - A medical probe includes a proximal section, a transition region, and a distal section. The proximal section includes a braid that is braided with a cross-braiding configuration. In the transition region, which follows the proximal section, the braid transitions between the cross-braiding configuration and a helical coiling configuration. In the distal section, which follows the transition region, the braid is coiled with the helical coiling configuration. | 04-09-2015 |
20150095036 | CONTROLLING A SYSTEM USING VOICELESS ALARYNGEAL SPEECH - Apparatus, including a sensor which is configured to be fixed to a neck of an operator of equipment in a location suitable for sensing a voiceless alaryngeal speech vibration generated by the operator during operation of the equipment, The apparatus further includes a processor which is configured to receive and process a signal output by the sensor so as to measure the voiceless alaryngeal speech vibration and so as to generate a control signal for the equipment responsively to the measured voiceless alaryngeal speech vibration. | 04-02-2015 |
20150073246 | METHOD FOR MAPPING VENTRICULAR/ATRIAL PREMATURE BEATS DURING SINUS RHYTHM - While detecting a cardiac arrhythmia, a mapping electrode of a probe is used to associate a local activation time with a first location in a region of interest in the heart. While detecting an absence of the cardiac arrhythmia, the local activation time is associated with a second location in the heart. Electrical data of the first location is assigned to the second location, and an electroanatomic map of the heart is generated that includes the second location in association with the assigned electrical data of the first location. | 03-12-2015 |
20150067000 | DOUBLE BUFFERING WITH ATOMIC TRANSACTIONS FOR THE PERSISTENT STORAGE OF REAL-TIME DATA FLOWS - A method, including configuring, in a memory, a first buffer to store first buffer data, a second buffer to store second buffer data, and a variable indicative of a persisted size of real-time data persisted to a storage device. On the storage device, a file is configured to store the real-time data and a field is configured to store the variable. A stream of the real-time data is received, and the stream is appended to the first buffer data. Upon meeting a write criteria, the first buffer data in is swapped with the second buffer data, a buffer size of the second buffer data is added to the variable, and the second buffer data is conveyed from the second buffer to a write cache. Upon meeting a commit criteria, the stream stored in the write cache is appended to the file, and the variable is persisted to the field. | 03-05-2015 |
20150066021 | DETERMINING ABSENCE OF CONTACT FOR A CATHETER - A method, including injecting a current between an electrode of a catheter and tissue in proximity to the catheter, the catheter having a force sensor configured to measure a force between the catheter and the tissue. The method further includes measuring a succession of phase shifts of the current relative to a fixed reference and verifying that a cardinality of the measured phase shifts falling below a predetermined threshold increases over a predetermined time period. A zero-force point for the force sensor is calibrated according to the force measured by the force sensor during the predetermined time period. | 03-05-2015 |
20150065851 | DETERMINING NON-CONTACT STATE FOR A CATHETER - A method, including inserting a probe into a cavity in a subject's body and receiving, from a force sensor in the probe, first readings indicative of a first change in measured contact forces between the probe and the cavity by less than a predetermined limit over at least a predetermined interval of time. The method continues by receiving second readings from the force sensor when the second readings have changed by more than a predetermined force threshold or location coordinates of the probe have changed by at least a predetermined location change threshold. The method continues by receiving third readings indicative of a second change in the measured contact forces between the probe and the cavity by less than the predetermined limit over at least the predetermined interval of time. The method concludes by calibrating a zero-force point for the force sensor according to the third readings. | 03-05-2015 |
20150057652 | ADAPTIVE ELECTRODE FOR BI-POLAR ABLATION - Cardiac ablation is carried out by placing two ablation electrodes on opposite sides of a wall of the heart to generally oppose one another. The effective current transmission area of one of the electrodes is then varied according to the distance between the two electrodes or the thickness of the wall. Sufficient electrical current is transmitted between the two electrodes to achieve transmural ablation. | 02-26-2015 |
20150057529 | GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEM - While obtaining electrophysiologic data from a cardiac catheter a series of visual displays are presented. The displays include a respective current image of the heart and the distal portion of the cardiac catheter therein and further include a catheter icon that represents the distal portion of the cardiac catheter, The catheter icon is separated from the image of the heart in the displays. The catheter icon has indicia that represent functional elements of the cardiac catheter. | 02-26-2015 |
20150045647 | UNMAPPED REGION VISUALIZATION - A method, including capturing, from an imaging system, a three-dimensional (3D) image of a body cavity, and using the captured 3D image to construct a simulated surface of the body cavity. A probe having a location sensor is inserted into the body cavity, and in response to multiple location measurements received from the location sensor, multiple positions are mapped within respective regions of the body cavity so as to generate respective mapped regions of the simulated surface. Based on the simulated surface and the respective mapped regions, one or more unmapped regions of the simulated surface are delineated, and the simulated surface of the body cavity is configured to indicate the delineated unmapped regions. | 02-12-2015 |
