Abstract: A method and apparatus that utilizes a force-time integral for real time estimation of steam pop in catheter-based ablation systems. The apparatus measures the force exerted by a contact ablation probe on a target tissue and an energization parameter delivered to the ablation probe. The exerted force and energization parameter can be utilized to provide an estimation of the probability of steam pop. In one embodiment, the force and energization metrics can be used as feedback to establish a desired contact force and energization level combination to prevent steam popping.

Abstract: A method and device for determining the transmurality and/or continuity of an isolation line formed by a plurality of point contact ablations. In one embodiment, a method for determining the size of a lesion (width, depth and/or volume) is disclosed, based on contact force of the ablation head with the target tissue, and an energization parameter that quantifies the energy delivered to the target tissue during the duration time of the lesion formation. In another embodiment, the sequential nature (sequence in time and space) of the ablation line formation is tracked and quantified in a quantity herein referred to as the “jump index,” and used in conjunction with the lesion size information to determine the probability of a gap later forming in the isolation line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that utilizes a force-time integral for real time estimation of steam pop in catheter-based ablation systems. The apparatus measures the force exerted by a contact ablation probe on a target tissue and an energization parameter delivered to the ablation probe. The exerted force and energization parameter can be utilized to provide an estimation of the probability of steam pop. In one embodiment, the force and energization metrics can be used as feedback to establish a desired contact force and energization level combination to prevent steam popping.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that utilizes a force-time integral for real time estimation of steam pop in catheter-based ablation systems. The apparatus measures the force exerted by a contact ablation probe on a target tissue and an energization parameter delivered to the ablation probe. The exerted force and energization parameter can be utilized to provide an estimation of the probability of steam pop. In one embodiment, the force and energization metrics can be used as feedback to establish a desired contact force and energization level combination to prevent steam popping.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that utilizes a force-time integral for real time estimation of lesion size in catheter-based ablation systems. The apparatus measures the force exerted by a contact ablation probe on a target tissue and integrates the force over an energization time of the ablation probe. The force-time integral can be calculated and utilized to provide an estimated lesion size (depth, volume and/or area) in real time. The force-time integral may also account for variations in the power delivered to the target tissue in real time to provide an improved estimation of the lesion size. In one embodiment, the force metric can be used as feedback to establish a desired power level delivered to the probe to prevent steam popping.

Abstract: A method and device for determining the transmurality and/or continuity of an isolation line formed by a plurality of point contact ablations. In one embodiment, a method for determining the size of a lesion (width, depth and/or volume) is disclosed, based on contact force of the ablation head with the target tissue, and an energization parameter that quantifies the energy delivered to the target tissue during the duration time of the lesion formation. In another embodiment, the sequential nature (sequence in time and space) of the ablation line formation is tracked and quantified in a quantity herein referred to as the “jump index,” and used in conjunction with the lesion size information to determine the probability of a gap later forming in the isolation line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that utilizes a force-time integral for real time estimation of steam pop in catheter-based ablation systems. The apparatus measures the force exerted by a contact ablation probe on a target tissue and an energization parameter delivered to the ablation probe. The exerted force and energization parameter can be utilized to provide an estimation of the probability of steam pop. In one embodiment, the force and energization metrics can be used as feedback to establish a desired contact force and energization level combination to prevent steam popping.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that utilizes a force-time integral for real time estimation of lesion size in catheter-based ablation systems. The apparatus measures the force exerted by a contact ablation probe on a target tissue and integrates the force over an energization time of the ablation probe. The force-time integral can be calculated and utilized to provide an estimated lesion size (depth, volume and/or area) in real time. The force-time integral may also account for variations in the power delivered to the target tissue in real time to provide an improved estimation of the lesion size. In one embodiment, the force metric can be used as feedback to establish a desired power level delivered to the probe to prevent steam popping.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that utilizes a force-time integral for real time estimation of steam pop in catheter-based ablation systems. The apparatus measures the force exerted by a contact ablation probe on a target tissue and an energization parameter delivered to the ablation probe. The exerted force and energization parameter can be utilized to provide an estimation of the probability of steam pop. In one embodiment, the force and energization metrics can be used as feedback to establish a desired contact force and energization level combination to prevent steam popping.

