Abstract: A dual-action pump includes a cylinder, a piston and a controller. The cylinder includes first and second inlet-outlet ports, each of the first and second inlet-outlet ports is configured to alternately intake a fluid to the cylinder and output the fluid from the cylinder. The piston is configured to be moved within the cylinder in a periodic cycle that alternately reverses a direction of movement of the piston, so as to pump the fluid through the first and second inlet-outlet ports. The controller is configured to control the movement of the piston within the cylinder, including setting to the piston: (a) a first speed, during a first predefined interval that precedes reversing the direction of movement, (b) a second speed, larger than the first speed, during a second predefined interval that follows reversing the direction, and (c) a baseline speed, smaller than the first speed, outside the first and second intervals.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a method of ablating tissue including positioning an electrode into contact with tissue and applying a first ablation signal to the tissue. The method can include forming a first lesion comprising a first depth with little or no first temperature change in a temperature of the tissue. The method can include applying a second ablation signal to the tissue different from the first ablation signal. Applying the second ablation signal to the tissue can include forming a second lesion comprising a second depth and generating a second temperature change in the tissue different from the first temperature change by at least 10° C. The method can include forming a combined lesion comprising the first lesion and the second lesion and comprising a combined size. The combined depth can be about 20% to about 40% greater than either of the first depth and the second size.

Abstract: A switching assembly for transferring trains of pulses, including a first terminal and a second terminal. A first plurality of first relays is connected in parallel, and have first contacts connected to the first assembly terminal, and second contacts. A first capacitor is connected in parallel with the first relays. A second plurality of second relays is connected in parallel, and have third contacts, and fourth contacts connected to the second assembly terminal. A second capacitor is connected in parallel with the second relays. A connection connects the second contacts to the third contacts. The pulses have amplitudes of at least 2 kilovolts. On activation of the first and second relays the first and second contacts connect and the third and fourth contacts connect, so that the first and second assembly terminals connect. On deactivation of the first and second relays the first and second assembly terminals disconnect.

Abstract: A system includes signal acquisition circuitry and a processor. The signal acquisition circuitry is configured to receive multiple intra-cardiac signals acquired by multiple electrodes of an intra-cardiac probe in a heart of a patient. The processor is configured to perform a sequence of annotation-visualization operations at subsequent times, by performing, in each operation: extracting multiple annotation values from the intra-cardiac signals, selecting a group of the intra-cardiac signals, identifying in the group one or more annotation values that are statistically deviant by more than a predefined measure of deviation, and visualizing the annotation values to a user, while omitting and refraining from visualizing the statistically deviant annotation values.

Abstract: A method includes, in a medical procedure carried out during a time interval including at least first and second time periods, receiving, for the first time period, a first electrical signal indicative of at least a first position and a first orientation of a hand-held device directing energy to one or more volumetric portions of an organ. A second electrical signal indicative of at least a second position and a second orientation of the hand-held device is received for the second time period. Based on the first and second electrical signals, a cumulative energy applied to at least one of the one or more volumetric portions is estimated. The estimated cumulative energy, of at least one of the one or more volumetric portions, is overlaid on an anatomical image of the organ.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a catheter including an insertion tube and a first position sensor, a pusher including a second position sensor, and an expandable assembly including flexible strips disposed circumferentially around a distal portion of the pusher, with first ends of the strips connected to the distal end of the insertion tube and second ends of the strips connected to the distal portion of the pusher, the flexible strips bowing radially outward when the pusher is retracted, processing circuitry to receive a respective position signal from the first and second position sensors, compute location and orientation coordinates for the position sensors subject to a constraint that the position sensors are coaxial and have a same orientation, compute a distance between the computed location coordinates of the position sensors, and find position coordinates of the flexible strips responsively to at least the computed distance.

Abstract: Medical apparatus includes a probe configured for insertion into a chamber of a heart of a patient and including one or more intracardiac electrodes. Interface circuitry acquires intracardiac electrogram signals from the intracardiac electrodes and electrocardiogram (ECG) signals from body-surface electrodes that are fixed to a body surface of the patient. A processor detects, in each of the heartbeats in the sequence, a P wave in the acquired ECG signals and identifies one or more of the heartbeats in the sequence as ectopic beats responsively to a morphology of the detected P wave in the heartbeats. The processor extracts electrophysiological parameters from the intracardiac electrogram signals acquired during the sequence of the heartbeats and generates a map of the extracted electrophysiological parameters while excluding from the map the intracardiac electrogram signals that were received during the ectopic beats.

Abstract: A system includes a processor and a display. The processor is configured to: (a) receive, from a camera inserted into an eye of a patient, at least an optical image of at least a region-of-interest (ROI) of the eye, (b) receive, from a position tracking system (PTS), a position signal indicative of a position of a medical instrument treating the eye, (c) register the optical image and the PTS in a common coordinate system, and (d) estimate the position of the medical instrument in the optical image. The display is configured to visualize at least the ROI and the medical instrument.

Abstract: A tissue puncture system includes a guidewire and a handle. The guidewire is configured to be inserted into an organ of a patient and to puncture tissue of the organ by conducting an electrical signal from a power source and applying to the tissue electrical current induced between a distal surface of the guidewire and the tissue. The handle is configured to: (i) electrically connect between the power source and a proximal surface of the guidewire, and (ii) move the distal surface to the tissue.