20150038900 | MULTISHAPE CATHETER - A probe, consisting of a flexible insertion tube, for insertion into a subject via a body lumen. The probe includes a sequence of tubular modules contained within the insertion tube, each module having a rigid tube segment having a preset shape and containing internal grooves on an interior surface of the tube segment. The probe further includes a flexible expander tube, which is threaded through the sequence of tubular modules and has external grooves configured to engage the internal grooves within the tube segment of each of the tubular modules when the expander tube is expanded, so as to hold the tubular modules in mutual alignment, wherein the tubular modules are able to move out of mutual alignment when the expander tube is unexpanded. The probe also has an expansion element, which is insertable through the flexible expander tube so as to expand the expander tube. | 02-05-2015 |
20150032102 | CATHETER WITH INTEGRATED FLOW SENSOR - Methods and systems facilitate catheterization of a living subject by passing a fluid through an irrigation conduit. Heat energy is delivered to the conduit to create a heated pod of irrigation fluid that propagates downstream from the heat source. A departure time of the pod from a first location in the conduit is recorded, and an arrival time of the pod is detected at a second location that is downstream from the first location. A transit time of the pod from the first location to the second location is determined, and the flow of the fluid is adjusted responsively to the transit time. | 01-29-2015 |
20150028884 | IDENTIFYING DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL CABLES - A method includes coupling an electrical cable, including multiple wires, to circuitry including a resistor bank connected to the wires. A gain of the circuitry is measured including the cable. Based on the measured gain, one or more of the wires in the cable that are defective are identified. An indication of the defective wires is output. | 01-29-2015 |
20150023374 | TWO WIRE SIGNAL TRANSMISSION - Apparatus, including a first signal source generating a first signal and a second signal source generating a second signal. A cross-over switch is connected between the two sources so as to generate in a direct switch configuration a sum of the first and second signals and in a crossed switch configuration a difference between the first and second signals. The apparatus includes a processor which is configured to receive the sum and the difference, and to recover the first signal and the second signal therefrom. | 01-22-2015 |
20150018698 | MODEL BASED RECONSTRUCTION OF THE HEART FROM SPARSE SAMPLES - A parametric model representing a portion of a heart is constructed using a statistical prior of the shape from a dataset of other instances of the portion. Using a mapping electrode, electrical data is acquired in a plurality of locations in the portion of the heart of a subject. The parametric model is fitted to the electrical data and the statistical prior to produce an isosurface of the portion of the heart and a reconstruction of its shape. | 01-15-2015 |
20140378902 | ELECTROCARDIOGRAM NOISE REDUCTION - Methods and systems of catheterization include a flexible catheter adapted for insertion into a heart of a living subject. The catheter has a lumen for passing an electrically conductive fluid therethrough with the fluid exiting the catheter at the distal portion. The lumen is connectable to an irrigation pump to form a fluid communication therewith. A fluid reservoir connected to the lumen supplies the fluid to the catheter. Electrocardiogram circuitry is connectable to the subject for monitoring electrical activity in the heart. An electrically conductive cable diverts induced charges in the fluid from the catheter electrodes, for example by connection to an isolated ground of the electrocardiogram. | 12-25-2014 |
20140378806 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING COMPATIBLE CATHETER - A method, consisting of passing a cylindrical carbon fiber through a press so as to produce a flat ribbon. The method further includes weaving multiple strands of the flat ribbon together to create a cylindrical braid. | 12-25-2014 |
20140330111 | VALVE VIEW MAP - A method, including generating a three-dimensional (3D) map as a plurality of points illustrating a characteristic of a 3D heart chamber, the 3D heart chamber having an opening bounded by a perimeter. The method further includes transforming the perimeter into a closed two-dimensional (2D) figure having an interior. The plurality of points illustrating the characteristic are projected onto the interior of the 2D figure so as to generate a 2D map of the characteristic of the 3D heart chamber. | 11-06-2014 |
20140317910 | SINGLE-AXIS SENSORS ON FLEXIBLE BACKBONE - An apparatus includes a narrow elongate probe is adapted for insertion into the body of a living subject. The probe may be flexible and has a plurality of sensors consisting of single coils of very fine wire wound about a backbone of the probe, which transmit signals proximally via fine connecting wires to a position processor. The position processor analyzes the signals to determine position coordinates at multiple points along the length of the probe. | 10-30-2014 |
20140309512 | HIGH DENSITY ELECTRODE STRUCTURE - Electrode cabling, including a core and n wires coiled on the core in an arrangement topologically equivalent to an n-start thread configuration, wherein n is an integer greater than one. The cabling also includes a sheath covering the n wires and an electrode attached through the sheath to a given wire selected from the n wires. | 10-16-2014 |
20140305699 | CONNECTION OF ELECTRODES TO WIRES COILED ON A CORE - A method for attaching an electrode to cabling, including providing a cable having a plurality of insulated wires coiled around a central core. The method further includes removing insulation from each wire in a set of the coiled wires so as to provide a respective access channel to a respective section of a respective conductor of each wire in the set while the respective section remains coiled on the central core. The method further includes fastening a respective electrode to the respective access channel while the respective section remains coiled on the central core. | 10-16-2014 |