Abstract: A method and device for determining the transmurality and/or continuity of an isolation line formed by a plurality of point contact ablations. In one embodiment, a method for determining the size of a lesion (width, depth and/or volume) is disclosed, based on contact force of the ablation head with the target tissue, and an energization parameter that quantifies the energy delivered to the target tissue during the duration time of the lesion formation. In another embodiment, the sequential nature (sequence in time and space) of the ablation line formation is tracked and quantified in a quantity herein referred to as the “jump index,” and used in conjunction with the lesion size information to determine the probability of a gap later forming in the isolation line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that utilizes a force-time integral for real time estimation of lesion size in catheter-based ablation systems. The apparatus measures the force exerted by a contact ablation probe on a target tissue and integrates the force over an energization time of the ablation probe. The force-time integral can be calculated and utilized to provide an estimated lesion size (depth, volume and/or area) in real time. The force-time integral may also account for variations in the power delivered to the target tissue in real time to provide an improved estimation of the lesion size. In one embodiment, the force metric can be used as feedback to establish a desired power level delivered to the probe to prevent steam popping.

Abstract: A method and device for determining the transmuriality and/or continuity of an isolation line formed by a plurality of point contact ablations. In one embodiment, a method for determining the size of a lesion (width, depth and/or volume) is disclosed, based on contact force of the ablation head with the target tissue, and an energization parameter that quantifies the energy delivered to the target tissue during the duration time of the lesion formation. In another embodiment, the sequential nature (sequence in time and space) of the ablation line formation is tracked and quantified in a quantity herein referred to as the “jump index,” and used in conjunction with the lesion size information to determine the probability of a gap later forming in the isolation line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that utilizes a force-time integral for real time estimation of lesion size in catheter-based ablation systems. The apparatus measures the force exerted by a contact ablation probe on a target tissue and integrates the force over an energization time of the ablation probe. The force-time integral can be calculated and utilized to provide an estimated lesion size (depth, volume and/or area) in real time. The force-time integral may also account for variations in the power delivered to the target tissue in real time to provide an improved estimation of the lesion size. In one embodiment, the force metric can be used as feedback to establish a desired power level delivered to the probe to prevent steam popping.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that utilizes a force-time integral for real time estimation of lesion size in catheter-based ablation systems. The apparatus measures the force exerted by a contact ablation probe on a target tissue and integrates the force over an energization time of the ablation probe. The force-time integral can be calculated and utilized to provide an estimated lesion size (depth, volume and/or area) in real time. The force-time integral may also account for variations in the power delivered to the target tissue in real time to provide an improved estimation of the lesion size. In one embodiment, the force metric can be used as feedback to establish a desired power level delivered to the probe to prevent steam popping.

Abstract: A method and device for determining the transmuriality and/or continuity of an isolation line formed by a plurality of point contact ablations. In one embodiment, a method for determining the size of a lesion (width, depth and/or volume) is disclosed, based on contact force of the ablation head with the target tissue, and an energization parameter that quantifies the energy delivered to the target tissue during the duration time of the lesion formation. In another embodiment, the sequential nature (sequence in time and space) of the ablation line formation is tracked and quantified in a quantity herein referred to as the “jump index,” and used in conjunction with the lesion size information to determine the probability of a gap later forming in the isolation line.

Abstract: A system comprising a computer and a software module residing in computer memory, where the software module is operable to provide a virtual model of a medical device and to simulate a medical procedure involving the virtual model of the medical device. The virtual model of the medical device includes medical device design parameters. The system also includes a computer interface operable to change design parameters of the virtual model of the medical device in response to simulation of the virtual model in the medical procedure.