Abstract: Various embodiments provide a cardiac mapping and model merging method including: generating a premature ventricular contraction (PVC) activation map of a heart based on a three-dimensional (3D) heart model and PVC electrocardiogram (ECG) data recording during PVC of the heart; generating a 3D internal surface model of the heart by triangulating point-by-point contact data collected during an electrophysiology (EP) procedure; merging the 3D activation map and the 3D internal surface model to form a PVC activation surface model; and pacing the heart at a first pacing location disposed in an area of earliest activation identified in PVC activation surface model.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a cardiac mapping method including: generating an activation map of a heart based on electrocardiogram (ECG) data of a heart and a three-dimensional (3D) heart model; performing an electrophysiology (EP) procedure to determine a first pacing location; pacing the heart at the first pacing location using an EP catheter; determining whether the pacing at the first pacing location generates a desired cardiac response; displaying guidance information related to a second pacing location on one or both of the activation map and the internal surface map, when the first pacing location is determined not to generate the desired cardiac response; moving the pacing catheter to the second pacing location, based on the guidance information; and pacing the heart at the second pacing location.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a catheter positioning device that may include a sled member, a sled base, an active damping system, a sensor, and a control system. The sled member may be configured to accept a handle of a catheter. The sled base may be configured to move the sled member along a length of the sled base for positioning the catheter within a patient. The active damping system may be configured to apply a force to the sled base to resist movement of the sled base in response to a control signal. The sensor may be configured to generate signals in response to a movement of the sled base. The control system may be configured to receive sensor signals from the sensor and transmit control signals to cause the active damping system to apply the force to resist movement of the sled base indicated in the received sensor signals.

Abstract: Various embodiments enable an introducer for a catheter to be rotated around an axis and/or traversed backward and/or forward along the axis. In various embodiments, positioning of an introducer may be enabled by an introducer support configured to be rotated around an axis and/or extended or retracted along the axis. The introducer may be manually operated and/or operated by motors in a nose cone of a catheter positioning system. In various embodiments, a portion of the introducer support may be configured to flex. In other embodiment, positioning of an introducer may be enabled by an adjustable nose cone of a catheter positioning system.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a cardiac mapping method including: recording premature ventricular contraction (PVC) electrocardiogram (ECG) data during PVC of a heart; generating a PVC activation map of the heart, based on the PVC ECG data and a three-dimensional (3D) heart model generated based on two-dimensional (2D) images of the heart, the PVC activation map including an area of earliest activation; generating a reference image by modifying on one of the 2D images to identify the area of earliest activation; displaying both the PVC activation map and the reference image; and pacing the heart at a first pacing location disposed in the area of earliest activation.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods for conducting cardiac resynchronization therapy and systems implementing the method. Various embodiments may include generating, using a processing unit, a three-dimensional (3D) activation map showing the propagation of electrical signals through a heart of a patient, identifying a stimulation point on the heart for cardiac resynchronization; generating real-time images of the heart, displaying, on a display unit, the stimulation point on the real-time images as a virtual stimulation point, implanting a pacing device into the patient at the identified stimulation point, such that the pace maker is aligned with the virtual stimulation point in the real-time images, and stimulating the heart using the pacing device.

Abstract: Embodiment methods of treating a human or animal patient using a remotely controlled robotic catheter device inserting a handle of a catheter into a handle controller, inserting the catheter tubular portion into a resealable delivery channel forming a sterile barrier to a sled base, engaging a tip of the catheter with a sterile introducer disposed at an end of the sled base and engaged with the patient's body, positioning the catheter into the patient's body by remotely sending commands to the tele-robotic device to cause the sled member to advance toward the patient's body, and performing a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure on the patient using the catheter. Diagnostic or therapeutic procedures may include a mapping procedure, an ablation procedure, an angioplasty procedure, a drug delivery procedure; an electrophysiology procedure, a radiological procedure, and a medical device implantation or positioning procedure.

Abstract: Various embodiments enable an introducer for a catheter to be rotated around an axis and/or traversed backward and/or forward along the axis. In various embodiments, positioning of an introducer may be enabled by an introducer support configured to be rotated around an axis and/or extended or retracted along the axis. The introducer may be manually operated and/or operated by motors in a nose cone of a catheter positioning system. In various embodiments, a portion of the introducer support may be configured to flex. In other embodiment, positioning of an introducer may be enabled by an adjustable nose cone of a catheter positioning system.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a catheter positioning device with components for controlling actuators of the catheter in multiple axes. A catheter may be attached to a sled member by a modular plate with one or more actuator interfaces that may couple with the actuators of a catheter handle. One or more motors or drives in the sled member may move the actuator interfaces of the modular plate to control one or more actuators on the catheter in different axes. In various embodiments the sled member may have a clam shell design in which two or more sides of the sled member close around the catheter handle. In further embodiments, the sled member may include adjustable faces that can fit different types of modular plates and thereby control actuators on different types of the catheter.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments provide a hoop drive assembly. A hoop drive assembly according to the various embodiments may include one or more toothed rings and one or more motors coupled to the one or more toothed rings. In the various embodiments, rotation of the one or more toothed rings may change an orientation of a turret supported by the hoop drive assembly and/or move a control actuator of a catheter held in a modular plate coupled to the turret.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments provide a remote controller for a catheter positioning system configured to be operated with a single hand by a catheter positioning system operator. In an embodiment, the remote controller may include a thumb joystick control, first wheel control, and second wheel control. In an embodiment, the remote controller may include various visual indicators and/or haptic feedback mechanisms providing information to a catheter positioning system operator.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide systems and methods for controlling a catheter with a catheter positioning device by using a remote controller. As the catheter is advanced by the catheter positioning device, a counterweight may be adjusted to balance the catheter positioning system. In further embodiments, the counterweight may be configured to move to balance a sled member such that any total moment exerted on a sled base remains constant. In further embodiments, the counterweight may be controlled by a control system based on one or more sensors coupled with the catheter positioning system.

Abstract: Embodiment methods of treating a human or animal patient using a remotely controlled robotic catheter device inserting a handle of a catheter into a handle controller, inserting the catheter tubular portion into a resealable delivery channel forming a sterile barrier to a sled base, engaging a tip of the catheter with a sterile introducer disposed at an end of the sled base and engaged with the patient's body, positioning the catheter into the patient's body by remotely sending commands to the tele-robotic device to cause the sled member to advance toward the patient's body, and performing a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure on the patient using the catheter. Diagnostic or therapeutic procedures may include a mapping procedure, an ablation procedure, an angioplasty procedure, a drug delivery procedure; an electrophysiology procedure, a radiological procedure, and a medical device implantation or positioning procedure.

Abstract: Embodiments include a spreader and a resealable delivery channel in a catheter positioning system configured to introduce a catheter into the resealable delivery channel. The spreader may have shapes configured to help users insert the spreader and a catheter into the resealable delivery channel and to retain the spreader and the catheter within the resealable delivery channel. The resealable delivery channel may be shaped to accommodate the spreader or catheter. The resealable delivery channel may include flexible plastic lips that are moveable to facilitate insertion of the spreader and a catheter into the resealable delivery channel.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide systems and methods for controlling a catheter with a catheter positioning device by using a remote controller and a guidewire control mechanism that may be used to draw a guidewire through a catheter coupled with the catheter positioning system. As the catheter is advanced over the guidewire by the catheter positioning device, the guidewire control mechanism may draw the guidewire away, such as collecting any slack on the guidewire. In further embodiments, the guidewire control mechanism may match the speed at which the guidewire is drawn to the speed at which the catheter advances and thereby maintain the position of the guidewire relative to the patient.