Abstract: An apparatus for positioning an orthopedic implant, the apparatus includes a flexible substrate, at least first and second field-generating coils, and circuitry. The flexible substrate is formed into a three-dimensional (3D) shape and is coupled to a predefined location on the orthopedic implant. The at least first and second field-generating coils are formed in the flexible substrate, such that in the 3D shape the first and second field-generating coils have first and second respective axes that are not parallel to one another. The circuitry is mounted on the flexible substrate and electrically connected to the at least first and second field-generating coils, and is configured to drive the at least first and second field-generating coils with respective signals.

Abstract: A method, including selecting a first maximum radiofrequency (RF) power to be delivered by an electrode within a range of 70W-100W, and selecting a second maximum RF power to be delivered by the electrode within a range of 20W-60W. The method also includes selecting an allowable force on the electrode within a range of 5 g-50 g, selecting a maximum allowable temperature, of tissue to be ablated, within a range of 55° C.-65° C., and selecting an irrigation rate for providing irrigation fluid to the electrode within a range of 8-45 ml/min. The method further includes performing an ablation of tissue using the selected values by initially using the first power, switching to the second power after a predefined time between 3 s and 6 s, and terminating the ablation after a total time for the ablation between 10 s and 20 s.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a system that includes a display and a processor. The processor is configured to position an indicator, in response to a positioning input from a user, over a particular point on a three-dimensional electroanatomical map that is displayed on the display, and over which are displayed a plurality of markers that mark respective data points. The processor is further configured to expand a contour, subsequently, along a surface of the map, while a selecting input from the user is ongoing, such that all points on the contour remain equidistant, at an increasing geodesic distance with respect to the surface, from the particular point, and to display, on the display, one or more properties of each of the data points that is marked by a respective one of the markers that is inside the contour. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An electromagnetic navigation system having a wireless, battery-powered medical tool is provided. The system charges the medical tool using energy from the same magnetic fields used to locate the tool in 3-D space. The system includes one or more wireless transmission devices which generate the magnetic fields. The medical tool includes a receiving coil which generates electrical signals indicative of a location of the tool in response to receiving the magnetic fields. The tool also includes a wireless interface which provides electrical signals for processing to determine the location of the tool in 3-D space and a battery which supplies power to the tool. The tool also includes one or more charging coils, electrically connected to the battery. Each charging coil receives energy from the magnetic fields passing through a charging coil surface and supplies the energy to the battery to charge the battery.

Abstract: A catheter includes a tip electrode with a shell and a support member to provide a plenum chamber. The support member 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 support member to accommodate components such as irrigation tubing, lead wires and a 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.

Abstract: A control handle for a surgical tool, e.g., an irrigated ablation catheter for use with a fluid side arm, has a housing defining an interior cavity and having a port through which the component can extend into the interior cavity. The housing has a detachable plug covering at least a portion of the port and being at least partially surrounded by a recessed groove to facilitate detachment of the plug from the housing. The recessed groove may be formed on an outer surface of the housing and there may be a second recessed groove on an inner surface of the housing generally tracing the first groove. The plug may also include a hinge to allow the plug to be arranged at an angled position relative to the housing without being fully detached from the housing.

Abstract: A processor is configured to construct a baseline impedance model (BIM) that models a portion of a heart of a subject as a collection of three-dimensional cells, each of which corresponds to a respective volume within the heart, at least some of the cells being designated as baseline-impedance cells, for each of which the BIM specifies a respective baseline impedance, to ascertain, based on a signal received via an electrical interface, an impedance between a catheter electrode, which is within the heart, and an external electrode that is externally coupled to the subject, to identify one of the baseline-impedance cells as a reference cell, to ascertain that the catheter electrode is within a threshold distance of tissue of the heart, by comparing the ascertained impedance to the baseline impedance that is specified for the reference cell, and to update a map of the tissue in response to the ascertaining.

Abstract: Catheterization is carried out by inserting a sheath into a human patient and moving a catheter having an electrode through the sheath lumen. A variation between a first threshold value and a second threshold value in electrical current through the electrode is identified. Responsively to the variation, it is reported that a portion of the catheter has transitioned between an in-sheath condition and an out-of-sheath condition. The sheath is defined and identified by the historical data of the readings of the magnetic sensor during its movements.

Abstract: Values of a physiologic parameter at respective measured points in a heart are obtained. A 3-dimensional model of the heart is constructed, which includes first spatial elements that include the measured points and second spatial elements that do not include the measured points. The values of the parameter in the second spatial elements are interpolated and regional densities of the measured points in the model determined. The values of the parameter at the first spatial elements and the second spatial elements are displayed on a functional map of the heart, and a graphical characteristic of the map is modified responsively to the regional densities.

Abstract: A system and methods for automatically adjusting view angle when performing cardiac mapping and ablation are described herein. A three-dimensional (3D) map of a cardiac structure of a patient and a relative location (e.g., position and orientation) of a catheter within the cardiac structure may be displayed on a visual display device. According to an example procedure, the position and orientation of the tip of the catheter within the cardiac structure, and the current ablation target may be detected. A desired viewing angle of the ablation target may be known, determined, provided and/or learned through training sessions with the operator. The viewing angle of the 3D map of the cardiac structure may be automatically adjusted to correspond to the desired viewing angle using the known locations of the tip of the catheter and ablation target. Other details and procedures may be implemented, as described herein.

