Abstract: According to some embodiments, a medical instrument (for example, an ablation device) comprises an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, an energy delivery member positioned at the distal end of the elongate body, a first plurality of temperature-measurement devices carried by or positioned within the energy delivery member, the first plurality of temperature-measurement devices being thermally insulated from the energy delivery member, and a second plurality of temperature-measurement devices positioned proximal to a proximal end of the energy delivery member, the second plurality of temperature-measurement devices being thermally insulated from the energy delivery member.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods of determining orientation of a distal end of a medical instrument (e.g., electrode-tissue orientation of an RF ablation catheter) are described herein. One or more processors may be configured to receive temperature measurements from each of a plurality of temperature-measurement devices distributed along a length of the distal end of the medical instrument and determine the orientation from a group of two or more possible orientation options based on whether temperature measurement values or characteristics of temperature response determined from the temperature measurement values satisfy one or more orientation criteria.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a medical instrument (for example, an ablation device) comprises an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, an energy delivery member positioned at the distal end of the elongate body, a first plurality of temperature-measurement devices carried by or positioned within the energy delivery member, the first plurality of temperature-measurement devices being thermally insulated from the energy delivery member, and a second plurality of temperature-measurement devices positioned proximal to a proximal end of the energy delivery member, the second plurality of temperature-measurement devices being thermally insulated from the energy delivery member.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a medical instrument (for example, an ablation device) comprises an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, an energy delivery member positioned at the distal end of the elongate body, a first plurality of temperature-measurement devices carried by or positioned within the energy delivery member, the first plurality of temperature-measurement devices being thermally insulated from the energy delivery member, and a second plurality of temperature-measurement devices positioned proximal to a proximal end of the energy delivery member, the second plurality of temperature-measurement devices being thermally insulated from the energy delivery member.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method of confirming successful ablation of targeted cardiac tissue of a subject using a high-resolution mapping electrode comprises pacing said cardiac tissue at a predetermined pacing level to increase the heart rate of the subject from a baseline level to an elevated level, the predetermined pacing level being greater than a pre-ablation pacing threshold level but lower than a post-ablation pacing threshold level, delivering ablative energy to the ablation electrode, detecting the heart rate of the subject, wherein the heart rate detected by the high-resolution mapping electrode is at the elevated level before the post-ablation pacing threshold level is achieved, and wherein the heart rate detected by the high-resolution mapping electrode drops below the elevated level once ablation achieves its therapeutic goal or target, and terminating the delivery of ablative energy to the ablation electrode after the heart rate drops below the elevated level.

Abstract: A method of tracking a medical instrument comprises receiving a model of an anatomical passageway formation and receiving a set of ordered sensor records for the medical instrument. The set of ordered sensor records provide a path history of the medical instrument. The method further comprises registering the medical instrument with the model of the anatomical passageway formation based on the path history. The method further includes displaying a virtual visualization image in a display system, the virtual visualization image being based on the registering of the medical instrument with the model of the anatomical passageway and depicting a rendered view of the model of the anatomical passageway from a perspective of the medical instrument within the model of the anatomical passageway.

Abstract: Radiometric systems may comprise a radiometer, an antenna and a processor communicatively coupled together. The processor may provide a contact-focused output based on filtering or other processing of a raw radiometric output signal. The contact-focused output may facilitate determination of whether contact has been achieved and/or assessment of contact. A miniaturized reflectometer may be configured to determine an amount of reflected power from the antenna. The processor may be configured to determine a reflection coefficient of the reflected power determined by the reflectometer and to identify tissue type based on the reflection coefficient. Systems and methods for facilitating deeper temperature measurements of a radiometer are described.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods of determining orientation of a distal end of a medical instrument (e.g., electrode-tissue orientation of an RF ablation catheter) are described herein. One or more processors may be configured to receive temperature measurements from each of a plurality of temperature-measurement devices distributed along a length of the distal end of the medical instrument and determine the orientation from a group of two or more possible orientation options based on whether temperature measurement values or characteristics of temperature response determined from the temperature measurement values satisfy one or more orientation criteria.

