Abstract: An eye surgery apparatus includes an eye surgery tool, an imaging system, a robotic arm, and a processor. The eye surgery tool has a distal end for insertion into an eye of a patient through an incision in the eye. The imaging system is configured to acquire images showing the incision and at least part of the eye surgery tool. The robotic arm is coupled with the eye surgery tool, which is configured to move the distal end of the eye surgery tool inside the eye according to one or more commands issued during an eye surgery. The processor is configured to, during the eye surgery (i) receive the images from the imaging system, (ii) monitor the commands issued to the robotic arm, (iii) detect, by analyzing the images, that a monitored command is expected to enlarge the incision, and (iv) initiate responsive action with respect to the detected command.

Abstract: A phacoemulsification system includes a hollow needle, an aspiration line, and a protection valve inserted in the aspiration line. The needle is configured to emulsify a lens of an eye. The aspiration line is for evacuating material from the eye. The protection valve includes a chamber, a piston and a seal. The chamber has an inlet for receiving the material arriving from the needle, and an outlet for flowing the material along the aspiration line. The piston is configured to move in the chamber between a first position that enables material flow between the inlet and the outlet, and a second position that blocks the material flow. The seal is coupled with the inlet and is configured, when the piston is in the second position, to compress between the piston and the inlet in response to a pressure pulse that propagates in the aspiration line, thereby hermetically sealing the inlet.

Abstract: A pump device includes a rotary motor, a compartment for insertion of a disposable pump part, and one or more pulsation-reduction elements. The disposable pump part includes an input port, an output port, and a dual-action reciprocating assembly. The input port is configured for intaking fluid. The output port is configured for outputting the fluid. The dual-action reciprocating assembly is configured for pumping the fluid. The assembly includes a single piston and a rod configured to be coupled to the rotary motor, so as to drive the piston. The one or more pulsation-reduction elements are configured to reduce a pulsation in the outputted fluid, caused by the single-piston dual-action reciprocating assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a tube, a tip electrode coupled to a distal end of the tube and shaped to define at least one cavity, a microelectrode disposed within the cavity and including an outer surface that is of lesser convexity than that of a portion of the tip electrode surrounding the cavity, and a conductive polymeric coating that coats the outer surface. Other examples are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus, consisting of a probe configured to be inserted into contact with a myocardium, and an electrode attached to the probe. A temperature sensor, incorporated in the probe, is configured to output a temperature signal. A pump irrigates the myocardium, via the probe, with an irrigation fluid at a controllable rate, and a radiofrequency (RF) signal generator applies RF power via the electrode to the myocardium, so as to ablate the myocardium. The apparatus also has processing circuitry that measures a temperature of the probe, based on the temperature signal, while the RF power is applied and, when the measured temperature exceeds a preset target temperature, iteratively reduces the RF power applied by the signal generator and concurrently iteratively varies a rate of irrigation of the irrigation fluid provided by the pump, until the measured temperature is reduced to the preset target temperature.

Abstract: Switching systems are positioned along a bidirectional signal carrying line, typically between an electrode in a catheter at the heart of a patient, and an external console. The switching system provides for switching the bidirectional signal carrying line between: a main line, which carries acquired electrocardiac signals from the electrode of the catheter at the heart of the patent to the external console, via a switch unit; and, a bypass line, which carries pacing signals, directly from the external console to the electrode of the catheter. The bypass line provides an uninterrupted electrical connection between the electrode and the external console, thus avoiding the switch unit.

Abstract: A system includes a fixture, a laser assembly, and a positioning assembly. The fixture is configured to hold (i) a substrate of a distal-end assembly of a catheter and (ii) a lead placed on a given solder pad disposed on the substrate, the laser assembly is configured to emit a laser beam, and the positioning assembly is configured to move the fixture, with the substrate and the lead, relative to the laser assembly, so as to mark a soldering position, at which the lead is to be attached to the given solder pad, with a laser spot of the laser beam.

Abstract: A catheter includes, a shaft for insertion into an organ, an expandable distal-end assembly coupled to the shaft and includes splines, at least one of the splines includes a flexible substrate, configured to conform to tissue of the organ, and a sensing electrode, configured: (a) to be coupled to the flexible substrate, and (b) when in contact with the tissue, to produce a electrically signal indicative of an electrocardiogram signal sensed in the tissue, the sensing electrode including: (i) a gold substrate, formed over the flexible substrate and configured to conduct the electrically signal, (ii) a first polymer layer, formed over a first section of the gold substrate and configured to electrically isolate between the tissue and the gold substrate, and (iii) a second polymer layer, formed over a second, different, section of the gold substrate, and configured to conduct the electrocardiogram signal between the tissue and the gold substrate.

Abstract: A catheter includes: (i) a shaft for insertion into an organ of a patient, (ii) an expandable distal-end assembly, which is coupled to the shaft and includes multiple splines, (iii) at least an ablation electrode, which is configured: (a) to be coupled to a spline of the splines, and (b) when placed in contact with tissue of the organ, to apply an ablation signal to the tissue, and the ablation electrode includes a slot, and (iv) a temperature sensor, which is contained within the slot and is configured, when the ablation electrode is placed in contact with the tissue, to produce a thermal signal indicative of a temperature of the tissue.