20140276760 | FORCE FEEDBACK DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CATHETERS - An ablation apparatus includes a flexible probe adapted for insertion into a heart of a living subject. The probe has a distally disposed ablation electrode to be brought into contact with a target tissue in the heart, and has facilities for measuring contact force with the target tissue. The apparatus includes a transmitter, operative to transmit an indication of the contact force to a wearable device having an actuator operative to haptically stimulate the operator responsively to the indication. | 09-18-2014 |
20140276562 | CATHETER WITH SPRAY IRRIGATION - A medical probe, including a flexible insertion tube having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity, and a channel contained within the insertion tube and configured to convey a fluid to the distal end. A terminal member is fixed to the distal end of the insertion tube and includes a distal tip configured to be brought into contact with tissue in the body cavity, the distal tip having a first diameter, and a protruding shoulder surrounding the distal tip and having a second diameter, which is greater than the first diameter. The distal tip has one or more spray ports passing through the shoulder which are coupled to the channel so as to direct the fluid from the shoulder toward the tissue so as to irrigate the tissue. | 09-18-2014 |
20140261985 | METHOD FOR MAKING A LOW OHMIC PRESSURE-CONTACT ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN SPLIT RING ELECTRODE AND LEAD WIRE - A method for attaching a split ring electrode to a catheter tip section includes providing a tubing with a lumen and an opening in the tubing side wall, passing an electrode lead wire through the opening, and wrapping the lead wire around the tubing. A split ring electrode is mounted on the tubing over the wrapped lead wire and opening, with electrically-conductive thermoplastic elastomeric adhesive applied between the ring electrode and the outer surface of the tubing, and reheated to reflow. | 09-18-2014 |
20140221920 | CATHETER HAVING FLAT BEAM DEFLECTION TIP WITH FIBER PULLER MEMBERS - A catheter has a metal deflection beam with rectangular cross-section and one or two fiber puller members for predictable on-plane bi-directional deflection. Each fiber puller member is anchored at its distal end to a respective surface of the beam by a metal ferrule that is crimped onto the distal end. The ferrule is shaped to provide a flat outer underside that can lie flat against a beam surface and a thin planar distal section that is welded to the beam. With a distal end of the beam sandwiched between the thin planar distal section of two ferrules, the ferrules and the beam can be welded together by a single laser pulse. | 08-07-2014 |
20140221803 | CURRENT LOCALIZATION TRACKER - A method includes positioning body-electrodes in galvanic contact with a body of a patient and positioning a mapping-tool, having a mapping-electrode, in a plurality of regions in the body. The method further includes tracking the mapping-tool at different positions in each of the regions using a location-measuring system, and for each region, generating a respective set of calibration-currents between the body-electrodes and the mapping-electrode at the different positions in the region. A respective relation is derived for each region between the respective set of the calibration-currents and the different positions, and is used in determining the location of an investigation-tool in response to the different respective relations and investigation-tool-currents. | 08-07-2014 |
20140221768 | OPERATOR CONTROLLED MIXED MODALITY FEEDBACK - Apparatus, including a flexible insertion tube having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity, a first sensor in the distal end configured to acquire a first signal from the cavity during a medical procedure, and a second sensor in the distal end configured to acquire a second signal from the cavity during the procedure. The apparatus also includes a display, and a processor configured to present, on the display, first and second measurements corresponding to the first and second signals, and to accept an input selecting one of the presented measurements so as to generate a selected measurement. The apparatus additionally includes a handle coupled to the tube's proximal end, and a haptic feedback device attached to the handle configured to provide, under direction of the processor, a tactile feedback in response to the selected measurement while deemphasizing a presentation of the selected measurement. | 08-07-2014 |
20140194822 | CATHETER SHEATH INTRODUCER WITH DIRECTIONAL RETENTION DAMPER - A catheter sheath introducer comprises a hub and a tubular sheath having an inner lining with one or more dampers to improve retention of medical devices received or passed through the sheath without significantly increasing the force required to advance the medical device through the sheath. The dampers are made of a friction inducing material, for example, rubber-based materials, and configured as fingers, bumps or flaps that are unidirectional by means of an asymmetrical shape relative to a longitudinal axis of the sheath. | 07-10-2014 |
20140194813 | UNIDIRECTIONAL CATHETER CONTROL HANDLE WITH TENSIONING CONTROL - A catheter includes a tip electrode with a shell and a support member to provide a plenum chamber. The plug is formed with a U-shaped passage for a safety line to wrap around and secure the support member (with the shell affixed thereto) to the catheter. Additional passages are formed in the plug to accommodate components such as irrigation tubing, lead wire and thermocouple wire pair. A method of manufacture provides distal installation and/or anchoring of the safety line, lead wire and thermocouple wire pair in the support member prior to sealing the support member and mounting the shell. | 07-10-2014 |
20140194716 | CATHETER WITH MULTIPLE SPINES OF DIFFERENT LENGTHS ARRANGED IN ONE OR MORE DISTAL ASSEMBLIES - A catheter having a distal assembly with multiple spines with proximal ends affixed to the catheter and free distal ends. The spines have different lengths so distal ends of the spines trace different circumferences along an inner tissue surface of a tubular region to minimize risk of vein stenosis. The spine lengths can be configured so that the distal ends trace a helical pattern. The distal assembly may have a plunger which deflects the spines when moved longitudinally relative to the distal assembly. The catheter may include a second distal assembly distal of a first distal assembly wherein the first and second distal assemblies are separated by a fixed distanced or an adjustable distance. | 07-10-2014 |
