Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for assessing ablation lesions. The system includes an ablation catheter configured to ablate a target cardiac tissue site to form an ablation lesion thereon, and a mechanical probe operable to impart mechanical force to the target cardiac tissue site. The mechanical probe includes at least one sensor configured to measure a mechanical response of the target cardiac tissue site to the mechanical force. The system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the mechanical probe, and configured to determine systolic and diastolic stiffness values of the target cardiac tissue site based on the mechanical response. The controller is further configured to determine a transmurality value of the ablation lesion based on the determined systolic and diastolic stiffness values.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems to differentiate adipose tissue from scar tissue are disclosed. One or more electrophysiology data points, each of which includes an electrophysiological signal associated with a tissue location that possesses certain signal characteristics, can be collected. An adipose tissue probability and/or a scar tissue probability can be computed using the characteristics of the electrophysiological signal, such as signal duration, signal amplitude, signal fractionation, and/or late potentials. The probability computation can also utilize dielectric properties, such as tissue impedance, tissue conductivity, and/or tissue permittivity, measured at the tissue location. Graphical representations of the adipose tissue probability and/or scar tissue probability can also be output.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a header configured to be mounted to an end of a device housing that contains an electronics module therein. The header includes an antenna, a sensing electrode, and a header body that at least partially surrounds the antenna and the sensing electrode. The sensing electrode includes a first body portion, a second body portion, and a bridge portion that mechanically and electrically connects the first and second body portions. The first body portion is at least partially exposed to an external environment along a first side of the header, and the second body portion is at least partially exposed to the external environment along a second side of the header that is different from the first side.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a header configured to be mounted to an end of a device housing that contains an electronics module therein. The header includes an antenna, a sensing electrode, and a header body that at least partially surrounds the antenna and the sensing electrode. The sensing electrode includes a first body portion, a second body portion, and a bridge portion that mechanically and electrically connects the first and second body portions. The first body portion is at least partially exposed to an external environment along a first side of the header, and the second body portion is at least partially exposed to the external environment along a second side of the header that is different from the first side.

Abstract: Methods and systems for terminating a pacemaker mediated tachycardia (PMT) are described herein. During a period that a PMT is not detected, an implantable system delivers an atrial pacing pulse to an atrial cardiac chamber in response to a PA interval expiring without an intrinsic atrial event being detected during the PA interval. The systems performs atrial sensing to thereby monitor for intrinsic atrial events in the atrial cardiac chamber, performs ventricular sensing to thereby monitor for intrinsic ventricular events in a ventricular cardiac chamber, and detects the PMT. Additionally, the system, in response to the PMT being detected, initiates a PMT PA interval that is shorter than the PA interval that the system would otherwise use for atrial pacing if the PMT was not detected.

Abstract: A method of generating a map of a portion of a patient's anatomy using an electroanatomical mapping system includes separating an anatomical region (e.g., the heart) into an inclusion region (e.g., the left atrium) and an exclusion region (e.g., the left ventricle) by defining a boundary surface (e.g., along the mitral valve). A label electrode carried by a multi-electrode catheter can be defined and used to determine whether or not to add an electrophysiology data point collected using the multi-electrode catheter to the map. In particular, electrophysiology data points can be added to the map of the portion of the patient's anatomy when they are collected with the label electrode within the inclusion region. Positions of the label electrode can also be used to define the boundary surface. Alerts can also be provided when the label electrode crosses the boundary surface and enters the exclusion region.

Abstract: For use by an implantable system including a first and second leadless pacemakers (LPs) implanted, respectively, in first and second cardiac chambers, a method comprises storing, within memory of the first LP, a paced activation morphology template corresponding to far-field signal components expected to be present in an EGM sensed by the first LP when a pacing pulse delivered to the second cardiac chamber by the second LP captures the second cardiac chamber. The method also includes the first LP comparing a morphology of a portion of an EGM sensed by the first LP to the paced activation morphology template to determine whether a match therebetween is detected, and determining whether capture of the second cardiac chamber occurred or failed to occur, based on whether the first LP detects a match between the morphology of the portion of the EGM and the paced activation morphology template.