Abstract: Apparatus, including a multiplexer, having a first output and multiple first inputs receiving analog input signals and an analog feedback signal and cycling through and selecting the signals for transfer in sequential signal groupings to the first output. The apparatus also includes an amplification circuit, having a second output and a second input connected to the multiplexer first output, that amplifies signals corresponding to the analog input signals with a selected gain so as to generate respective amplified analog signals at the second output. Circuitry selects a characteristic of the respective amplified analog signals from an initial signal grouping, feeds the characteristic back for input to the multiplexer as the analog feedback signal, selects a subsequent characteristic of the respective amplified analog signals from a subsequent signal grouping, and adjusts the amplification circuit gain so that the analog feedback signal and the subsequent characteristic have the same amplitude.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning an orthopedic implant, the apparatus includes a magnetic receiver, a processor, and a personal display device. The magnetic receiver is configured to sense respective components of one or more magnetic fields generated by a field-generating device coupled to the orthopedic implant, and to produce corresponding electrical signals indicative of the sensed components of the one or more magnetic fields. The processor is configured to calculate, based on the electrical signals, a position of the orthopedic implant within an organ of a patient. The personal display device is configured to display at least part of the orthopedic implant overlaid on a scene, based on the position calculated by the processor.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an apparatus that includes a display and processor. The processor is configured to receive, from a user, an input that indicates one or more points of interest on an electroanatomical map, of an anatomical surface, that is displayed on the display, and to superimpose on the map, in response to the input, a plurality of contours, each one of the contours being at a different respective geodesic distance, with respect to the surface, from the points of interest. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A catheter has a multifunctional “virtual” tip electrode with a porous substrate and a multitude of surface microelectrodes. The surface microelectrodes are in close proximity to each other and in a variety of configurations so as to sense tissue for highly localized intracardiac signal detection, and high density local electrograms and mapping. The porous substrate allows for flow of conductive fluid for ablating tissue. The surface microelectrodes can be formed via a metallization process that allows for any shape or size and close proximity, and the fluid “weeping” from the porous substrate provides more uniform irrigation in the form of a thin layer of saline. The delivery of RF power to the catheter tip is based on the principle of “virtual electrode,” where the conductive saline flowing through the porous tip acts as the electrical connection between the tip electrode and the heart surface.

Abstract: A method, including receiving a bipolar signal from a pair of electrodes in proximity to a myocardium of a human subject and receiving a unipolar signal from a selected one of the pair of electrodes. The method further includes computing a local unipolar minimum derivative of the unipolar signal, and a time of occurrence of the unipolar minimum derivative. The method also includes computing a bipolar derivative of the bipolar signal, evaluating a ratio of the bipolar derivative to the local unipolar minimum derivative, and when the ratio is greater than a preset threshold ratio value, identifying the time of occurrence as a time of activation of the myocardium.

Abstract: In a flexible catheterization probe a resilient member couples the tip to the distal portion of the probe and is configured to deform in response to pressure exerted on the tip when engaging tissue. A position sensor in the distal portion of the probe senses the position of the tip relative to the distal portion of the probe. The relative position changes in response to deformation of the resilient member. The position sensor generates a signal indicative of the position of the tip responsively to a magnetic field produced by a magnetic field generator located in the position sensor. The position sensor has a first coil of conductive wire having first windings, and three second coils of conductive wire having respective second windings. The second coils are symmetrically distributed about the longitudinal axis of the first coil.

Abstract: Medical catheterization is carried out by receiving a plurality of analog bioelectric signals in respective channels and multiplexing the bioelectric signals in respective selection events. The selection events consist of making a first connection with a reference voltage, thereafter breaking the first connection and making a second connection with one of the bioelectric signals. The method is further carried out by outputting the multiplexed bioelectric signals to an analog-to-digital converter.

Abstract: Cardiac electrograms are recorded in a plurality of channels. Beats are classified automatically into respective classifications according to a resemblance of the morphologic characteristics of the beats to members of a set of templates. Respective electroanatomic maps of the heart are generated from the classified beats.

Abstract: The present system allows for the physician to change the relative height of the signal to allow for examination of details of the signals, while maintaining an ability to interpret signal voltage levels absolutely based on color or other secondary mechanism beyond signal height. The disclosed system and method provide for faster and more accurate analysis based upon the color of the signal. The signal height may change, such as to view, display, or examine details of the signal, while the colors of the display do not. The color scale of the signal provides an absolute scaling of the signal regardless of the displayed height.

Abstract: A catheter for diagnosing and ablating tissue is disclosed that has a stabilized spine electrode assembly. The stabilized spine electrode assembly has at least two spines secured to the catheter body at their proximal ends and at least one tether, secured between locations distal of the proximal ends of adjacent spines. The spines have a collapsed arrangement in which the spines are arranged generally along a longitudinal axis of the catheter body and an expanded arrangement in which at least a portion of each spine bows radially outwards from the longitudinal axis and the at least one tether exerts tension on the adjacent spines.