20140188104 | CATHETER WITH DIRECT COOLING ON NONABLATING ELEMENT - A catheter tip electrode has a tissue contacting surface which electrically conducts RF energy to the tissue and is more thermally conductive than adjacent non-electrically conductive coating or cover which prevents RF conduction to the tissue contacting that surface. The tip electrode has a shell with a nonablating hollow proximal neck portion and a distal ablating portion defining a fluid chamber, and a plug-like support member which is configured with a fluid channel on its outer surface so a fluid passage is provided between the member and the neck portion for convective or direct cooling of the nonablating neck portion and nonconductive tubing covering it. | 07-03-2014 |
20140188086 | CATHETER CONNECTOR - A catheter handle, including a housing, configured to be gripped by an operator of a catheter coupled to the housing during a medical procedure using the catheter, the housing being formed of a first polymer and having an aperture formed therein. The handle includes an insert, formed of a second polymer, and configured to be introduced into the aperture so as to mate therewith. The handle further includes a plurality of contacts, configured to be implanted into the insert in a preset spatial relationship. | 07-03-2014 |
20140187917 | CATHETER WITH SERIALLY CONNECTED SENSING STRUCTURES AND METHODS OF CALIBRATION AND DETECTION - A catheter is responsive to external and internal magnetic field generators for generating signals representing position and pressure data, with a reduced number of sensing coil leads for minimizing lead breakage and failure. The catheter includes a flexible joint with pressure sensing and position coils, at least pair of a pressure sensing coil and a position coil are serially connected. Methods of calibrating a catheter for position and pressure sensing, and detecting magnetic field interference with one catheter by another catheter or other metal or ferrous object advantageously use signals between two sets of sensors as a “back up” or “error check”. | 07-03-2014 |
20140187916 | CATHETER WITH COMBINED POSITION AND PRESSURE SENSING STRUCTURES - A catheter is responsive to external and internal magnetic field generators for generating position data of the catheter position and pressure data to determine pressured exerted on a distal end of the catheter when engaged with tissue, with a reduced number of sensing coils and reduced number of sensing coil leads for minimizing lead breakage and failure. The catheter includes a distal section adapted for engagement with patient tissue, where the distal section has a proximal portion, a distal portion and a flexible joint with a resilient member adapted to allow axial displacement and angular deflection between the proximal and distal portions of the distal section. | 07-03-2014 |
20140187894 | DOUBLE LOOP LASSO WITH SINGLE PULLER WIRE FOR BI-DIRECTIONAL ACTUATION - A catheter has a distal assembly with at least one loop, if not two, with ring electrodes. The distal assembly has an elongated support member covered by an extruded form having two lumens, one sized for nonslip tight fit with the support member. A single continuous puller wire for bidirectional deflection is pre-bent into two long portions and a U-shape bend therebetween. The U-shape bend is anchored at a distal end of a deflectable section which is reinforced by at least one washer having at least two holes, each hole axially aligned with a respective lumen in the deflectable section. Each hole is centered with a lumen so that each puller wire portion therethrough is straight and subjected to tensile force only. A proximal end of the support member is flattened and serrated to provide a better bonding to the distal end of the deflectable section. | 07-03-2014 |
20140187893 | CATHETER WITH IMPROVED SAFETY LINE FOR DISTAL TIP AND RELATED METHOD - A catheter includes a tip electrode with a shell and a support member to provide a plenum chamber. The plug is formed with a U-shaped passage for a safety line to wrap around and secure the support member (with the shell affixed thereto) to the catheter. Additional passages are formed in the plug to accommodate components such as irrigation tubing, lead wire and thermocouple wire pair. A method of manufacture provides distal installation and/or anchoring of the safety line, lead wire and thermocouple wire pair in the support member prior to sealing the support member and mounting the shell. | 07-03-2014 |
20140180062 | REDUCED X-RAY EXPOSURE BY SIMULATING IMAGES - Medical imaging is carried out by transmitting X-ray emissions through a subject, generating a first set of temporally separated images of an area of interest in the subject from the transmitted X-ray emissions, generating a second set of temporally separated images from the area of interest from a second source, and combining the sets to produce combined images of the area of interest. The method is further carried out by blocking the X-ray emissions from reaching the subject, updating the second set, combining the first set with the updated second set to produce updated combined images, displaying the updated combined images, and when a predetermined condition is satisfied, iterating updating the second set, combining the first set with the updated second set, and displaying the updated combined images. | 06-26-2014 |
20140176531 | REMOVAL OF ARTIFACTS FROM MAP DATA - A method for mapping, consisting of receiving an initial set of measured values of a physiological parameter, which were measured at respective locations in a body organ and receiving a three-dimensional (3D) map of the organ including an array of spatial map elements. The method includes forming a correspondence between the respective locations at which the measured values were measured and a sub-group of the map elements, and in response to the correspondence, associating respective element values of the physiological parameter with map elements other than the sub-group. The method further includes adjusting the respective element values so that contiguous sets of the map elements form a geodesic, and displaying a map of the organ showing the adjusted element values. | 06-26-2014 |
