Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for facilitating the navigation of a catheter between first and second locations within a subject based on display of serial images corresponding to positions of the catheter at successive incremental times. Image production includes sensing catheter positions to produce location data for each time increment. For each position Pi, the corresponding location data is processed to respectively produce an image Ii reflecting the position of the catheter at a time Ti. Each image Ii is successively displayed at a time equal to Ti+d, where d is an image processing visualization delay. Upon a condition that the catheter is displaced to a selected interim location between the first and second locations, the processing of the location data is switched from being performed by a first process associated with a first visualization delay to a second process associated with a second different visualization delay.

Abstract: A method for cardiac treatment, which includes acquiring and saving an initial map of a chamber of a heart of a patient in an initial ablation procedure, with locations of ablation lesions marked on the initial map. In preparation for a redo ablation procedure, subsequent to the initial ablation procedure, a current map of the chamber is acquired, the initial map is registered with the current map, and the locations of the ablation lesions from the registered initial map are marked and displayed on the current map.

Abstract: A system and method of identifying focal sources is presented. The method can comprise detecting, via sensors, electro-cardiogram (ECG) signals over time, each ECG signal detected via one of the sensors having a location in a heart and indicating electrical activity of the heart, each signal comprising at least an R wave and an S wave; creating an R-S map comprising an R-to-S ratio for each of the ECG signals, the R-to-S ratio comprising a ratio of absolute magnitude of the R wave to absolute magnitude of the S wave; identifying, for each of the ECG signals, local activation times (LATs); and correlating the R-to-S ratios for the ECG signals on the R-S map and the identified LATs and using the correlation to identify the focal sources.

Abstract: A system and method of identifying focal sources is presented. The method can comprise detecting, via sensors, electro-cardiogram (ECG) signals over time, each ECG signal detected via one of the sensors having a location in a heart and indicating electrical activity of the heart, each signal comprising at least an R wave and an S wave; creating an R-S map comprising an R-to-S ratio for each of the ECG signals, the R-to-S ratio comprising a ratio of absolute magnitude of the R wave to absolute magnitude of the S wave; identifying, for each of the ECG signals, local activation times (LATs); and correlating the R-to-S ratios for the ECG signals on the R-S map and the identified LATs and using the correlation to identify the focal sources.

Abstract: A medical display processing device and a method of reusing data includes acquiring, over time via electrodes, electrical signals each acquired via one of the electrodes and indicating electrical activity at a location of a portion of patient anatomy in a 3D space. Electrical signal data, corresponding to the electrical signals, is filtered according to first filter parameter settings and first mapping information is generated for displaying a map of the portion of patient anatomy and the filtered electrical signal data. An indication of a region of the portion of patient anatomy on the map is received and second mapping information is generated for displaying, at the region on the map, a portion of the electrical signal data previously filtered from display.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for medical procedures are disclosed herein and include sensing a plurality of tissue electrical potentials at an organ area of an organ, by one or more electrodes on a catheter, determining a number of peak electrical potentials from the plurality of first tissue electrical potentials such that the a peak electrical potential exceeds a potential threshold, determining a first visual characteristic based on the number of peak electrical potential and displaying a rendering of the organ comprising the organ area such that the rendering of the first organ area comprises the first visual characteristic.

Abstract: Apparatus for assessing scarring of cardiac tissue, consisting of a probe and a processor. The probe has one or more electrodes, which are configured to contact the tissue at a plurality of positions and to sense respective voltages in the tissue at the positions. The processor receives the respective voltages, and computes a triangular mesh that is representative of a surface of the tissue and that consists of multiple triangles having vertices corresponding to the positions contacted by the one or more electrodes. The processor calculates respective scar areas within the triangles by comparing the respective voltages sensed at the positions corresponding to the vertices to a predefined range of the voltages that is associated with scarring, and computes a sum of the respective areas. The processor compares the sum to a total area of the triangles so as to assess a degree of the scarring of the tissue.

Abstract: An endobronchial probe includes a deflector having a bore extending therethrough at an angle to its long axis for passage of a tool. The probe includes a location sensor and an ultrasound imager. A push-pull anchoring system comprises a plurality of guides and wires that can extend beyond the guides and retract within the guides. When extended the wires diverge from the long axis sufficiently to engage a bronchus. The probe includes a balloon disposed on the distal segment contralateral to bore that when inflated urges the mouth of the bore into contact with the bronchial wall.

Abstract: An ECG data management system is disclosed which includes a first memory portion configured to store ECG data having values corresponding to electrical signals of a heart acquired over time via a plurality of electrodes disposed at different areas of the heart. The system also includes a second memory portion configured to store the ECG data and a processing device configured to manage mapping of the ECG data by performing a mapping procedure including generating map data and one or more maps from the ECG data for display; concurrently storing the ECG data in the first memory portion and the second memory portion; and in response to a request to export the ECG data, stopping the storing of the ECG data in the second memory portion and synchronizing the ECG data stored in the second memory portion with the map data while continuing to perform the mapping procedure.

Abstract: Apparatus for assessing scarring of cardiac tissue, consisting of a probe and a processor. The probe has one or more electrodes, which are configured to contact the tissue at a plurality of positions and to sense respective voltages in the tissue at the positions. The processor receives the respective voltages, and computes a triangular mesh that is representative of a surface of the tissue and that consists of multiple triangles having vertices corresponding to the positions contacted by the one or more electrodes. The processor calculates respective scar areas within the triangles by comparing the respective voltages sensed at the positions corresponding to the vertices to a predefined range of the voltages that is associated with scarring, and computes a sum of the respective areas. The processor compares the sum to a total area of the triangles so as to assess a degree of the scarring of the tissue.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) electrical mapping system and method may be used to generate a 3D image of the epicardial surface of a heart by integrating one or more epicardial images with a 3D image of the cardiac structure that may be generated by real-time 3D location and mapping system for cardiac mapping and ablation. The visual textural representation of the epicardial surface of the heart may be reconstructed using, for example, an image sensor or camera-based catheter to collect images of the epicardial surface. For each image that is captured, the system and method may store the image data along with the corresponding catheter location, orientation and/or distance information relative to the cardiac structure. The location, orientation, and/or distance information may be used to reconstruct a 3D textural model of the epicardial surface of the cardiac structure.