Abstract: When generating anatomical maps (e.g., anatomical geometries and/or electrophysiology maps), it can be desirable to analyze whether or not a collected data point was collected from a region of interest. During an electrophysiology study, for example, an electroanatomical mapping system collects electrophysiology data points, each including an electrogram signal. By defining both a window of interest and a window of exclusion within the electrogram signal, the electroanatomical mapping system can analyze collected data points to determine whether or not they should be included in a map. In particular, the electroanatomical mapping system can compare the electrophysiology signal within the window of interest and the window of exclusion with respect to at least one signal parameter and add the data point to the map if the comparison satisfies at least one corresponding inclusion criterion. Applicable signal parameters include maximum peak-to-peak voltage, conduction velocity, and electrogram morphology.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices that are used for improving cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) are described herein. Such a method can include, for each set of pacing parameters, of a plurality of sets of pacing parameters, performing CRT using a set of pacing parameters and simultaneously therewith sensing a plurality of intracardiac electrograms (IEGMs) using different combinations of implanted electrodes. Additionally, for each set of pacing parameters, of the plurality of sets of pacing parameters, the method includes producing a respective reconstructed multi-lead surface electrocardiogram (ECG) based on the plurality of IEGMs that were sensed while CRT was performed using the set of pacing parameters. The method also includes analyzing the reconstructed multi-lead surface ECGs that were produced for the plurality of sets of pacing parameters, and based on results thereof, identifying a set of pacing parameters to be use for further CRT.

Abstract: Methods and systems for terminating a pacemaker mediated tachycardia (PMT) are described herein. During a period that a PMT is not detected, an implantable system delivers an atrial pacing pulse to an atrial cardiac chamber in response to a PA interval expiring without an intrinsic atrial event being detected during the PA interval. The systems performs atrial sensing to thereby monitor for intrinsic atrial events in the atrial cardiac chamber, performs ventricular sensing to thereby monitor for intrinsic ventricular events in a ventricular cardiac chamber, and detects the PMT. Additionally, the system, in response to the PMT being detected, initiates a PMT PA interval that is shorter than the PA interval that the system would otherwise use for atrial pacing if the PMT was not detected.

Abstract: An implantable system including an atrial leadless pacemaker (aLP) and a ventricular leadless pacemaker (vLP), and methods for use therewith, are configured or used to terminate a pacemaker mediated tachycardia (PMT). In an embodiment, in response to the aLP detecting a PMT, the aLP initiates a PMT PA interval, and the aLP does not inform the vLP, via an i2i communication, of an atrial sensed event that caused the PMT to be detected, thereby preventing the vLP from initiating a PV interval during the PMT PA interval. The aLP selectively terminates the PMT PA interval. Additionally, the aLP informs the vLP, via an i2i communication, of an intrinsic atrial event being detected during the PMT PA interval, or of an atrial paced event being performed in response to the PMT PA interval expiring without an intrinsic atrial event being detected during the PMT PA interval.

Abstract: The signal quality of an electrophysiological signal can be determined from information regarding proximal stability of an electrophysiology catheter at the time the signal is acquired and temporal stability of the electrophysiological signal. The proximal stability information can include a distance between the electrophysiology catheter and an anatomical surface, a velocity of the electrophysiology catheter, and/or contact force between the electrophysiology catheter and the anatomical surface. Graphical representations of signal quality scores can be output to a display in order to enable visualization thereof by a practitioner.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying potential ablation sites using electrical parameter data are provided. A method includes geometrically isolating an arrhythmogenic substrate in a three-dimensional geometry. The method further includes generating a first cumulative map from a first dataset including electrical parameter data for each vertex in the isolated arrhythmogenic substrate, and generating a second cumulative map from a second dataset including additional data for each vertex. The method further includes generating a third cumulative map from the first and second cumulative maps, and displaying the third cumulative map on the three-dimensional geometry to facilitate identifying potential ablation sites.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to merging data acquired from differently configured catheters on a common map. In use, physical characteristics of catheters influence recorded electrical signals/responses such that differently configured catheters (e.g., different electrode sizes, shapes, materials, spacings, etc.) may record different responses to measurements taken at the same location in response to the same excitation signal. To allow merging of data from differently configured catheters in a common map, the present disclosure applies a corrective coefficient or transfer function to the recorded electrical signals of one or both catheters to counter-balance variable influences of catheter specific characteristics on recorded signals.

