Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for managing an esophagus of a subject during a medical procedure, such as cardiac tissue ablation or bronchial tissue ablation. Managing the esophagus may include displacing the esophagus, imaging the esophagus, and/or measuring temperature at one or more locations inside the esophagus. One example esophageal management system generally includes a tube configured for insertion through a mouth and into the esophagus of the subject. The tube generally includes a first port located at a proximal end of the tube and in fluid communication with a distal portion of the tube via a first path, a second port located at the proximal end of the tube, and a third port located between the proximal end of the tube and a distal end of the tube and in fluid communication with the second port via a second path.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media for determining hemodynamic stability in a subject. In one example method, an optical signal is transmitted via at least one optical fiber in a set of one or more optical fibers partially disposed in a heart of the subject, wherein the at least one optical fiber in the set is configured to bend with the mechanical movement of the heart. A reflected portion of the optical signal is received via the at least one optical fiber, wherein changes in at least one parameter of the received reflected portion of the optical signal are indicative of the mechanical movement of the heart. A hemodynamic stability of the heart is determined based on the received reflected portion. Hemodynamic stability of the subject may further be determined based on thermal, ultrasound, and/or impedance signals measured in or near the heart.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for determining a precise localization of an arrhythmia origin or exit site in a heart of a subject using internal electrocardiograph (ECG) signals sensed and stored by an implantable device implanted in the subject. One example method of analyzing an arrhythmia in a subject generally includes reading, from an implantable device implanted in the subject, a plurality of internal ECG signals sensed and stored by the implantable device while the subject was experiencing an arrhythmia event (e.g., at any time, including while the subject was ambulatory); performing an analysis of the read internal ECG signals; and determining a localization of the arrhythmia associated with the arrhythmia event, based on the analysis.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for measuring an injection catheter needle insertion depth and/or injection solution efficacy. An example injection catheter may include a catheter tube and a retractable, electrically conductive needle disposed in the catheter tube and configured to extend from the catheter tube. The injection catheter may also include one or more electrodes disposed at a distal portion of the catheter tube, an electrical lead coupled to the needle, and electrical leads coupled to the electrode(s). An example method includes deploying such an injection catheter adjacent to the tissue, extending a needle into the tissue, receiving electrical signals from an electrical lead coupled to the needle and from other electrical leads coupled to the electrode(s), determining a bioelectrical parameter based on the received electrical signals, and determining a depth of the needle inserted into the tissue based on the bioelectrical parameter.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for managing an esophagus of a subject during a medical procedure, such as cardiac tissue ablation or bronchial tissue ablation. Managing the esophagus may include displacing the esophagus, imaging the esophagus, and/or measuring temperature at one or more locations inside the esophagus. One example esophageal management system generally includes a tube configured for insertion through a mouth and into the esophagus of the subject. The tube generally includes a first port located at a proximal end of the tube and in fluid communication with a distal portion of the tube via a first path, a second port located at the proximal end of the tube, and a third port located between the proximal end of the tube and a distal end of the tube and in fluid communication with the second port via a second path.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mitigating pocket bleeding and hematoma formation in a patient. A wrap having a block is secured around the torso of the patient to align the block with a torso area. The wrap includes a first portion extending laterally around the torso and a second portion extending over the shoulder and connecting to the first portion. The block is secured within a pouch of the wrap over the torso area. The first and second portions are adjustable to apply an adjustable force to the block that produces a corresponding adjustable pressure on the torso area. The applied pressure is high enough to hinder blood flow to the torso area to promote clotting at the torso area and low enough to permit blood flow to the torso area to promote healing.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for determining a precise localization of an arrhythmia origin or exit site in a heart of a subject using internal electrocardiograph (ECG) signals sensed and stored by an implantable device implanted in the subject. One example method of analyzing an arrhythmia in a subject generally includes reading, from an implantable device implanted in the subject, a plurality of internal ECG signals sensed and stored by the implantable device while the subject was experiencing an arrhythmia event (e.g., at any time, including while the subject was ambulatory); performing an analysis of the read internal ECG signals; and determining a localization of the arrhythmia associated with the arrhythmia event, based on the analysis.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for determining a precise localization of an arrhythmia origin or exit site in a heart of a subject using internal electrocardiograph (ECG) signals sensed and stored by an implantable device implanted in the subject. One example method of analyzing an arrhythmia in a subject generally includes reading, from an implantable device implanted in the subject, a plurality of internal ECG signals sensed and stored by the implantable device while the subject was experiencing an arrhythmia event (e.g., at any time, including while the subject was ambulatory); performing an analysis of the read internal ECG signals; and determining a localization of the arrhythmia associated with the arrhythmia event, based on the analysis.

