Abstract: A map of cardiac activation wavefronts can be created from a plurality of mesh nodes, each of which is assigned a conduction velocity vector. Directed edges are defined to interconnect the mesh nodes, and weights are assigned to the directed edges, thereby creating a weighted directed conduction velocity graph. A user can select one or more points within the weighted directed conduction velocity graph (which do not necessarily correspond to nodes), and one or more cardiac activation wavefronts passing through these points can be identified using the weighted directed conduction velocity graph. The cardiac activation wavefronts can then be displayed on a graphical representation of the cardiac geometry.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a specific set of circulating biomarkers and related methods and kits for the diagnosis of Brugada Syndrome in a human being.

Abstract: A fluid delivery catheter configured to allow optimal fluid distribution through each electrode by varying the diameter of a catheter lumen is disclosed. Uniform or different fluid flow rates through longitudinally spaced apart elution holes may be achieved. Exemplary fluids for use with the catheter include a cooling fluid, a therapeutic fluid, and a medication.

Abstract: Planar end effector designs having irrigation are presented. The example end effectors are configured to be affixed to a distal end of a catheter and delivered through vasculature in a collapsed configuration and expand at an intracardiac treatment site to a deployed configuration. In some instances, the end effector can have an electrode array with sufficient density to perform mapping and irrigation for mapping. The end effector can include dedicated irrigation tubes and/or irrigating electrode-carrying spines to irrigate within the electrode array. Flow rate at positions within the electrode array can be controlled in a predetermined manner by varying pore/port size, flow direction, and/or flow path cross-section throughout an irrigation flow path in the end effector.

Abstract: Flexible high-density mapping catheter tips and flexible ablation catheter tips with onboard high-density mapping electrodes are disclosed. These tips can be used for diagnosing and treating cardiac arrhythmias. The flexible, distal tips are adapted to conform to tissue and comprise a plurality of microelectrodes mounted to permit relative movement among at least some of the microelectrodes. The flexible tip portions may comprise a flexible framework forming a flexible array of microelectrodes (for example, a planar or cylindrical array) adapted to conform to tissue and constructed at least in part from nonconductive material in some embodiments. The flexible array of microelectrodes may be formed from a plurality of rows of longitudinally-aligned microelectrodes. The flexible array may further comprise, for example, a plurality of electrode-carrying arms or electrode-carrier bands. Multiple flexible frameworks may be present on a single device.

Abstract: A catheter is disclosed comprising a catheter shaft including a proximal end and a distal end. A flexible framework can be connected to the distal end of the catheter shaft, wherein the flexible framework includes a plurality of heating electrodes and a temperature sensor. The plurality of heating electrodes can be configured to be heated to a first temperature, the first temperature being lower than which radio frequency ablation is performed. The plurality of heating electrodes can be configured to be heated to a second temperature, the second temperature being a temperature at which radio frequency ablation is performed.

Abstract: Flexible high-density mapping catheter tips and flexible ablation catheter tips with onboard high-density mapping electrodes are disclosed. These tips can be used for diagnosing and treating cardiac arrhythmias. The flexible, distal tips are adapted to conform to tissue and comprise a plurality of microelectrodes mounted to permit relative movement among at least some of the microelectrodes. The flexible tip portions may comprise a flexible framework forming a flexible array of microelectrodes (for example, a planar or cylindrical array) adapted to conform to tissue and constructed at least in part from nonconductive material in some embodiments. The flexible array of microelectrodes may be formed from a plurality of rows of longitudinally-aligned microelectrodes. The flexible array may further comprise, for example, a plurality of electrode-carrying arms or electrode-carrier bands. Multiple flexible frameworks may be present on a single device.

Abstract: An electrophysiology map, for example a map of arrhythmic substrate, can be generated by acquiring both geometry information and electrophysiology information pertaining to an anatomical region, and associating the acquired geometry and electrophysiology information as a plurality of electrophysiology data points. A user can select two (or more) electrophysiological characteristics for display, and can further elect to apply various filters to the selected electrophysiological characteristics. The user can also define various relationships (e.g., Boolean ANDS, ORs, and the like) between the selected and/or filtered characteristics. The user-selected filtering criteria can be applied to the electrophysiology data points to output various subsets thereof. These subsets can then be graphically rendered using various combinations of colorscale, monochrome scale, and iconography, for example as a three-dimensional cardiac electrophysiology model.

Abstract: A catheter is disclosed comprising a catheter shaft including a proximal end and a distal end. A flexible framework can be connected to the distal end of the catheter shaft, wherein the flexible framework includes a plurality of heating electrodes and a temperature sensor. The plurality of heating electrodes can be configured to be heated to a first temperature, the first temperature being lower than which radio frequency ablation is performed. The plurality of heating electrodes can be configured to be heated to a second temperature, the second temperature being a temperature at which radio frequency ablation is performed.

Abstract: A flexible tip electrode for an ablation catheter is disclosed. The catheter includes a catheter body and a hollow elongate tip electrode disposed at a distal end of the catheter body. The electrode includes a sidewall provided with one or more elongate gaps extending therethrough. The one or more elongate gaps providing flexibility in the sidewall for bending movement of the tip electrode relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter body.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of facilitating electrocardiogram (“ECG”) analysis involves receiving one or more sensed ECG traces for a patient, each of the sensed ECG traces representing sensed patient heart activity over a sensed time period, and, for each of the one or more sensed ECG traces: identifying a plurality of corresponding sensed ECG trace segments, each of the sensed ECG trace segments representing sensed patient heart activity for the patient over a segment of the sensed time period, and determining a representative ECG trace based on at least one of the identified corresponding sensed ECG trace segments. The method involves causing at least one neural network classifier to be applied to the one or more determined representative ECG traces to determine one or more diagnostically relevant scores related to at least one diagnosis of the patient. Other methods, systems, and computer readable media are disclosed.

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: A method including calculating, at multiple intra-cardiac locations, respective average atrial fibrillation cycle-length (AFCL) values. A determination is made as to whether the calculated average AFCL values are indicative of a regular atrial fibrillation (AF) activity. Gradients between pairs of the average AFCL values are calculated for a plurality of average AFCL values that are determined to be indicative of regular AF activity. The calculated AFCL gradients are presented to a user, overlaid on a map of at least a portion of the heart.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of facilitating electrocardiogram (“ECG”) analysis involves receiving one or more sensed ECG traces for a patient, each of the sensed ECG traces representing sensed patient heart activity over a sensed time period, and, for each of the one or more sensed ECG traces: identifying a plurality of corresponding sensed ECG trace segments, each of the sensed ECG trace segments representing sensed patient heart activity for the patient over a segment of the sensed time period, and determining a representative ECG trace based on at least one of the identified corresponding sensed ECG trace segments. The method involves causing at least one neural network classifier to be applied to the one or more determined representative ECG traces to determine one or more diagnostically relevant scores related to at least one diagnosis of the patient. Other methods, systems, and computer readable media are disclosed.