Abstract: A method of modifying contact status of one or more electrodes in a plurality of electrodes located on a medical device includes measuring an electrical characteristic of each electrode in the plurality of electrodes located on the medical device, determining a contact status for each electrode in the plurality of electrodes based on the measured electrical characteristic for the corresponding electrode, wherein the contact status is indicative of contact with adjacent tissue. The method further includes modifying the contact status of a first electrode in the plurality of electrodes based on the determined contact status of one or more other electrodes in the plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: A method of determining contact status of electrodes includes applying drive signals between pairs of electrodes, measuring a bipolar electrode complex impedance (BECI) value generated in response to the drive signals over a collection period, and determining a baseline BECI value representing a minimum value measured during the collection period. The method further includes determining contact status of the electrode by applying drive signals between pairs of electrodes over a given interval, measuring a BECI value generated in response to the drive signals, measuring a peak-to-peak value associated with the BECI values measured over the given interval, and determining contact status based on a combination of the baseline BECI value, the measured BECI value, and the peak-to-peak value associated with the measured BECI values.

Abstract: A display system configured to communicate tissue proximity data from a plurality of electrodes includes a display. The display outputs a circular graphical representation. The circular graphical representation includes a plurality of color areas forming a first circular shape. Each of the color areas communicate a categorized value for a respective electrode indicative of tissue proximity for the respective electrode. A plurality of graph areas form a second circular shape. Each of the graph areas communicate a relative value for the respective electrode indicative of the tissue proximity for the respective electrode.

Abstract: A method of determining a baseline impedance value for a first electrode in a plurality of electrodes located on a medical device for tissue contact detection includes measuring an impedance value of the first electrode generated in response to a drive signal to the first electrode. The method further includes assigning a baseline impedance value to the first electrode based on impedance values measured in a predetermined time interval and determining a confidence value associated with the baseline impedance value. The method further includes utilizing the baseline impedance value in determining contact status of the first electrode when the confidence value is at or above a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A method of modifying contact status of one or more electrodes in a plurality of electrodes located on a medical device includes measuring an electrical characteristic of each electrode in the plurality of electrodes located on the medical device, determining a contact status for each electrode in the plurality of electrodes based on the measured electrical characteristic for the corresponding electrode, wherein the contact status is indicative of contact with adjacent tissue. The method further includes modifying the contact status of a first electrode in the plurality of electrodes based on the determined contact status of one or more other electrodes in the plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: A method of constructing a bounding box comprises: acquiring a set of sensed data points; adding, for each sensed data point, at least one calculated data point; and defining a bounding box containing the sensed and calculated data points. A method of identifying voxels in a voxel grid corresponding to a plurality of data points comprises: calculating, for each data point, a distance between it and each voxel; creating a subset of voxels comprising voxels having a distance from one data point that is less than a predetermined distance; creating another subset comprising those voxels that neighbor a voxel in the first subset; computing, for each voxel in the second subset, a distance between it and each voxel in the first subset; and identifying each voxel in the first subset that is a distance away from each voxel in the second subset that exceeds a predetermined distance.

Abstract: Electrophysiological signals from a graphical representation of an electrophysiology map including a plurality of electrophysiology data points can be sorted by receiving user inputs specifying a number of virtual electrodes for a virtual catheter and defining a pathway of the virtual catheter. A corresponding number of virtual electrodes can be defined on the pathway of the virtual catheter, and one or more electrophysiology data points relevant to electrical activity at the virtual electrodes can be identified, allowing output of a graphical representation of electrophysiological signals corresponding to the identified electrophysiology data points. Relevant electrophysiology data points can be identified by applying one or more relevance criterion, such as a distance criterion, a bipole orientation criterion, a time criterion, and/or a morphology criterion.

Abstract: A method of constructing a bounding box comprises: acquiring a set of sensed data points; adding, for each sensed data point, at least one calculated data point; and defining a bounding box containing the sensed and calculated data points. A method of identifying voxels in a voxel grid corresponding to a plurality of data points comprises: calculating, for each data point, a distance between it and each voxel; creating a subset of voxels comprising voxels having a distance from one data point that is less than a predetermined distance; creating another subset comprising those voxels that neighbor a voxel in the first subset; computing, for each voxel in the second subset, a distance between it and each voxel in the first subset; and identifying each voxel in the first subset that is a distance away from each voxel in the second subset that exceeds a predetermined distance.

Abstract: Electrophysiological signals from a graphical representation of an electrophysiology map including a plurality of electrophysiology data points can be sorted by receiving user inputs specifying a number of virtual electrodes for a virtual catheter and defining a pathway of the virtual catheter. A corresponding number of virtual electrodes can be defined on the pathway of the virtual catheter, and one or more electrophysiology data points relevant to electrical activity at the virtual electrodes can be identified, allowing output of a graphical representation of electrophysiological signals corresponding to the identified electrophysiology data points. Relevant electrophysiology data points can be identified by applying one or more relevance criterion, such as a distance criterion, a bipole orientation criterion, a time criterion, and/or a morphology criterion.

Abstract: A method of constructing a bounding box comprises: acquiring a set of sensed data points; adding, for each sensed data point, at least one calculated data point; and defining a bounding box containing the sensed and calculated data points. A method of identifying voxels in a voxel grid corresponding to a plurality of data points comprises: calculating, for each data point, a distance between it and each voxel; creating a subset of voxels comprising voxels having a distance from one data point that is less than a predetermined distance; creating another subset comprising those voxels that neighbor a voxel in the first subset; computing, for each voxel in the second subset, a distance between it and each voxel in the first subset; and identifying each voxel in the first subset that is a distance away from each voxel in the second subset that exceeds a predetermined distance.

