Abstract: A methods and systems are disclosed to determine positions of one or more distal end portions of a catheter. In embodiments, the method includes processing location signals that are transmitted by a transmitter-receiver utility having a first clock, and received by a position sensor at a catheter's distal-end portion. The processing may be performed by a signal processor having a second clock not synchronized with the first clock of the transmitter-receiver utility. The processing includes: determining a clock-rate-ratio between clock-rates of the first and second clocks; determining a time-lag between the first and second clocks; and determining the relative phases of the received signals while compensating for the clock-rate-ratio and for the time-lag between the clocks, such that determined phases are adjusted relative to the first signal clock of the transmitter receiver utility. Accordingly, the position of the catheter's distal-end portion can be determined based on the relative phases.

Abstract: Medical apparatus includes one or more magnetic field generators, which are configured to generate magnetic fields within a body of a patient. An invasive probe includes an insertion tube having a distal end, which is configured for insertion into the body, and a plurality of flexible splines configured to be deployed from the distal end of the insertion tube. Each spline includes a flexible, multilayer circuit board and a conductive trace that is formed in at least one layer of the circuit board and is configured to define one or more coils, which are disposed along a length of the spline and output electrical signals in response to the magnetic fields. A processor is coupled to receive and process the electrical signals output by the coils in order to derive respective positions of the flexible splines in the body.

Abstract: An irreversible electroporation and radio frequency ablation (IRE/RFA) generator includes an IRE pulse generator, harmonic filtration circuitry, and a waveform interleaver. The IRE pulse generator is configured to generate biphasic IRE pulses. The harmonic filtration circuitry is configured to convert the IRE pulses into an RF signal. The waveform interleaver, which is configured to receive the IRE pulses and the RF signal and generate an output signal having a composition of the adapted IRE pulses having a final shape and repetition rate, the converted RF sinusoidal signal, or a combined IRE/RFA output signal, by switching between the received IRE square pulses and the received converted RF sinusoidal signal.

Abstract: A catheter includes a shaft, an expandable frame, a first set of electrodes, and a second set of electrodes. The shaft is configured for insertion into an organ of a patient. The expandable frame is fitted at a distal end of the shaft. The first set of electrodes is disposed over a distal portion of the expandable frame, and configured to be placed in contact with a tissue in the organ. The second set of electrodes is disposed on a proximal portion of the expandable frame, and configured to be inter-connected to form a common electrode.

Abstract: A method of delivering a combined irreversible electroporation and radio frequency (IRE/RFA) signal during ablation that includes receiving a selection of a ratio of IRE/RFA energy and a selection of an interleaved sequence of a combined IRE/RFA waveform. The interleaved sequence includes one or more adapted IRE square pulses formed by adapting generated biphasic IRE square pulses to IRE pulses having a final shape and repetition rate using a biphasic pulse shaper, and one of more RFA cycles formed from converting the generated biphasic IRE square pulses into a RF sinusoidal signal using a harmonic filter. The interleaved sequence is generated by interleaving, into a single waveform, the one or more adapted IRE square pulses with one or more cycles of the converted RF sinusoidal signal. The combined IRE/RFA output signal is outputted to a catheter electrode inside a patient's heart for application to a target tissue location.

Abstract: An anti-vacuum surge (AVS) cartridge includes a solenoid valve with a magnetic plunger having parallel flattened surfaces, in a valve cavity of a rectangular or other similar cross section. The flattened surfaces of the plunger are oppositely disposed from each other and are in line with the flow path through the aspiration channel of the AVS cartridge.

Abstract: A safety circuit, in the form of a switch box, for coupling with a catheter, detects DC leakage or emission from an amplifier circuit of the catheter, and switches a switch to immediately terminates (cuts-off) power to the amplifier circuit. This immediate power termination instantaneously stops DC leakage, which if left unchecked or otherwise undetected, may reach the heart, and disrupt its electrical activity and cause other damage.

Abstract: A method, including performing an ablation of tissue using a first high RF power for a short duration, suspending RF power for a predetermined period, and using a second high RF power for a short duration forming lesions with greater surface area and greater depth through resistive heating and thermal latency. High RF power may range between 75-95 W and short duration may range between 4-5 seconds.

Abstract: A method that includes selectively positioning an ablation catheter system at a treatment site comprising cardiac tissue, ablating cardiac tissue at the treatment site with the ablation catheter system using a power setting of approximately 90 W applied to tissue for approximately four (4) seconds to achieve a target electrode temperature, and achieving approximately zero incidence of steam pop occurrence in both left and right atrial ablations and complete pulmonary vein isolation, by the ablation catheter system, for all patients of a predetermined patient population suffering from paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF).

