Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for imaging an intra-body object. An exemplary method includes: measuring electrical measurements using electrodes of a probe hovering inside a body lumen; identifying, based on said electrical measurements, a volume encompassing the electrodes used for the measurements as a volume free of any lumen wall; and inferring, from the identified volume free of any lumen wall, a wall in the vicinity of the probe, thereby imaging at least a portion of the object.

Abstract: Devices and methods for tissue lesion assessment and/or creation based on dielectric properties are disclosed. In some embodiments, one or more probing frequencies are delivered via electrodes including an electrode in proximity to a tissue (for example, myocardial tissue). Measured dielectric properties (such as impedance properties), optionally together with other known and/or estimated tissue characteristics, are used to determine the lesion state of the tissue. In some embodiments, a developing lesion state is monitored during treatment formation of a lesion (for example, ablation of heart tissue to alter electrical transmission characteristics).

Abstract: Methods and devices using measurements of heart electrophysiological activity to guide structural heart disease interventions, and in some particular embodiments, implantation of heart valve annuloplasty devices. In some embodiments, measurements of heart electrophysiological activity are mapped into locations of a heart model defined by one or more additional measurement modalities. Locations to map electrophysiological data to, in some embodiments, are determined by non-electrophysiological measurements simultaneous with the electrophysiological data measurement which locate a probe—for example, measurements made by the probe itself, and/or measurements which themselves indicate positioning of the probe.

Abstract: There is provided a computer implemented method of reconstructing an image of a body cavity shape of a subject based on a plurality of location indications, indicating locations of at least one sensor disposed on an intrabody probe within the body cavity, the method comprising: receiving data indicative of the plurality of location indications, identifying based on the data at least a first group and a second group of location indications, and reconstructing the body cavity from the data, using a first reconstruction method for the first group of location indications, and a second reconstruction method for the second group of location indications.

Abstract: Methods for creation and use (e.g., for navigation) of displays of flattened (e.g., curvature-straightened) 3-D reconstructions of tissue surfaces, optionally including reconstructions of the interior surfaces of hollow organs. In some embodiments, data comprising a 3-D representation of a tissue surface (for example an interior heart chamber surface) are subject to a geometrical transformation allowing the tissue surface to be presented substantially within a single view of a flattened reconstruction. In some embodiments, a catheter probe in use near the tissue surface is shown in positions that correspond to positions in 3-D space sufficiently to permit navigation; e.g., the probe is shown in flattened reconstruction views nearby view regions corresponding to regions it actually approaches. In some embodiments, automatic and/or easily triggered manual view switching between flattened reconstruction and source reconstruction views is implemented.

Abstract: There is provided a method of displaying a pre-acquired three dimensional (3D) image of at least a portion of an organ of a patient, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of electrical readings, each from a different electrode mounted on a catheter inside the portion of the organ of the patient, wherein the electrodes are mounted on the catheter at known distances from each other, transforming the plurality of electrical readings to a corresponding plurality of image points using a mapping transformation that transforms each electrical reading of the catheter from inside the portion of the organ of the patient to an anatomically corresponding image point in the 3D image based on the known distances, and displaying the 3D image with a marking of at least one of the plurality of image points.

Abstract: Methods and systems for position determination of an intrabody probe, targets of an intrabody probe, and or actions to be performed using an intrabody probe are described. In some embodiments, an anatomy being navigated and/or mapped is described by a rule-based schema relating different anatomically identified structures to one another according to their ability to help identify and/or locate one another. Additionally, in some embodiments, data recorded from the intrabody probe is processed according to schema rules in order to provide anatomical identification of the anatomical region which the intrabody probe is sampling, optionally without performing detailed mapping, and/or prior to the availability of detailed mapping of anatomical geometry.

Abstract: In some embodiments, data sensed and/or operational parameters used during a catheterization procedure are used in the motion frame-rate updating and visual rendering of a simulated organ geometry. The organ geometry is rendered as a virtual material using a software environment (preferably a graphical game engine) which applies simulated optical laws to material appearance parameters affecting the virtual material's visual appearance, as part of simulating a scene comprising the simulated organ geometry, and optionally also comprising simulated views of a catheter probe used for sensing and/or treatment. Optionally, measurements of and/or effects on tissue by sensing and/or commanded probe-tissue interactions are converted into material appearance changes, allowing dynamic visual simulation of intra-body states and/or events based on optionally non-visual input data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for planning of catheter ablation procedures, and in particular for planning of the placement of lesions and/or parameters used in ablation. In some embodiments, planning is based on thermal and/or dielectric simulation of lesions, individualized to the anatomy of the particular patient. Optionally, a plan comprises planning of a path along which an ablation lesion is to be formed, the ablation lesion optionally comprising one or more sub-lesions. The plan is optionally optimized for one or more criteria including, for example: minimization of path length, minimization of sub-lesion number, simplification of catheter maneuvering, avoidance of collateral damage to non-target tissue, access to the target dependent on anatomy shape and/or catheter mechanics, and/or features of the target anatomy such as tissue wall thickness and/or fiber direction.