Abstract: An endoscope assembly includes a shaft assembly, an endoscopic camera assembly, and an anatomy elevation assembly. The shaft assembly includes a flexible outer shaft defining a lumen, a first electrical communication line, and a first fluid communication line. The endoscopic camera assembly is in communication with the first electrical communication line. The anatomy elevation assembly includes an inflatable member coupled to the flexible outer shaft. The inflatable member includes an interior surface. The first fluid communication line is in fluid communication with the inflatable member. The inflatable member is configured to transition between a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration. The interior surface is configured to define a viewing path distal to the endoscopic camera assembly while the inflatable member is in the inflated configuration.

Abstract: A radio frequency ablation system, includes a single frequency RF signal generator, control circuitry configured to set phases and amplitudes of a plurality of replicas of the RF signal, a plurality of non-linear amplifiers, configured to amplify the plurality of replicas of the RF signal, and to drive a respective plurality of ablation electrodes in a patient body with the amplified replicas. A processor is configured to receive a superposition of the plurality of replicas as a return signal from a body surface patch electrode, and to adaptively adjust phases and amplitudes of the amplified replicas in response to the return signal with the control circuitry to zero crosstalk currents. In a tissue contact check mode of operation the phases of the amplified replicas are identical, and in an ablation mode of operation the phases of the amplified replicas differ from one another.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a shaft, a distal-end assembly and a puller-wire. The shaft is configured for insertion into a body of a patient. The distal-end assembly, which is coupled to the shaft, includes a telescopic assembly, configured to elongate so as to collapse the distal-end assembly, and to compress so as to expand the distal-end assembly. The distal-end assembly further includes an elastic element, coupled to self-elongate and thus elongate the telescopic assembly. The distal-end assembly also includes an inflatable balloon, which is coupled to the telescopic assembly and is configured to collapse by the telescopic assembly elongating, and to expand by the telescopic assembly compressing. The puller-wire runs through the shaft and is connected to a distal end of the telescopic assembly, and is configured, when pulled, to compress the telescopic assembly.

Abstract: A medical apparatus includes a probe, which includes an insertion tube configured for insertion into a body cavity of a patient, and a distal assembly, which is connected distally to the insertion tube and includes a plurality of electrodes, which are configured to contact tissue within the body cavity. The apparatus further includes an electrical signal generator, which is configured to apply electrical pulses to a group of two or more of the electrodes with an amplitude sufficient to irreversibly electroporate the tissue contacted by the electrodes in the group, and a controller, which is coupled to measure a change in an electrical impedance between an electrode in the group and a further electrode as a result of application of the electrical pulses and to output a measure of ablation of the tissue responsively to the measured change in the electrical impedance.

Abstract: A trocar for insertion into an organ of a patient includes a cannula, a channel inside the cannula, and a camera. The cannula has a longitudinal axis, and the channel inside the cannula is fitted parallel to the longitudinal axis. The camera is disposed at a distal end of the channel and is configured to provide images in a direction of a distal opening of the cannula.

Abstract: Apparatus, consisting of a probe configured to be inserted into contact with a myocardium, and an electrode attached to the probe. A temperature sensor, incorporated in the probe, is configured to output a temperature signal. A pump irrigates the myocardium, via the probe, with an irrigation fluid at a controllable rate, and a radiofrequency (RF) signal generator applies RF power via the electrode to the myocardium, so as to ablate the myocardium. The apparatus also has processing circuitry that measures a temperature of the probe, based on the temperature signal, while the RF power is applied and, when the measured temperature exceeds a preset target temperature, iteratively reduces the RF power applied by the signal generator and concurrently iteratively varies a rate of irrigation of the irrigation fluid provided by the pump, until the measured temperature is reduced to the preset target temperature.

Abstract: An irreversible electroporation (IRE) includes setting an initial IRE protocol for applying IRE pulses by electrodes of a catheter placed in contact with tissue in an organ. A notification is issued to a user upon determining that the initial IRE protocol is expected to cause bubbles in blood. In response to the notification, user input is received from the user, that selects between the initial IRE protocol and an alternative protocol that is not expected to cause the bubbles. The IRE pulses are applied according to the initial IRE protocol or the alternative IRE protocol, depending on the user input.

Abstract: A jig for inspecting a tip of a catheter at a first facility of at least two facilities at which the catheter is processed during manufacturing. The jig includes a housing, at least one clamp, a plurality of cameras mounted in the housing, a plurality of illuminators mounted in the housing and a processor. The processor operates the plurality of cameras and the plurality of illuminators for capturing a plurality of images, and transfers respective copies of the plurality of images to a second facility, separate from the first facility. The processor is additionally configured to generated a report generate a report of the inspection from the first facility and the second facility based on annotations received from the first facility and the second facility.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a first representation of an internal surface of at least a portion of a wall of an organ of a patient, and a second representation of an external surface of at least the portion of the wall of the organ. The first and second representations are registered with one another. An exploded representation is generated from the first and second representations, that shows both the internal surface and the external surface. The exploded representation is presented to a user.

Abstract: 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 as 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.

Abstract: Methods and systems provide provides a vacuum surge protection system or an Anti-Vacuum Surge (AVS) module and a console-side connector that form an energy (power) and/or data transfer system, which passes the energy and/or data using a magnetic field, via non-contact magnetic induction, between the console-side connector and the AVS module. The AVS module typically powers a medical tool, such as a phacoemulsification handpiece, for ophthalmic procedures, such as cataract removal.