Abstract: In one exemplary mode, a catheter apparatus includes an elongated deflectable element including a distal end, a flexible puller including a distal portion, and configured to be retracted through the deflectable element, and an expandable assembly including a plurality of resilient splines, each resilient spline including at least one electrode disposed thereon, the resilient splines being disposed circumferentially around the distal portion of the puller, with first ends of the splines being coupled with the distal end of the deflectable element and second ends of the splines coupled with the distal portion of the puller, the splines being configured to bow radially outward in a relaxed form of the expandable assembly and bow further radially outward when the puller is retracted expanding the expandable assembly from the relaxed form to an expanded form.

Abstract: Apparatus, including a catheter configured to be inserted into an organ of a human body. A plurality of electrodes are deployed on the catheter, the electrodes being configured to transfer radiofrequency (RF) ablation energy to tissue of the organ. The apparatus also includes a power supply configured to supply the RF ablation energy at a level of up to 100 W to each of the plurality of electrodes simultaneously, so as to ablate respective sections of the tissue of the organ in contact with the electrodes.

Abstract: An apparatus, including a pump body having an internal shaft, and a piston disposed within the shaft and having a piston head that includes a first ferromagnetic element. The apparatus also includes a motor coupled to drive a reciprocal longitudinal motion of the piston within the shaft, and a pump chamber configured to be removably attached to the pump body and having a rigid wall defining a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and an aperture. The apparatus additionally includes a flexible diaphragm fixed across the aperture and having a second ferromagnetic element, which engages the first ferromagnetic element when the pump chamber is attached to the pump body so that the reciprocal longitudinal motion of the piston causes alternating stretching and contraction of the flexible diaphragm, thereby modifying a volume of the pump chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus, including a catheter configured to be inserted into an organ of a human body. A plurality of electrodes are deployed on the catheter, the electrodes being configured to transfer radiofrequency (RF) ablation energy to tissue of the organ. The apparatus also includes a power supply configured to supply the RF ablation energy at a level of up to 100 W to each of the plurality of electrodes simultaneously, so as to ablate respective sections of the tissue of the organ in contact with the electrodes.

Abstract: A system for controlling aspiration of a phacoemulsification probe inserted into an eye includes an anti-vacuum surge (AVS) module, one or more sensors, a vacuum relief valve, and a processor. The AVS module is coupled with an aspiration channel of the probe and is configured to mitigate vacuum surges in the channel by regulating flow via the channel. The one or more sensors are configured to measure fluid parameters in the channel. The vacuum relief valve, which is fluidly coupled with the channel, is configured to controllably relieve vacuum in the channel. The processor is configured to identify a change in at least one of the fluid parameters by reading at least one of the one or more sensors, and, responsively to an identified change in fluid parameters, operate the vacuum relief valve using pulse width modulation (PWM) to maintain a pressure in the channel within a predefined range.

Abstract: Methods and systems provide a body surface electrode, such as a patch, and, for example, a backpatch, which automatically detects detachment from the skin and/or proximity thereto, within a predetermined limit, and hence, the electrode coming out of contact with and/or proximity to the skin. Once the detachment is detected, the disclosed system instantaneously terminates pulse delivery to a pulse delivery electrode from an IRE generator, which generates the delivered pulses. By instantaneously terminating pulse delivery, damage to body tissues from overheating caused by pulses is minimized or eliminated.

Abstract: A medical apparatus includes a shaft and a basket assembly. The shaft is configured for insertion into a cavity of an organ of a patient. The basket assembly is connected distally to the shaft and includes electrodes, which are configured to apply electrical energy to tissue within the cavity. The basket assembly further includes a flexible porous sheath, which is fitted over the basket assembly and is configured to contact the tissue within the cavity while simultaneously (i) preventing the electrodes from indenting the tissue and (ii) allowing electrical energy applied from the electrodes to be delivered to the tissue.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a medical device includes providing a metal electrode to be used in applying electrical energy to biological tissue and specifying a frequency at which the electrical energy is to be applied. A thickness of a ceramic coating to be applied to the metal electrode is identified so as to reduce an electrical impedance between the metal electrode and the tissue at the specified frequency by a specified amount. The ceramic coating is deposited over the metal electrode to the identified thickness, and the metal electrode is assembled onto a probe for application to the biological tissue.

Abstract: A system for use with multiple electrodes coupled to respective spines of a probe includes multiple switches connected to the electrodes and configured to short different respective first subsets of the electrodes to each other and different respective second subsets of the electrodes to each other per different respective settings of the switches. The system further includes a processor configured to control the switches so as to alternate through the settings and, for each of the settings, cause a power generator to apply a voltage between the shorted first subset and the shorted second subset while the probe is deployed within a body of a subject. Other examples are also described.

Abstract: A method includes manipulating a catheter, which includes an ultrasound transducer array, inside an organ of a patient so as to acquire ultrasound images of at least part of the organ. One or more reference positions are identified of one or more respective reference anatomical structures in or near the organ. The ultrasound images are annotated with annotations indicating the identified reference anatomical structures.

Abstract: A system includes (a) a catheter for insertion into an organ of a patient, a distal end of the catheter, the distal end including: (i) one or more ultrasound transducers (UT), which are configured to apply ultrasound (US) waves to the organ and to produce one or more US signals indicative of a surface topography of the organ, and (ii) a position sensor, which is configured to produce one or more position signals indicative of one or more respective positions of the distal end inside the organ, and (b) a processor, which is configured, based on the US signals and the position signals, to: (i) produce an anatomical map of the surface topography, and (ii) visualize a change in a slope of the surface topography.