Abstract: A method for automatically determining the 3D position and orientation of a radio-opaque medical object in a living body using single-plane fluoroscopy comprising capturing a stream of digitized 2D images from a single-plane fluoroscope (10), detecting the image of the medical object in a subset of the digital 2D images, applying pixel-level geometric calculations to measure the medical-object image, applying conical projection and radial elongation corrections (31) to the image measurements, and calculating the 3D position and orientation of the medical object from the corrected 2D image measurements.

Abstract: A method for 3D reconstruction of the positions of a catheter as it is moved within a region of the human body, comprising: (a) ascertaining the 3D position of a point on a catheter for insertion in the body region; (b) acquiring a fixed angle, single-plane fluoroscopic image of the body region and of the catheter; (c) transferring the image data and catheter-point position to a computer; (d) determining the 2D image coordinates of the point on the catheter; (e) changing the length of catheter insertion by a measured amount; (f) thereafter acquiring a further single-plane fluoroscopic image of the body region and the catheter from the same angle, transferring the length change and additional image data to the computer, and determining the 2D image coordinates of the point on the catheter; (g) computing the 3D position of the catheter point; and (h) repeating steps e-g plural times.

Abstract: A device and method are presented for prolonging the atrial effective refractory period with pacing therapy. Such refractory period prolongation renders the atrial tissue less susceptible to the onset of atrial fibrillation. A particularly useful application is during the period after application of electrical therapy to the atria to terminate an episode of atrial fibrillation.

Abstract: A device and method are presented for prolonging the atrial effective refractory period with pacing therapy. Such refractory period prolongation renders the atrial tissue less susceptible to the onset of atrial fibrillation. A particularly useful application is during the period after application of electrical therapy to the atria to terminate an episode of atrial fibrillation.

Abstract: A method for treatment of cardiac arrhythmias is disclosed. The method comprises the combining of a sodium channel blocking medication and a potassium channel blocking medication into a therapeutic dosage and the delivery of the therapeutic dosage to a patient in treatment of a heart rhythm problem. The heart rhythm problems being treated include atrial fibrillation and atrial or ventricular tachycardia. Preferably, the therapeutic dosage is at least one tablet and the concentration of each medication is determined based upon the heart problem being treated, the underlying heart rate, the QT interval and other comorbid conditions of the patient. A pharmaceutical composition for the therapeutic treatment of cardiac arrhythmias in a patient is also provided having a combination of a sodium channel blocking medication and a potassium channel blocking medication. Under certain conditions of the patient, the composition can also include a beta blocking medication.

Abstract: A device and method are presented for prolonging the atrial effective refractory period with pacing therapy. Such refractory period prolongation renders the atrial tissue less susceptible to the onset of atrial fibrillation. A particularly useful application is during the period after application of electrical therapy to the atria.to terminate an episode of atrial fibrillation.

Abstract: An imaging system for use in a medical intervention procedure is disclosed. A first image acquisition system of a first modality employing a catheter at an anatomical region of a patient is configured to produce a first image of the anatomical region using fluoroscopy, the first image comprising a set of fluoroscopy projection images. A second image acquisition system of a second different modality is configured to generate a 3D model of the anatomical region. An anatomical reference system is common to both the first and second image acquisition systems. A processing circuit is configured to process executable instructions for registering the 3D model with the fluoroscopy image in response to the common reference system and discernible parameters associated with the catheter in both the first and second image acquisition systems.

Abstract: An imaging system for use in a medical intervention procedure is disclosed. A first image acquisition system is configured to produce a fluoroscopy image of an anatomical region. A second image acquisition system is configured to produce a 3D model of the anatomical region. An interventional tracking system, which includes a position indicator, is configured to maneuver within the anatomical region. A first anatomical reference system is common to both the first and the second image acquisition systems, and a second anatomical reference system is common to both the first image acquisition system and the interventional tracking system.

Abstract: A method is provided for ablation in treatment of heart arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation that includes positioning a catheter apparatus with multiple electrodes within a cardiac chamber, visualizing the catheter apparatus with an interventional system, navigating the catheter apparatus within the cardiac chamber, and delivering energy to selected electrodes of the catheter apparatus from an external source to ablate heart tissue at select locations. Preferably, the external source is an external patch placed on the patient for the delivery of radio-frequency energy. The electrodes of the catheter apparatus are connected to the patch through a patient interface unit where the interface unit selects the electrodes to which radio-frequency energy is to be delivered.

Abstract: A method for registration of cardiac image data in an interventional system includes inserting a first plurality of fiducial points on an acquired 3D anatomical image and exporting the 3D anatomical image, with the first plurality of inserted fiducial points thereon, to an interventional system. A second plurality of fiducial points is inserted on the exported 3D anatomical image using the interventional system, and the first and said second plurality of fiducial points are aligned to one another so as to register the exported 3D anatomical image with the interventional system.

Abstract: A method for acquiring cardiac information from a patient having a pacer for pacing a heart rhythm, an abnormal EKG, or an abnormal heartbeat is disclosed. The method includes: placing a signal injection device proximate the pacer of the patient and injecting a signal across a skin barrier of the patient toward the pacer; in response to the signal received at the pacer, pacing the patient's heart in a fixed asynchronous pacing mode; and, acquiring cardiac information relating to the patient's fixed asynchronously paced heart.