Abstract: A method mitigates pocket bleeding and hematoma formation in a patient by providing a pliable wrap having a solid block coupled with the wrap, and then securing the pliable wrap around the torso of the patient to align the solid block with the located localized torso area. The solid block at least in part covers the localized torso area. The wrap is secured to cause the wrap to apply a force, to the solid block, that produces a corresponding pressure on the localized torso area. The force applied to the solid block is high enough to cause the pressure to hinder blood flow to the localized torso area to promote clotting at the localized torso area. At the same time, the force applied to the solid block is low enough to cause the pressure to permit blood flow to the localized torso area to promote healing.

Abstract: A method mitigates pocket bleeding and hematoma formation in a patient by providing a pliable wrap having a solid block coupled with the wrap, and then securing the pliable wrap around the torso of the patient to align the solid block with the located localized torso area. The solid block at least in part covers the localized torso area. The wrap is secured to cause the wrap to apply a force, to the solid block, that produces a corresponding pressure on the localized torso area. The force applied to the solid block is high enough to cause the pressure to hinder blood flow to the localized torso area to promote clotting at the localized torso area. At the same time, the force applied to the solid block is low enough to cause the pressure to permit blood flow to the localized torso area to promote healing.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media for determining hemodynamic stability in a subject. In one example method, an optical signal is transmitted via at least one optical fiber in a set of one or more optical fibers partially disposed in a heart of the subject, wherein the at least one optical fiber in the set is configured to bend with the mechanical movement of the heart. A reflected portion of the optical signal is received via the at least one optical fiber, wherein changes in at least one parameter of the received reflected portion of the optical signal are indicative of the mechanical movement of the heart. A hemodynamic stability of the heart is determined based on the received reflected portion. Hemodynamic stability of the subject may further be determined based on thermal, ultrasound, and/or impedance signals measured in or near the heart.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for determining a precise localization of an arrhythmia origin or exit site in a heart of a subject using internal electrocardiograph (ECG) signals sensed and stored by an implantable device implanted in the subject. One example method of analyzing an arrhythmia in a subject generally includes reading, from an implantable device implanted in the subject, a plurality of internal ECG signals sensed and stored by the implantable device while the subject was experiencing an arrhythmia event (e.g., at any time, including while the subject was ambulatory); performing an analysis of the read internal ECG signals; and determining a localization of the arrhythmia associated with the arrhythmia event, based on the analysis.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for managing an esophagus of a subject during a medical procedure, such as cardiac tissue ablation or bronchial tissue ablation. Managing the esophagus may include displacing the esophagus, imaging the esophagus, and/or measuring temperature at one or more locations inside the esophagus. One example esophageal management system generally includes a tube configured for insertion through a mouth and into the esophagus of the subject. The tube generally includes a first port located at a proximal end of the tube and in fluid communication with a distal portion of the tube via a first path, a second port located at the proximal end of the tube, and a third port located between the proximal end of the tube and a distal end of the tube and in fluid communication with the second port via a second path.

Abstract: A method mitigates pocket bleeding and hematoma formation in a patient by providing a pliable wrap having a solid block coupled with the wrap, and then securing the pliable wrap around the torso of the patient to align the solid block with the located localized torso area. The solid block at least in part covers the localized torso area. The wrap is secured to cause the wrap to apply a force, to the solid block, that produces a corresponding pressure on the localized torso area. The force applied to the solid block is high enough to cause the pressure to hinder blood flow to the localized torso area to promote clotting at the localized torso area. At the same time, the force applied to the solid block is low enough to cause the pressure to permit blood flow to the localized torso area to promote healing.