Abstract: A method for characterizing an electrocardiogram, including receiving a first unipolar signal from a first location of a heart and a second unipolar signal from a second location of the heart. The method further includes generating a bipolar signal from the first and second unipolar signals, and analyzing the bipolar signal to delineate a time period during which the first and second locations generate a bipolar complex. The method also includes analyzing the first unipolar signal within the time period to determine an activation time of the first location.

Abstract: A catheter may be adapted to map a chamber of the heart. The catheter may include a magnetic and/or ultrasound sensor for navigation. The body of the catheter may be pliable and configured to form a predetermined shape upon exiting a catheter sheath. Upon exiting the catheter sheath, the catheter body may be configured to form one or more loops, and the loops may be non-overlapping loops. In some examples, the non-overlapping loops may be concentric loops. Alternatively, the catheter body may be configured to form one or more splines. The catheter body may include an embedded electrode assembly. The electrodes of the electrode assembly may be may be arranged in one or more rows and configured to detect a wave front. The electrode assembly may also be configured to generate and activation sequence and determine a direction of an activation source.

Abstract: Apparatus for assessing scarring of cardiac tissue, consisting of a probe and a processor. The probe has one or more electrodes, which are configured to contact the tissue at a plurality of positions and to sense respective voltages in the tissue at the positions. The processor receives the respective voltages, and computes a triangular mesh that is representative of a surface of the tissue and that consists of multiple triangles having vertices corresponding to the positions contacted by the one or more electrodes. The processor calculates respective scar areas within the triangles by comparing the respective voltages sensed at the positions corresponding to the vertices to a predefined range of the voltages that is associated with scarring, and computes a sum of the respective areas. The processor compares the sum to a total area of the triangles so as to assess a degree of the scarring of the tissue.

Abstract: A probe generates location signals, and has an electrode at a distal end which acquires from heart chamber surface positions electrical signals due to a conduction wave traversing the surface. A processor derives LATs from the electrical signals, calculates a first time difference between LATs at a first pair of positions and a second time difference between LATs at a second pair of positions. The processor calculates first and second LAT-derived distances as products of the first and second time differences with a conduction wave velocity, identifies an arrhythmia origin at a surface location where a first difference in distances from the location to the first pair of the positions is equal to the first LAT-derived distance, and a second difference in distances from the location to the second pair of the positions is equal to the second LAT-derived distance, and marks the origin on a surface representation.

Abstract: A catheter may be adapted to map a chamber of the heart. The catheter may include a magnetic and/or ultrasound sensor for navigation. The body of the catheter may be pliable and configured to form a predetermined shape upon exiting a catheter sheath. Upon exiting the catheter sheath, the catheter body may be configured to form one or more loops, and the loops may be non-overlapping loops. In some examples, the non-overlapping loops may be concentric loops. Alternatively, the catheter body may be configured to form one or more splines. The catheter body may include an embedded electrode assembly. The electrodes of the electrode assembly may be may be arranged in one or more rows and configured to detect a wave front. The electrode assembly may also be configured to generate and activation sequence and determine a direction of an activation source.

Abstract: A method of atrial rotational activity pattern (RAP) source detection is provided which includes detecting, via a plurality of sensors, electro-cardiogram (ECG) signals over time, each ECG signal detected via one of the plurality of sensors and indicating electrical activity of a heart. The method also includes determining, for each of the plurality of ECG signals, one or more local activation times (LATs) each indicating a time of activation of a corresponding ECG signal. The method further includes detecting whether one or more RAP source areas of activation in the heart is indicated based on the detected ECG signals and the one or more local LATs. Mapping information of the detected RAP source areas of activation in the heart is also generated for providing one or more maps.

Abstract: An ECG signal correlation and display system is provided which includes memory configured to store ECG data corresponding to electrical signals, acquired over time, from different areas of a heart and location data corresponding to acquired location signals indicating locations of the different areas of the heart from which the electrical signals are acquired. The system also includes a processing device configured to generate, from the ECG data and the location data, mapping information for displaying a map of the heart and determine a location of an anatomical region of the heart on the map. The processing device is also configured to determine which of the plurality of electrical signals are acquired from the anatomical region of the heart and generate correlated ECG signal information for displaying the electrical signals determined to be acquired from the anatomical region of the heart.

Abstract: A method of atrial focal source detection is provided which includes detecting, via sensors, electro-cardiogram (ECG) signals over time. Each ECG signal is detected via one of the sensors and indicates electrical activity of a heart. The method also includes determining, for each ECG signal, local activation times (LATs) each indicating a time of one of a plurality of atrial activations of a corresponding ECG signal and detecting whether one or more focal source areas of activation in the heart is indicated based on the detected ECG signals and the one or more local LATs. S-waves can be distinguished from non-S-waves by generating models for each atrial activation and classifying atrial activations. Maps can be generated by visually indicating, for each sensor, a level of incidence of the atrial activations occurring before atrial activations of neighboring sensors within a period of time.

Abstract: Intracardiac electrograms are recorded using a multi-electrode catheter and respective annotations established. Within a time window a pattern comprising a monotonically increasing local activation time sequence from a set of electrograms from neighboring electrodes is detected. The set is reordered and displayed for the operator.