Abstract: A method is provided for treatment of heart failure having the steps of obtaining cardiac digital data from a medical imaging system utilizing an ECG gated protocol; generating a series of 3D images of a cardiac chamber and its surrounding structures, preferably the left ventricle and coronary sinus, from this cardiac digital data at select ECG trigger points that correspond to different phases of the cardiac cycle; registering these 3D images with an interventional system; acquiring ECG signals from the patient in real-time; transmitting these ECG signals to the interventional system; synchronizing the registered 3D images with trigger points on the transmitted ECG signals to generate a 4D image; visualizing this 4D image upon the interventional system in real-time; visualizing a pacing/defibrillation lead over the 4D image upon the interventional system; navigating the pacing/defibrillation lead utilizing the 4D image; and placing the pacing/defibrillation lead over the cardiac chamber at an appropriate sit

Abstract: A method is provided for treating a heart arrhythmia having the steps of obtaining cardiac digital data from a medical imaging system utilizing an ECG gated protocol; generating a series of 3D images of a cardiac chamber and its surrounding structures, preferably the left atrium and pulmonary veins, from this cardiac digital data at select ECG trigger points that correspond to different phases of the cardiac cycle; registering these 3D images with an interventional system; acquiring ECG signals from the patient in real-time; transmitting these ECG signals to the interventional system; synchronizing the registered 3D images with trigger points on the transmitted ECG signals to generate a 4D image; visualizing this 4D image upon the interventional system in real-time; visualizing a catheter over the 4D image upon the interventional system; navigating the catheter within the cardiac chamber utilizing the 4D image; and using the catheter to treat the cardiac chamber, preferably with ablation.

Abstract: A method for assisting the planning of an interventional biventricular pacing procedure includes segmenting an image dataset of a heart of a patient to extract a surface of a left ventricle (LV) and a LV myocardium of the patient's heart, utilizing the segmented image dataset to divide the LV into myocardial segments or into a plurality of short axis slices, and detecting wall motion of each short axis slice of phases of a cardiac cycle of the patient's heart with respect to a reference phase. The method also includes localizing a region most recently attaining maximum displacement and a region most recently attaining maximum velocity, and generating 2D or 3D renderings including renderings indicating at least one of time delays of contraction, a maximum displacement, or a maximum velocity.

Abstract: A method for quantifying cardiac desynchrony of the right and left ventricles includes obtaining cardiac acquisition data from a medical imaging system, and determining a movement profile from the cardiac acquisition data. The movement profile is directed toward identifying at least one of a time-based contraction parameter for a region of the left ventricle (LV), and a displacement-based contraction parameter for a region of the LV. The determined movement profile is visually displayed by generating a 3D model therefrom.

Abstract: A method for acquiring a cardiac image from a patient having a paced heart rhythm, an abnormal EKG, or an irregular heartbeat, is disclosed. A gated electrocardiogram signal having local maxima and minima values and trigger points is received. For a period of time, the time between each trigger point and the associated local maxima or minima is determined. In response to the trigger point occurring at the associated local maxima or minima, a zero time differential for a corrected trigger for gating is calculated, and in response to the trigger point not occurring at the associated local maxima or minima, a time differential for the corrected trigger for gating based on the time difference between the trigger point and the associated local maxima or minima is calculated.

Abstract: A system and method for a medical intervention procedure within a cardiac chamber having an imaging system to obtain image data of the cardiac chamber and to create a 3D model from that image data, an interventional system to register the 3D model with a real-time image of the cardiac chamber and to display the 3D model, and an interventional tool positioned in the cardiac chamber to be displayed upon the interventional system and to be navigated in real-time over the registered 3D model. Preferably, the method and system also includes a storage medium to store the 3D model and wherein the interventional system receives the stored 3D model to register with the real-time image of the cardiac chamber.

Abstract: A method is provided for treatment of a heart arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation that includes obtaining cardiac image data using a digital imaging system, generating a 3D model of a cardiac chamber and surrounding structures from such cardiac image data, registering the 3D model with an interventional system, visualizing this registered 3D model on the interventional system, positioning a catheter apparatus within the cardiac chamber, visualizing the catheter apparatus over the registered 3D model of the cardiac chamber upon the interventional system, navigating the catheter apparatus within the cardiac chamber utilizing this registered 3D model, and delivering biological material through the catheter apparatus to heart tissue at select locations within the cardiac chamber. Preferably, the biological material are transplanted cells or antibodies.

Abstract: A catheter apparatus is provided for use in the treatment of heart arrhythmia having a catheter shaft, a mapping and ablation catheter disposed within the shaft, and a control mechanism coupled to both the shaft and catheter. The catheter shaft includes a main body and a coaxial tip section joined to the main body. The tip section can be rotated about a central axis and curved away from the central axis in a controlled manner. The mapping and ablation catheter can be extended outward from the catheter shaft where it is able to take the form of a pre-stressed curve. The control mechanism controls axial rotation of the tip section, the degree of deflection of the tip section and longitudinal movement of the mapping and ablation catheter with respect to the catheter shaft. Preferably, the mapping and ablation catheter forms a pre-stressed loop when it is fully extended from the catheter shaft.

Abstract: A catheter apparatus is provided for use in the isolation of a patient's left atrial appendage (LAA) having a catheter shaft, a probe axially disposed within the catheter shaft, and a control mechanism coupled to both the catheter shaft and the probe. The catheter shaft includes a main body that extends along a central axis and a coaxial tip section attached to the main body. The tip section can be deflected from the central axis in a controlled manner. The probe can be extended outward from the catheter shaft and has a distal end that is brought into contact with the LAA. The control mechanism controls longitudinal movement of the catheter shaft, the degree of deflection of the tip section, and axial movement of the probe with respect to the catheter shaft. Preferably, the distal end is able to form a pre-stressed loop when the probe is fully extended from the catheter shaft, the loop being selected to have a size that will allow it to substantially encircle the base of the LAA.