Abstract: For use by an implantable system including a first and second leadless pacemakers (LPs) implanted, respectively, in first and second cardiac chambers, a method comprises storing, within memory of the first LP, a paced activation morphology template corresponding to far-field signal components expected to be present in an EGM sensed by the first LP when a pacing pulse delivered to the second cardiac chamber by the second LP captures the second cardiac chamber. The method also includes the first LP comparing a morphology of a portion of an EGM sensed by the first LP to the paced activation morphology template to determine whether a match therebetween is detected, and determining whether capture of the second cardiac chamber occurred or failed to occur, based on whether the first LP detects a match between the morphology of the portion of the EGM and the paced activation morphology template.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a header configured to be mounted to an end of a device housing that contains an electronics module therein. The header includes an antenna, a sensing electrode, and a header body that at least partially surrounds the antenna and the sensing electrode. The sensing electrode includes a first body portion, a second body portion, and a bridge portion that mechanically and electrically connects the first and second body portions. The first body portion is at least partially exposed to an external environment along a first side of the header, and the second body portion is at least partially exposed to the external environment along a second side of the header that is different from the first side.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for monitoring for atrial capture are disclosed. Such a method, for use within an implantable system including an atrial leadless pacemaker (aLP) and a ventricular leadless pacemaker (vLP), includes storing within a memory of the vLP a paced atrial activation morphology template corresponding to far-field atrial signal components expected to be present in a vEGM sensed by the vLP when an atrial pacing pulse delivered by the aLP captures atrial tissue. The vLP senses a vEGM and compares a morphology of a portion of the sensed vEGM to the paced atrial activation morphology template to determine whether a match therebetween is detected. Additionally, the vLP determines whether atrial capture occurred or failed to occur (responsive to an atrial pacing pulse), based on whether the vLP detects a match between the morphology of a portion of the sensed vEGM and the paced atrial activation morphology template.

Abstract: Systems and methods for resolving catheter rendering issues are provided. A system includes a catheter including a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of catheter pins, each catheter pin corresponding to an associated electrode. The system further includes a mapping system communicatively coupled to the catheter, the mapping system including a pin box including a plurality of sockets, a display device configured to render the catheter, and an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU is configured to determine that the catheter is being rendered incorrectly on the display device, determine a number of electrodes that are being rendered incorrectly on the display device, identify at least one particular electrode of the plurality of electrodes that is being rendered incorrectly on the display device, and attempt to resolve the incorrect rendering of the catheter based on the determined number of electrodes and the at least one particular electrode.

Abstract: A method of generating a map of a portion of a patient's anatomy using an electroanatomical mapping system includes separating an anatomical region (e.g., the heart) into an inclusion region (e.g., the left atrium) and an exclusion region (e.g., the left ventricle) by defining a boundary surface (e.g., along the mitral valve). A label electrode carried by a multi-electrode catheter can be defined and used to determine whether or not to add an electrophysiology data point collected using the multi-electrode catheter to the map. In particular, electrophysiology data points can be added to the map of the portion of the patient's anatomy when they are collected with the label electrode within the inclusion region. Positions of the label electrode can also be used to define the boundary surface. Alerts can also be provided when the label electrode crosses the boundary surface and enters the exclusion region.

Abstract: A method of generating an electrophysiology map of a portion of a patient's anatomy using an electroanatomical mapping system, includes defining a plurality of inclusion criteria, collecting a plurality of electrophysiology data points, each being associated with inclusion data, and identifying those electrophysiology data points that have inclusion data satisfying the inclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria can then be automatically adjusted to drive the number of electrophysiology data points having inclusion data satisfying the inclusion criteria towards a target number. A graphical representation of the electrophysiology map can be rendered using the final set of electrophysiology data points.