Abstract: The local conduction velocity of a cardiac activation wavefront can be computed by collecting a plurality of electrophysiology (“EP”) data points using a multi-electrode catheter, with each EP data point including both position data and local activation time (“LAT”) data. For any EP data point, a neighborhood of EP data points, including the selected EP data point and at least two additional EP data points, can be defined. Planes of position and LATs can then be defined using the positions and LATs, respectively, of the EP data points within the neighborhood. A conduction velocity can be computed from an intersection of the planes of positions and LATs. The resultant plurality of conduction velocities can be output as a graphical representation (e.g., an electrophysiology map), for example by displaying vector icons arranged in a uniform grid over a three-dimensional cardiac model.

Abstract: An electrophysiology catheter is provided. In one embodiment, the catheter includes an elongate, deformable shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a basket electrode assembly coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The basket electrode assembly has a proximal end and a distal end and is configured to assume a compressed state and an expanded state. The electrode assembly further includes one or more tubular splines having a plurality of electrodes disposed thereon and a plurality of conductors. Each of the plurality of conductors extends through the tubular spline from a corresponding one of the plurality of electrodes to the proximal end of the basket electrode assembly. The tubular splines are configured to assume a non-planar (e.g., a twisted or helical) shape in the expanded state.

Abstract: A medical device can comprise a catheter shaft comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter shaft defining a catheter shaft longitudinal axis. A flexible tip portion can be located adjacent to the distal end of the catheter shaft, the flexible tip portion comprising a flexible framework. A plurality of curved microelectrodes can be disposed on the flexible framework and can form a flexible array of curved microelectrodes adapted to conform to tissue.

Abstract: An electrophysiology catheter is provided. In one embodiment, the catheter includes an elongate, deformable shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a basket electrode assembly coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The basket electrode assembly has a proximal end and a distal end and is configured to assume a compressed state and an expanded state. The electrode assembly further includes one or more tubular splines having a plurality of electrodes disposed thereon and a plurality of conductors. Each of the plurality of conductors extends through the tubular spline from a corresponding one of the plurality of electrodes to the proximal end of the basket electrode assembly. The tubular splines are configured to assume a non-planar (e.g., a twisted or helical) shape in the expanded state.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for generating a patch surface model of a geometric structure. The system includes a computer-based model construction system configured to be coupled to a device that includes at least one sensor configured to acquire a set of original location data points corresponding to respective locations on a surface of the geometric structure, the computer-based model construction system further configured to generate a reference surface based on the acquired original location data points, subdivide the reference surface into a plurality of triangles, project at least some of the original location data points onto a respective nearest point on the subdivided reference surface, compute a function that morphs the projected location data points towards the original location data points to generate a patch surface model, and determine a boundary for the patch surface model.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for rendering lesions on a geometric surface model of a geometric structure. The system includes a computer-based model construction system configured to create a three-dimensional (3D) texture map including a plurality of voxels each having a tissue necrosis value, increment the tissue necrosis values as a function of at least one parameter to generate a total tissue necrosis value for each voxel, render at least one lesion on the geometric surface model based on the total tissue necrosis values, and display the geometric surface model and the at least one rendered lesion.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for generating an electrophysiological map of a geometric structure. The system includes a computer-based model construction system configured to acquire electrical information at a plurality of diagnostic landmark points, assign a color value, based on the acquired electrical information, to each of the diagnostic landmark points, create a first 3D texture region storing floats for a weighted physiological metric, create a second 3D texture region storing floats for a total weight, for each diagnostic landmark point, additively blend the color value of the diagnostic landmark point into voxels of the first 3D texture region that are within a predetermined distance, normalize the colored voxels using the second 3D texture region to generate a normalized 3D texture map, generate the electrophysiological map from the normalized 3D texture map and a surface of the geometric structure, and display the generated electrophysiological map.

Abstract: A method for projecting a 3D surface geometry onto a planar projection comprises: obtaining a 3D geometry of a chamber surface using an algorithm that generates angles and distances between points on the chamber surface that represent mapping information; applying a cutting curve to at least two points on the chamber surface; and at least partially unfolding at least a portion of the chamber surface along the cutting curve to form a planar projection that optimally preserves the angles and distances between points on the chamber surface.

Abstract: A system for determining a location of an electrode of a medical device (e.g., a catheter) in a body of a patient includes a localization block for producing an uncompensated electrode location, a motion compensation block for producing a compensation signal (i.e., for respiration, cardiac, etc.), and a mechanism for subtracting the compensation signal from the uncompensated electrode location. The result is a corrected electrode location substantially free of respiration and cardiac artifacts. The motion compensation block includes a dynamic adaptation feature which accounts for changes in a patient's respiration patterns as well as intentional movements of the medical device to different locations within the patient's body. The system further includes an automatic compensation gain control which suppresses compensation when certain conditions, such as noise or sudden patch impedance changes, are detected.

Abstract: The local conduction velocity of a cardiac activation wavefront can be computed by collecting a plurality of electrophysiology (“EP”) data points using a multi-electrode catheter, with each EP data point including both position data and local activation time (“LAT”) data. For any EP data point, a neighborhood of EP data points, including the selected EP data point and at least two additional EP data points, can be defined. Planes of position and LATs can then be defined using the positions and LATs, respectively, of the EP data points within the neighborhood. A conduction velocity can be computed from an intersection of the planes of positions and LATs. The resultant plurality of conduction velocities can be output as a graphical representation (e.g., an electrophysiology map), for example by displaying vector icons arranged in a uniform grid over a three-dimensional cardiac model.