Abstract: The subject of this disclosure is devices, systems, and uses thereof to treat a plurality of patients for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. The solution can include delivering a multi-electrode radiofrequency balloon catheter and a multi-electrode diagnostic catheter to one or more targeted pulmonary veins; ablating tissue of the one or more targeted pulmonary veins using the multi-electrode radiofrequency balloon catheter; diagnosing the one or more targeted pulmonary veins using the multi-electrode diagnostic catheter; and achieving at least one of a predetermined clinical effectiveness and acute effectiveness of the method or use based on use of the multi-electrode radiofrequency balloon catheter and the multi-electrode diagnostic catheter in the isolation of the one or more targeted pulmonary veins.

Abstract: An end effector having loop members with electrodes thereon and are usable with catheter-based systems to measure or provide electrical signals. The end effector can include three loop members that are non-coplanar when expanded unconstrained that become contiguous to a planar surface when the loop members are deflected against the surface, a mechanical linkage that joins the loop members at a distal vertex of the end effector. The end effector may have a lateral gap length between laterally adjacent electrodes approximately twice that of a longitudinal gap length between longitudinally adjacent electrodes. In some configurations, longitudinal electrode bipole pairs having a gap distance approximately equal to the lateral gap distance may be provided by bypassing every other electrode in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A method for producing an image of a body tissue surface. The method includes transforming a source 3-D model of the body tissue surface into a flattened model comprising details of the body tissue surface represented visually on an unwrapped and flattened surface, wherein the flattened model represents transformed positions of the source 3-D model of the body tissue surface defined between a first edge and a second edge. The first edge is formed about a lumen defined by the body tissue surface, and the body tissue surface projects about the lumen to the second edge. The method further includes producing an image from the flattened model.

Abstract: An electrophysiology catheter has an elongated catheter shaft and a distal assembly with a flex circuit and a support member on which the flex circuit is supported in a generally cylindrical form. The support member has a post extending longitudinally through the cylindrical form of the flex circuit which delivers irrigation fluid into the cylindrical form. The post can be configured to define multiple irrigation chambers within the distal assembly. One or more flow directors movable in the post selectively direct irrigation fluid within the distal assembly. Apertures in the flex circuit allow the irrigation fluid to exit to outside the distal assembly.

Abstract: Catheterization of the heart is carried out using a framework formed by a plurality of electrically conducting wire loops. The wire loops are modeled as polygons, each subdivided into a plurality of triangles. The wire loops are exposed to magnetic fluxes at respective frequencies, and signals read from the loops. Theoretical magnetic fluxes in the polygons are computed as sums of theoretical magnetic fluxes in the triangles thereof, The location and orientation of the framework in the heart is determined by relating the computed theoretical magnetic fluxes to the signals.

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 ablation procedure guidance method is provided herein. The ablation procedure guidance method is implemented by a generation engine executing on a processor. The ablation procedure guidance method includes receiving inputs including images and conduction velocity vector estimations and generating a digital twin of an anatomical structure utilizing the images and the conduction velocity vector estimations. The ablation procedure guidance method also includes presenting, via a user interface of the generation engine, the digital twin to provide precision ablation guidance of the anatomical structure and provide electrophysiology information of the anatomical structure.

Abstract: A ventilator system for a patient includes: an intubation tube configured to flow oxygen-enriched humidified air (OHA) toward patient lungs and to evacuate exhaust air exhaled from the lungs, the intubation tube includes: a distal end, configured to be inserted into patient trachea, and a proximal end, configured to be connected to tubes for receiving the OHA and evacuating the exhaust air; a first microgravity sensor, coupled to the intubation tube at a first position, and configured to produce a first signal indicative of a first micro-acceleration of the intubation tube at the first position; a second microgravity sensor, coupled to the intubation tube at a second different position, and configured to produce a second signal indicative of a second micro-acceleration of the intubation tube at the second position; and a processor, configured to control the ventilation system to apply a ventilation scheme responsively to the first and second signals.

Abstract: A method for locating a tool in a 3D space is provided. The method includes determining whether location data, corresponding to a location of the tool, is available. If the location data is available, the method includes providing the location data for presenting the location of the tool. If the location data is not available, the method includes determining an estimated location of the tool based on a velocity of the tool and an acceleration of the tool, generating estimated location data corresponding to the estimated location of the tool and providing the estimated location data for presenting the estimated location as the location of the tool. The method also includes determining whether accelerometer data is available. If accelerometer data is available, the method includes using the accelerometer data to estimate the location of the tool.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter and an end effector. At least a portion of the catheter is sized and configured to fit within a lumen of a human cardiovascular system. The end effector is positioned at a distal end of the catheter. The end effector includes an expandable assembly and at least one flex circuit. The expandable assembly is configured to transition between a non-expanded state and an expanded state. The expandable assembly includes at least one deformable strut or cage. Each flex circuit includes a flexible substrate secured, without an adhesive, to the expandable assembly and an electrode secured to the flexible substrate. The expandable assembly in the expanded state is configured to urge the electrode into contact with tissue. The electrode has a fishbone-like configuration that defines a longitudinally elongated portion and a plurality of fingers extending transversely from the longitudinally elongated portion.