20140171936 | IRRIGATED CATHETER TIP WITH TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND OPTIC FIBER ARRAYS - Apparatus, consisting of an insertion tube having a distal end configured for insertion into proximity with tissue in a body of a patient and containing a lumen having an electrical conductor for conveying electrical energy to the tissue. The apparatus further includes a conductive cap attached to the distal end of the insertion tube and coupled electrically to the electrical conductor, wherein the conductive cap has an outer surface. In addition there are a multiplicity of optical fibers contained within the insertion tube, each fiber terminating in proximity to the outer surface of the cap, and being configured to convey optical radiation to and from the tissue while the electrical energy is being conveyed to the tissue. | 06-19-2014 |
20140171821 | IRRIGATED CATHETER TIP WITH TEMPERATURE SENSOR ARRAY - A medical probe includes an insertion tube having a distal end configured for insertion into a body of a patient and containing a lumen for conveying an irrigation fluid and an electrical conductor for conveying electrical energy. A conductive cap is attached to the distal end of the insertion tube and coupled electrically to the electrical conductor. The conductive cap has an outer surface perforated by multiple apertures and defines an inner cavity in fluid communication with the lumen of the insertion tube so as to permit the irrigation fluid from the lumen to flow out of the cap through the apertures. A plurality of temperature sensors are mounted within the conductive cap in thermal communication with the outer surface and are thermally insulated from the irrigation fluid in the inner cavity. | 06-19-2014 |
20140171806 | OPTICAL LESION ASSESSMENT - Medical apparatus includes a probe, having a distal segment configured for insertion into a body of a patient. The probe includes at least one optical sensing unit, which is disposed along the distal segment and includes first and second radiation sources, configured to emit optical radiation in different, respective, first and second wavelength bands toward tissue in the body in proximity to the distal segment. An optical sensor is configured to receive the optical radiation in the first and second wavelength bands that is scattered from the tissue and to output first and second electrical signals responsively to an intensity of the received optical radiation. | 06-19-2014 |
20140171785 | RECOGNIZING WHICH INSTRUMENT IS CURRENTLY ACTIVE - A medical device includes an insertion tube, having a proximal end and a distal end, which is configured for insertion into a body of a patient. A handle is fixed to the proximal end of the insertion tube and is configured to be held by a user of the device. A sensor associated with the handle is configured to generate a signal to a control console indicating whether the user is holding the handle. | 06-19-2014 |
20140163546 | LASSO CATHETER WITH TIP ELECTRODE - Medical apparatus includes a sheath having a lumen with a distal opening. A flexible probe, which is adapted for insertion through the sheath, includes an insertion shaft, an end section, which is connected to the distal end of the insertion shaft, a tip electrode extending over the tip of the end section, and proximal electrodes distributed along the end section. The probe is manipulable, within the sheath, between a retracted configuration in which the end section is contained within the lumen so that only the tip electrode protrudes through the distal opening, and an extended configuration in which the entire end section protrudes from the distal opening and assumes an arcuate shape. An energy generator applies electrical energy only to the tip electrode while the probe is in the retracted configuration and to at least the proximal electrodes while the probe is in the extended configuration. | 06-12-2014 |
20140163480 | LASSO CATHETER WITH GUIDE WIRE - Medical apparatus includes a flexible insertion shaft, which is adapted for insertion into a body of a patient. A resilient end section is fixed to the distal end of the insertion shaft and is formed so as to assume, when unconstrained, an arcuate shape. One or more electrodes are disposed at respective locations along the end section. A first lumen runs from the insertion shaft through the end section so as to convey an irrigation fluid to exit the end section through perforations of the electrodes. A second lumen runs through the insertion shaft to a distal opening and is configured to permit a guide wire to pass through the second lumen from the proximal end of the insertion shaft to exit distally through the distal opening, while conveying the irrigation fluid from the proximal end through the distal opening together with the guide wire. | 06-12-2014 |
20140155723 | MULTI-CHANNEL ECG MEASUREMENT - A method for acquiring electrical signals from a living subject, including injecting, via an injection electrode attached to the subject, a known calibration signal to the subject and measuring respective levels of output signals generated at input electrodes attached to the subject in response to the calibration signal. The method further includes deriving respective weighting factors for the input electrodes in response to the respective levels, and applying the respective weighting factors to physiological signals acquired by the input electrodes, so as to generate respective corrected physiological signals. | 06-05-2014 |
20140148688 | LOCATION SENSING USING A LOCAL COORDINATE SYSTEM - An invasive medical probe includes an insertion tube, having a proximal end and a distal end configured for insertion into a body of a patient. Multiple arms extend distally from the distal end of the insertion tube. Each arm has a distal tip and includes a magnetic transducer and an adhesive element, which is configured to removably attach the distal tip to a tissue surface within the body. | 05-29-2014 |