Abstract: Methods for estimating of the effectiveness of catheter ablation procedures to form lesions, and particular lesions which together form an ablation segment of an ablation line. Lesion effectiveness parameters are received, and effectiveness, optionally the joint effectiveness, of corresponding ablations (optionally planned, current, and/or already performed) is estimated. In some embodiments, estimating is based on use by computer circuitry of an estimator constructed based on observed associations between previously analyzed lesion effectiveness parameters, and observed lesion effectiveness. Additionally or alternatively, estimators may be constructed based on analytic functions. The estimator is used by application to the received lesion effectiveness parameters.

Abstract: A method of reconstructing a shape of a volume of a part of a subject based on intrabody measurements of a plurality of crossing electromagnetic fields established within the volume, the method including: receiving, by computer circuitry, measurements of the crossing electromagnetic fields carried out using at least one sensor carried on an intrabody probe, the measuring being carried out with the probe at multiple locations in the volume, to provide a set of measurement samples, each taken at a location; generating, by computer circuitry and based on said measurement samples, a transformation that transforms measurement samples to geometric positions; transforming, using said generated transformation fewer than half of the measurements in said set of measurement samples into a set of geometric positions; and reconstructing the shape of said volume from said set of geometric positions.

Abstract: Methods for creation and use (e.g., for navigation) of displays of flattened (e.g., curvature-straightened) 3-D reconstructions of tissue surfaces, optionally including reconstructions of the interior surfaces of hollow organs. In some embodiments, data comprising a 3-D representation of a tissue surface (for example an interior heart chamber surface) are subject to a geometrical transformation allowing the tissue surface to be presented substantially within a single view of a flattened reconstruction. In some embodiments, a catheter probe in use near the tissue surface is shown in positions that correspond to positions in 3-D space sufficiently to permit navigation; e.g., the probe is shown in flattened reconstruction views nearby view regions corresponding to regions it actually approaches. In some embodiments, automatic and/or easily triggered manual view switching between flattened reconstruction and source reconstruction views is implemented.

Abstract: Systems and method for remote field measurement-based mapping of anatomical structures (e.g., using impedance image of electrical fields) are described. In some embodiments, an image of features within a target region is produced by analysis of a spatial pattern of field measurements made in a measurement region remote from the target region features; for example, but not exclusively, by treating the spatial arrangement of field measurements in some portion of the measurement region as indicating the spatial (e.g., angular and/or distance) arrangement of features (e.g., anatomical structure of topography and/or tissue type) in the target region.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of graphically presenting an indicating marker over a 3-D model of a tissue surface during a catheterization procedure, comprising determining a region over the 3-D model, deforming the indicating marker to congruently match a shape defined by the 3-D model across the region at a plurality of positions; and rendering the 3-D model into an image including the deformed indicating marker by generating an image of the 3-D model covered by said deformed indicating marker.

Abstract: Methods for estimating of the effectiveness of catheter ablation procedures to form lesions. Lesion effectiveness parameters are received, and effectiveness of a corresponding ablation (optionally planned, current, and/or already performed) is estimated. The estimating is based on use by computer circuitry of an estimator constructed based on observed associations between previously analyzed lesion effectiveness parameters, and observed lesion effectiveness. The estimator is used by application to the received lesion effectiveness parameters.

Abstract: Systems and method for remote field measurement-based mapping of anatomical structures (e.g., using impedance image of electrical fields) are described. In some embodiments, an image of features within a target region is produced by analysis of a spatial pattern of field measurements made in a measurement region remote from the target region features; for example, but not exclusively, by treating the spatial arrangement of field measurements in some portion of the measurement region as indicating the spatial (e.g., angular and/or distance) arrangement of features (e.g., anatomical structure of topography and/or tissue type) in the target region.

Abstract: Degree of occlusion is monitored for an occlusive device configured to occlude passage of fluid between two compartments in a lumenal space of a body of a patient. In some embodiments, changes in an electrical signal measured from the body of the patient are induced by perturbing the fluid; for example, by “tagging” a portion of fluid with a perturbation of temperature and/or composition. The degree of occlusion is estimated based on the measured changes. The electrical signal changes may be indicative of fluid movements redistributing the perturbed fluid among the two compartments; for example, by diffusion, mixing, and/or jetting of fluid.

Abstract: A conformational state of a medical device operated within a body lumen is determined by measuring, using the medical device as an electrode, an electrical parameter which varies in a correspondence with a conformational state (e.g., deployment state) of the portion of the medical device used as the electrode. The conformational state of the medical device is determined, based on the electrical parameter; and an image is presented indicating the determined conformational state. In some embodiments, the electrical parameter is a self-impedance of the portion of the medical device used as the electrode. In some embodiments, current positioning of the medical device is used as part of calibrating a parametric relationship between the electrical parameter and conformational states of the medical device.