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product, the method comprising receiving input from a force sensor on a catheter, the catheter comprising electrodes for ablating a heart of a patient, the catheter placed at a location within the heart; based at least on the received input, calculating a predicted PFA ablation index (PFA AI) of an ablation that would be caused by applying by the catheter force equal to the assessment at the location for a predetermined number of electrical pulses having predetermined magnitude and predetermined duration, wherein said calculation is in accordance with a predefined formula; and displaying the predicted PFA AI to a user of the catheter.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel systems and methods for synchronized streaming of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals to a display. An aspect to the invention provides for synchronizing between first and second pluralities of digitized ECG signals that are sampled from a plurality of medical devices by first and second non-synchronized utilities. One of the pluralities of analog ECG signals, preferably a far-field ECG, is selected for reference and sampled by both the non-synchronized utilities thereby yielding respective first and second digitized reference ECG signals. The reference ECG signals are compared and the results of the comparison is used for synchronizing between the first and second pluralities of digitized ECG signals. Accordingly, the techniques of the invention facilitate concurrent synchronized streaming to a display, of a plurality of digitized ECG signals from a plurality of non-synchronized medical devices. Additional aspects and features of the invention are further disclosed herein.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a dongle apparatus configured to augment a patient interface unit (PIU) retrofitted with the dongle apparatus, and including a connector configured to be physically connected to an interface of the PIU, at least three load circuits configured to receive at least three corresponding alternating current (AC) signals from the PIU via the connector and mimic a load of at least three corresponding magnetic field generator coils of a location pad, sampling circuitry configured to sample a current amplitude and a phase of the at least three AC signals in the at least three load circuits, and wireless communication circuitry configured to wirelessly send data about the current amplitude and the phase of the at least three AC signals to a driver of the location pad. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus configured to perform the method, the method including selecting a first maximum radiofrequency (RF) power for a first ablation mode within a range of 70 W to 100 W and selecting a second maximum RF power for a second ablation mode within a range of 20 W to 60 W. The method also includes selecting a maximum allowable temperature, of tissue to be ablated in the first ablation mode, within a range of 55° C.-65° C., and selecting irrigation rates for providing irrigation fluid to the electrode in the first ablation mode and the second ablation mode within a range of 8-45 ml/min. In some embodiments, the first maximum RF power is 90 W applied for 4 seconds with a maximum temperature of 60° C.

Abstract: Medical apparatus includes one or more magnetic field generators, which are configured to generate magnetic fields within a body of a patient. An invasive probe includes an insertion tube having a distal end, which is configured for insertion into the body, and a plurality of flexible splines configured to be deployed from the distal end of the insertion tube. Each spline includes a flexible, multilayer circuit board and a conductive trace that is formed in at least one layer of the circuit board and is configured to define one or more coils, which are disposed along a length of the spline and output electrical signals in response to the magnetic fields. A processor is coupled to receive and process the electrical signals output by the coils in order to derive respective positions of the flexible splines in the body.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a method of treating atrial fibrillation in a predetermined group of patients meeting predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria, including delivering a catheter into a pulmonary vein of each patient of the predetermined group of patients, ablating one or more locations of targeted tissues of the pulmonary vein using the catheter, determining an ablation index as a function of the measured contact force and number of pulsed electric field applications for each location of the one or more locations from the pulsed electric field ablation, and achieving a predetermined effectiveness rate of pulmonary vein isolation in the group of patients within an effectiveness evaluation period. The catheter can include a tip electrode configured to emit either a pulsed electric field or a radiofrequency signal to cardiac tissue and measure a contact force experienced by the tip electrode against cardiac tissue during pulsed electric field ablation.

Abstract: A phacoemulsification system, including a probe having an irrigation channel and an aspiration channel, and a distal end including a needle and a sleeve insertable into an eye. There is an irrigation pump pumping irrigation fluid via the irrigation channel into the eye, and an aspiration pump pumping aspiration fluid via the aspiration channel from the eye. A first pressure sensor is coupled with the irrigation fluid and provides a first signal of intraocular pressure (IOP) in the eye; a second pressure sensor is coupled with the aspiration fluid and provides a second signal of the IOP. A system processor receives the first and second signals, and responsively to at least one of the signals, identifies at least one frequency and an associated at least one phase of the IOP, and pumps at least one of the pumps at the identified frequency and in antiphase to the identified phase.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a system for applying pulsed field ablation to treat atrial fibrillation. The system includes a catheter and a processor. The catheter can include a tip electrode controlled to emit either a pulsed electric field or a radiofrequency signal to biological tissue and ablate one or more locations of biological tissue of the pulmonary vein. The processor is configured to measure a contact force experienced by the tip electrode against biological tissue during pulsed electric field ablation and determine a pulsed field ablation index as a function of the measured contact force and number of pulsed electric field applications for each location of the one or more locations so that it can be determined whether a lesion is sufficiently durable.

Abstract: A system including a medical probe having a tube with a distal end for insertion into a cardiac chamber, an electrode at the distal end that conveys energy to myocardial tissue, a temperature sensor at the distal end that outputs a signal indicating a temperature of the tissue, a channel contained within the tube that delivers fluid to the distal end, and a fluid port at the distal end and coupled to the channel. The system also includes a generator that applies a specified level of the energy to the electrode, a pump that forces the fluid into the channel at a controllable rate, and a processor that controls the rate responsively to the signal so that a difference between a specified temperature, which is no greater than 55° C., and the indicated temperature is no greater than ±2.5° C. while the generator applies a constant level of the energy.

Abstract: A medical probe includes a shaft and an expandable balloon. The shaft is configured for insertion into an organ of a patient. The expandable balloon is coupled to a distal end of the shaft, with the expandable balloon including: (a) an expandable membrane having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the expandable membrane is configured to be expanded from a collapsed shape to a balloon shaped member, (b) a plurality of electrodes disposed on the outer surface of the expandable membrane, (c) one or more wires connected to the plurality of electrodes, the wires extending from the distal end to the electrode, (d) and an expandable cover that encapsulates the wires between the expandable cover and the expandable membrane so that the wires are constrained between the cover and the expandable membrane but the electrodes are exposed to ambient environment.

Abstract: A system includes an expandable distal end of a catheter and a processor. The expandable distal end has multiple electrodes that are configured to be placed in contact with a tissue in an organ and to apply ablative power to tissue. The processor is configured to, during application of the ablative power, determine whether a physical contact between the electrodes and tissue meets a predefined contact quality, and, if the physical contact of an electrode among the electrodes with the tissue does not meet the predefined contact quality, re-use the electrode for electrophysiological (EP) sensing.