20140142438 | USING LOCATION AND FORCE MEASUREMENTS TO ESTIMATE TISSUE THICKNESS - A method, including pressing a distal end of a medical probe against a wall of a body cavity, and receiving from the probe first measurements of a force exerted by the distal end on the wall. The method also includes receiving from the probe second measurements indicating a displacement of the wall in response to the force. The method further includes estimating a thickness of the wall based on the first and the second measurements. | 05-22-2014 |
20140142419 | PATIENT MOVEMENT COMPENSATION IN INTRA-BODY PROBE - A method includes receiving a position of an intra-body probe inserted into an organ of a living body in a first coordinate system. Fluoroscopic images of the body are received. A movement of the body in the fluoroscopic images is measured in a second coordinate system. The received position of the intra-body probe in the first coordinate system is corrected using the movement identified in the second coordinate system. | 05-22-2014 |
20140125653 | COMBINING THREE-DIMENSIONAL SURFACES - A method for mapping, including measuring coordinates of a first set of points on a first surface of a first portion of a three-dimensional (3D) element and generating a first volume enclosed by the first set of points. The method also includes measuring coordinates of a second set of points on a second surface of a second portion of the 3D element and generating a second volume enclosed by the second set of points. The method continues by connecting the first and second volumes to form a combined volume, and generating coordinates of a third set of points on a third surface of the combined volume to form a 3D surface map of the element. | 05-08-2014 |
20140121657 | IRRRIGATED ABLATION CATHETER WITH DEFORMABLE HEAD - A medical probe, including a flexible insertion tube having a deformable distal end for insertion into a body cavity of a patient, the deformable distal end including a flexible and porous material configured to be brought into contact with tissue in the body cavity. The medical probe also includes a means for inflating the deformable distal end, and a channel contained within the insertion tube and configured to convey a fluid generating a mechanical force sufficient to inflate the deformable distal end and that irrigates the tissue through pores of the deformable distal end. The medical probe further includes an electrical conductor passing through the flexible insertion tube and terminating in the deformable distal end and configured to convey radio frequency (RF) energy to the tissue via the deformable distal end. | 05-01-2014 |
20140114173 | INTEGRATION BETWEEN 3D MAPS AND FLUOROSCOPIC IMAGES - A coordinate system registration module, including radiopaque elements arranged in a fixed predetermined pattern and configured, in response to the radiopaque elements generating a fluoroscopic image, to define a position of the module in a fluoroscopic coordinate system of reference. The module further includes one or more connections configured to fixedly connect the module to a magnetic field transmission pad at a predetermined location and orientation with respect to the pad, so as to characterize the position of the registration module in a magnetic coordinate system of reference defined by the magnetic field transmission pad. | 04-24-2014 |
20140100563 | ABLATION POWER CONTROL BASED ON CONTACT FORCE - Methods and systems are adapted for ablation of target tissue in a living subject by predicting a lesion size that would result from placing an ablation electrode into contact with the target tissue at a particular contact force while applying energy at a given power level for a particular time interval. The prediction involves modeling the lesion size as a non-linear function of the contact force, the power level and the time interval. The prediction may be iterated by varying the contact force, the power level or the time interval until a saturation point is found, beyond which the lesion size does not increase. After it is established that one of the iterations predicts a desired lesion size, ablation of the target tissue may be conducted using the contact force, the power level and the time interval of the one iteration. | 04-10-2014 |
20140094684 | MRI CATHETER WITH RESONANT FILTER - A medical probe includes a flexible insertion tube having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity and having a proximal end. The probe further includes an electrode attached to the distal end of the insertion tube and configured to make electrical contact with tissue in the body cavity. An electrical lead runs through the insertion tube between the distal and proximal ends. In addition a coil is electrically coupled between the electrode and the lead in the insertion tube so as to define a resonant circuit having a resonant frequency in a range between 1 MHz and 300 MHz. | 04-03-2014 |
20140088447 | ELECTROPOTENTIAL MAPPING - A method for forming an electropotential map, including: measuring locations of points on a surface of a body organ, and measuring electrical potentials of a subset of the points. The method further includes assigning respective resistances to line segments joining the points so as to define a resistor mesh, and generating an electropotential map of the surface by applying an harmonic function to the resistor mesh responsive to the measured electrical potentials. | 03-27-2014 |
20140086273 | TEMPERATURE SIMULATOR FOR THERMOCOUPLE-BASED RF ABLATION SYSTEM - Testing a thermocouple-based RF ablation system is carried out by connecting a temperature simulator to an ablator module. The ablator module is operative to vary a radiofrequency power output thereof in a predefined manner in response to predefined variations in a temperature signal from the simulator. The method is further carried out by delivering RF power from the ablator module to the temperature simulator, and while delivering RF power, performing the steps of: communicating temperature signals from the temperature simulator to the ablator module, varying the communicated temperature signals, and verifying that a variation in the power output of the ablator module in response to varying the temperature signals conforms to the predefined manner. | 03-27-2014 |