Abstract: In one embodiment a medical tracking system, including a catheter to be inserted into blood vessels of a body-part of a living subject, and including a flexible shaft having a deflectable distal end, and a location tracking transducer in the distal end configured to output a signal indicative of a location of the transducer, a tracking subsystem to track locations of the distal end over time responsively to the signal, a display, and processing circuitry to add the tracked locations of the distal end to a movement log, and render to the display an image of at least part of the body-part with a representation of a length of the shaft of the catheter in at least one blood vessel of the body-part, with respective positions along the length of the shaft being located in the image responsively to respective ones of the tracked locations from the movement log.

Abstract: A sheath valve housing including: an input port disposed on a proximal side of the sheath valve housing; an output port disposed on a distal side of the sheath valve housing, the input port and output port defining a longitudinal axis extending therethrough; a chamber disposed within the sheath valve housing between the input port and the output port and centered on the longitudinal axis, a catheter pathway being defined within the sheath valve housing through the chamber between the input port and the output port; and a plurality of ribs disposed about the chamber so that a member is aligned with the longitudinal axis upon insertion into the chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for treatment including a compound valve system that can be integral to, or attached to a sheath introducer. The compound valve system includes a secondary valve that can be positioned in a proximal direction from a primary valve of the sheath introducer. The secondary valve can move longitudinally in response to a pressure differential. The compound valve system can include an aspiration port between the primary valve and secondary valve. The secondary valve can be integral to a secondary valve accessory device that can be assembled onto a catheter shaft of an intralumenal treatment device, and the secondary valve accessory device can further function as an introducer tool for the intralumenal treatment device.

Abstract: Medical apparatus includes an insertion tube configured for insertion into a body cavity of a patient and an expandable assembly connected distally to the insertion tube and comprising electrodes, which are configured to apply electrical energy to tissue within the body cavity. A flexible porous sheath is fitted over the expandable assembly and configured to contact the tissue within the body cavity so that the electrical energy is applied from the electrodes through the sheath to the tissue.

Abstract: Catheterization is carried out by inserting a probe into a cavity in a body of a subject. The probe has a contact force, a transmitter, a receiver, and an ultrasound transducer in its distal segment. After navigating the probe into contact with a target in a wall of the cavity using the contact force sensor, a desired contact force is established and maintained between the probe and the target. Responsively to readings by the receiver of signals from the transmitter, the distal end of the probe is oriented orthogonally to the target.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a medical system includes a catheter including electrodes, and configured to be inserted into a chamber of a heart and maneuvered among sampling sites to sample electrical activity, a display, and processing circuitry to receive signals provided by the catheter, and compute, for each sampling site, a sampling position of the catheter and respective electrode positions of the catheter electrodes, render to the display a 3D representation of the chamber including respective sampling-site markers indicating the computed sampling position of the catheter at respective ones of the sampling sites, receive a user input selecting one sampling-site marker, and update the 3D representation to include electrode markers indicating the respective electrode positions of the respective catheter electrodes while the catheter was sampling the electrical activity of the tissue at the sampling site corresponding to the selected sampling-site marker.

Abstract: A method includes receiving position signals that are indicative of positions of multiple electrodes disposed on an expandable balloon that is fitted at a distal end of a shaft for engaging a lumen of an organ to occlude the lumen. Based on the received position signals, a change is calculated in one or more dimensions of the balloon between (i) a first configuration in which the balloon is inflated but not engaged in the lumen, and (ii) a second configuration in which the balloon is inflated and engaged in the lumen. Using the calculated change, a degree is estimated to which the balloon occludes the lumen. The estimated degree of occlusion is presented to a user.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for linking a point-list to a three-dimensional anatomy of the heart. Techniques disclosed include recording a point-list, where each entry in the point-list comprises data elements, and is associated with a location in the heart and a measurement. The associated measurement is acquired by an electrode of a catheter that is placed at the associated location in the heart. Techniques disclosed further include selecting one or more anchor points associated with a region of interest in the heart, then, for each entry in the recorded point-list, computing a data element of distance between the entry's associated location in the heart and the selected one or more anchor points, and manipulating entries in the point-list based on their respective data elements.

Abstract: A catheter adapted for deflection in a narrow tubular region and/or sharp turn, has an elongated body, a deflection section having a support member adapted for heat activation to assume a trained configuration, and a lead wire configured to deliver a current to the support member for heat activation. The support member is constructed of a shaped memory alloy, for example, nitinol, and the lead wire is adapted to directly heat the support member. Moreover, the catheter may include a thermally insulating layer covering at least a portion of the support member. The trained configuration of the support member extends in a single dimension, in two dimensions or in three dimensions.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an interface and a processor. The interface is configured to receive one or more magnetic-positioning signals from one or more position sensors coupled to one or more body-surface patches attached to a body of a patient, the magnetic-positioning signals indicative of respective positions of the position sensors. The processor is configured to (i) detect an inadvertent stimulation of a phrenic nerve of the patient, which occurs due to cardiac pacing applied by an intra-cardiac electrode in a heart of the patient, (ii) estimate, based on the magnetic-positioning signals, a motion of one or more of the body-surface patches occurring during the detected stimulation of the phrenic nerve, (iii) estimate, based on the estimated motion of the body-surface patches, a distance between the pacing electrode and the phrenic nerve, and (iv) send an output derived from the estimated distance to the output device.