Abstract: A method of tracking a medical instrument comprises receiving a model of an anatomical passageway formation and receiving a set of ordered sensor records for the medical instrument. The set of ordered sensor records provide a path history of the medical instrument. The method further comprises registering the medical instrument with the model of the anatomical passageway formation based on the path history.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods of determining orientation of a distal end of a medical instrument (e.g., electrode-tissue orientation of an RF ablation catheter) are described herein. One or more processors may be configured to receive temperature measurements from each of a plurality of temperature-measurement devices distributed along a length of the distal end of the medical instrument and determine the orientation from a group of two or more possible orientation options based on whether temperature measurement values or characteristics of temperature response determined from the temperature measurement values satisfy one or more orientation criteria.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods of determining orientation of a distal end of a medical instrument (e.g., electrode-tissue orientation of an RF ablation catheter) are described herein. One or more processors may be configured to receive temperature measurements from each of a plurality of temperature-measurement devices distributed along a length of the distal end of the medical instrument and determine the orientation from a group of two or more possible orientation options based on whether temperature measurement values or characteristics of temperature response determined from the temperature measurement values satisfy one or more orientation criteria.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, systems for facilitating consistent radiometric tissue contact detection independent of orientation comprise a medical instrument having an antenna positioned at a distal end, an energy delivery element positioned at a distal end of the medical instrument, a radiometer, an impedance transformation network positioned between the antenna and the radiometer, and a processor configured to receive an input signal from the radiometer and provide an output indicative of an amount of tissue contact based upon the input signal. The impedance transformation network may be tuned to provide a substantially uniform radiometric response independent of an orientation of the antenna with respect to the tissue as the antenna is brought into contact with the tissue of a subject.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a medical instrument comprises an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end and a pair of electrodes or electrode portions (for example, a split-tip electrode assembly). Systems and methods are described herein that perform contact sensing and/or ablation confirmation based on electrical measurements obtained while energy of different frequencies are applied to the pair of electrodes or electrode portions. The contact sensing systems and methods may calibrate network parameter measurements to compensate for a hardware unit in a network parameter measurement circuit or to account for differences in cables, instrumentation or hardware used.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a medical instrument (for example, an ablation device) comprises an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, an energy delivery member positioned at the distal end of the elongate body, a first plurality of temperature-measurement devices carried by or positioned within the energy delivery member, the first plurality of temperature-measurement devices being thermally insulated from the energy delivery member, and a second plurality of temperature-measurement devices positioned proximal to a proximal end of the energy delivery member, the second plurality of temperature-measurement devices being thermally insulated from the energy delivery member.

Abstract: A system is provided to provide haptic feedback during a medical procedure comprising: a quantitative three-dimensional (Q3D); a surgical instrument disposed to deform a tissue structure; a haptic user interface device configured to provide an indication of tissue structure deformation in response to information indicative of the measure of tissue structure deformation; and a processor configured to produce a Q3D model that includes information indicative of a measure of tissue structure deformation and to provide the information indicative of the measure of tissue structure deformation to the haptic user interface device.

Abstract: A system to produce a replacement anatomical structure, comprising: a quantitative three-dimensional (Q3D) endoscope disposed to image a structure within a field of view that includes target tissue; at least one processor configured to: produce a first Q3D model of an anatomical structure that includes target tissue; produce a second Q3D model of the anatomical structure that includes remainder tissue in a location from which the target has been tissue removed; and produce a third Q3D model of a replacement structure based at least in part upon the first Q3D model and the second Q3D model.

Abstract: A device is provided that includes an endoscope; an image sensor array is disposed to image a field of view adjacent to the endoscope, each sensor includes a pixel array that is separate from the pixel arrays of other sensors; and a light source is disposed to illuminate the field of view.

Abstract: A method is provided to align a quantitative three-dimensional (Q3D) model of a three dimensional (3D) structure with a 3D visual representation of a sub-surface target object internal to the anatomical structure, the method comprising: identifying fiducial points within the external surface of the 3D structure represented in the 3D visual representation; identifying the same fiducial points within the Q3D model; aligning the identified fiducial points in the 3D visual representation with the identified fiducial points in the Q3D model; and producing a visual image representation of the 3D structure that includes a view of an external surface and a view of the internal sub-surface target structure.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes a Q3D endoscope disposed to image a field of view and a processor that produces a Q3D model of a scene and identifies target instruments and structures. The processor is configured to display the scene from a virtual field of view of an instrument, to determine a no fly zone around targets, to determine a predicted path for said instruments or to provide 3D tracking of said instruments.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes a quantitative three-dimensional (Q3D) endoscope that is inserted through a first port providing access to a body cavity to a first position at which a first 3D image of a first portion of an anatomical structure is captured from a perspective of said endoscope. A first Q3D model is produced based upon the captured first image. The endoscope is inserted through a second port providing access to the body cavity to a second position at which a second image of a second portion of the anatomical structure is captured. A second quantitative Q3D model is produced based upon the captured second image. The first Q3D model and the second Q3D model are combined together to produce an expanded Q3D model of the anatomical structure. The expanded Q3D model can be stored for further manipulation or can be displayed in 3D.