20140039289 | SYNCHRONIZATION OF WIRELESS CATHETERS - A method includes disposing multiple medical probes to acquire physiological data concurrently from a living body. The data is sent from the multiple medical probes by transmitting over wireless channels respective sequences of data packets that are marked with respective packet numbers. A synchronization signal that is broadcast to the multiple probes is received in the probes. In response to receiving the synchronization signal, the packet numbers that are to be assigned in the probes to subsequent data packets in the respective sequences are reset. | 02-06-2014 |
20140032152 | CALIBRATION SYSTEM FOR A PRESSURE-SENSITIVE CATHETER - A calibration apparatus includes a fixture, which is coupled to accept a probe so that a distal tip of the probe presses against a point in the fixture and produces first measurements indicative of a deformation of the distal tip relative to a distal end of the probe, in response to pressure exerted on the distal tip. A sensing device is coupled to the fixture and is configured to produce second measurements of a mechanical force exerted by the distal tip against the point. A calibration processor is configured to receive the first measurements from the probe, to receive the second measurements from the sensing device and to compute, based on the first and second measurements, one or more calibration coefficients for assessing the pressure as a function of the first measurements. | 01-30-2014 |
20140024970 | CATHETER WITH STRAIN GAUGE SENSOR - A medical probe, including a flexible insertion tube, having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity of a patient and which is configured to be brought into contact with tissue in the body cavity. The probe further includes a sensor tube of an elastic material, contained inside the distal end of the insertion tube and configured to deform in response to forces exerted by the tissue on the distal end. The probe also includes a plurality of strain gauges fixedly attached to a surface of the sensor tube at different, respective locations and configured to generate respective signals in response to deformations of the sensor tube. | 01-23-2014 |
20140024969 | HIGH-SENSITIVITY PRESSURE-SENSING PROBE - A medical probe includes an insertion tube, having a longitudinal axis and having a distal end. A distal tip is disposed at the distal end of the insertion tube and is configured to be brought into contact with a body tissue. A joint couples the distal tip to the distal end of the insertion tube. A joint sensor, contained within the probe, senses a position of the distal tip relative to the distal end of the insertion tube. The joint sensor includes first and second subassemblies, which are disposed within the probe on opposite, respective sides of the joint and each include one or more magnetic transducers. | 01-23-2014 |
20130317339 | ENDOBRONCHIAL CATHETER - An endobronchial probe includes a deflector having a bore extending therethrough at an angle to its long axis for passage of a tool. The probe includes a location sensor and an ultrasound imager. A push-pull anchoring system comprises a plurality of guides and wires that can extend beyond the guides and retract within the guides. When extended the wires diverge from the long axis sufficiently to engage a bronchus. The probe includes a balloon disposed on the distal segment contralateral to bore that when inflated urges the mouth of the bore into contact with the bronchial wall. | 11-28-2013 |
20130317334 | POSITION SENSING USING ELECTRIC DIPOLE FIELDS - A medical apparatus, including a reference probe having a flexible insertion tube with a distal end for insertion into a body cavity, a pair of isolated electrodes fixedly attached to the distal end, and a position sensor fixedly located in the distal end. The apparatus also includes a supplementary probe having an electrode fixed thereto. The apparatus further includes a processor, configured to inject respective alternating currents into the pair of isolated electrodes so as to generate an electrical field therefrom, to measure a potential generated at the electrode of the supplementary probe in response to the electrical field, and to evaluate a location of the supplementary probe with respect to the reference probe in response to the measured potential and in response to a position of the distal end indicated by the position sensor. | 11-28-2013 |
20130304047 | ABLATION TARGETING NERVES IN OR NEAR THE INFERIOR VENA CAVA AND/OR ABDOMINAL AORTA FOR TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION - A method for the treatment of a patient for the purpose of lowering blood pressure and/or treating other medical conditions such as cardiac arrhythmias. A catheter having an ablation element is placed inside the body of a patient and is directed to a targeted location either on in the abdominal aorta where the right or left renal arteries branch from the aorta at or near the superior junction or ostia or on the inside of the inferior vena cava near the junction with the right renal vein or in the left renal vein at a position spatially near where the left renal artery branches from the abdominal aorta. Catheters designed for use in the method where these targeted locations are also disclosed and claimed. | 11-14-2013 |
20130296729 | CATHETER HAVING TWO-PIECE CONNECTOR FOR A SPLIT HANDLE ASSEMBLY - A catheter and method for the treatment of a patient having atrial flutter or other arrhythmia comprises an elongated catheter body having an outer wall, proximal and distal ends, and at least one lumen extending therethrough. Further it has a distal tip section comprising a flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end and a plurality of lumens extending therethrough. The proximal end of the tip section is fixedly attached to the distal end of the catheter body. The tip section further comprises a nitinol tube having slots formed therein which causes the distal tip section to deflect using the same puller-wire action used to cause the deflectable catheter to deflect at a point proximal to the distal tip section. | 11-07-2013 |
20130231657 | CATHETER FOR TREATMENT OF ATRIAL FLUTTER HAVING SINGLE ACTION DUAL DEFLECTION MECHANISM - A catheter and method for the treatment of a patient having atrial flutter or other arrhythmia comprises an elongated catheter body having an outer wall, proximal and distal ends, and at least one lumen extending therethrough. Further it has a distal tip section comprising a flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end and a plurality of lumens extending therethrough. The proximal end of the tip section is fixedly attached to the distal end of the catheter body. The tip section further comprises a nitinol tube having slots formed therein which causes the distal tip section to deflect using the same puller-wire action used to cause the deflectable catheter to deflect at a point proximal to the distal tip section. | 09-05-2013 |
20130179162 | TOUCH FREE OPERATION OF DEVICES BY USE OF DEPTH SENSORS - An inventive system and method for touch free operation of a device is presented. The system can comprise a depth sensor for detecting a movement, motion software to receive the detected movement from the depth sensor, deduce a gesture based on the detected movement, and filter the gesture to accept an applicable gesture, and client software to receive the applicable gesture at a client computer for performing a task in accordance with client logic based on the applicable gesture. The client can be a mapping device and the task can be one of various mapping operations. The system can also comprise hardware for making the detected movement an applicable gesture. The system can also comprise voice recognition providing voice input for enabling the client to perform the task based on the voice input in conjunction with the applicable gesture. The applicable gesture can be a movement authorized using facial recognition. | 07-11-2013 |
20130176220 | TOUCH FREE OPERATION OF ABLATOR WORKSTATION BY USE OF DEPTH SENSORS - An inventive system and method for touch free operation of an ablation workstation is presented. The system can comprise a depth sensor for detecting a movement, motion software to receive the detected movement from the depth sensor, deduce a gesture based on the detected movement, and filter the gesture to accept an applicable gesture, and client software to receive the applicable gesture at a client computer in an ablation workstation for performing a task in accordance with client logic based on the applicable gesture. The system can also comprise hardware for making the detected movement an applicable gesture. The system can also comprise voice recognition providing voice input for enabling the client to perform the task based on the voice input in conjunction with the applicable gesture. The applicable gesture can be a movement authorized using facial recognition. | 07-11-2013 |
20130158548 | SENSING CONTACT OF ABLATION CATHETER USING DIFFERENTIAL TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENTS - Tissue ablation is carried out using insertion tube having at least one ablation electrode, a first temperature sensor disposed on the distal portion sufficiently proximate the ablation electrode to detect heat generated during the ablation procedure, a second temperature sensor disposed on the distal portion sufficiently distant from the ablation electrode to be unable to detect the heat, and electronic logic circuitry linked to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor and programmed to compute a temperature differential between respective temperatures sensed by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor when conveying the electromagnetic energy. Satisfactory contact status between the ablation electrode and the target tissue is indicated when the temperature differential exceeds a predetermined threshold. | 06-20-2013 |
20130158539 | PRE-FORMED CURVED ABLATION CATHETER - A medical device includes an insertion tube, having a longitudinal axis and having a distal end adapted for insertion through a body passage into a cavity within a body of a patient. An electrode is located on the distal end of the insertion tube and is configured to contact tissue in the cavity. A resilient member is contained within the distal end of the insertion tube and is configured, when unconstrained, to cause the distal end to bend away from the longitudinal axis in a curved shape and to straighten toward the longitudinal axis when subjected to a force. | 06-20-2013 |
20130158538 | PRE-FORMED CURVED ABLATION CATHETER - A medical device includes an insertion tube, having a longitudinal axis and having a distal end adapted for insertion through a body passage into a cavity within a body of a patient. An electrode is located on the distal end of the insertion tube and is configured to contact tissue in the cavity. A resilient member is contained within the distal end of the insertion tube and is configured, when unconstrained, to cause the distal end to bend away from the longitudinal axis in a curved shape and to straighten toward the longitudinal axis when subjected to a force. | 06-20-2013 |
20130150847 | CATHETER WITH HELICAL ELECTRODE - An invasive probe includes an insertion tube containing a lumen for providing an irrigation fluid and comprising a distal portion having a plurality of perforations therethrough providing fluid communication between the lumen and an outer surface of the insertion tube. At least one helical electrode is fitted over the distal portion of the insertion tube. | 06-13-2013 |
20130096551 | CATHETER WITH PRESSURE SENSING - A medical probe includes a flexible insertion tube, having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity of a patient, and a distal tip, which is disposed at the distal end of the insertion tube and is configured to be brought into contact with tissue in the body cavity. A resilient member couples the distal tip to the distal end of the insertion tube and is configured to deform in response to pressure exerted on the distal tip when the distal tip engages the tissue. A position sensor within the probe senses a position of the distal tip relative to the distal end of the insertion tube, which changes in response to deformation of the resilient member. | 04-18-2013 |
20130046236 | STEERABLE CATHETER WITH DISTAL TIP ORIENTATION SHEATHS - A bi-directional electrophysiology catheter having improved steerability which includes orientation sheaths, or thin walled tubes, placed in diametrically opposed lumen at the distal portion of the catheter for producing in-plane deflection of the distal portion of the catheter. | 02-21-2013 |