Abstract: A cardiac ablation instrument capable of removing blood from a treatment area is provided. The instrument includes a catheter configured to deliver a distal end thereof to a patient's heart. The instrument can also include an expandable element coupled to the distal end of the catheter wherein the expandable member is configured to be positioned adjacent a target area thereby defining a treatment area between the expandable member and the target area. Further, the instrument can include an irrigation mechanism configured to dispense an irrigation fluid from the catheter thereby displacing blood from the treatment area. Additionally, the instrument includes an energy emitter configured to deliver energy to tissue within the treatment area. The instrument can also include a contact sensor configured to determine the presence of such blood within the treatment area. Methods for ablating tissue are also provided.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and a method for implementing multifunctional memories is disclosed. The multifunctional memories perform a variety of functions during execution of extended instructions in a reconfigurable data path processor composed of processing nodes. In one embodiment, a processing node can be comprised of modular processing elements to perform computations associated with an extended instruction. Also, such a node includes at least two multifunctional memories and a data flow director configured to selectably couple the first multifunctional memory and the second multifunctional memory. The data flow director is configured to route data out from a first multifunctional memory of the two multifunctional memories while data is being routed into a second multifunctional memory. In another embodiment, a processing node is configured to compute a function output based on a number of Boolean functions, wherein at least one of the multifunctional memories is configured as a look-up table (“LUT”).

Abstract: A system and method of mapping heterogeneous objects onto an array of heterogeneous programmable logic resources. The method comprises clustering to identify datapath modules from a netlist. The method further comprises aggregating the datapath modules into higher level modules. The method also comprises clustering random logic into structures.

Abstract: A system and method of mapping heterogeneous objects onto an array of heterogeneous programmable logic resources. The method comprises clustering to identify datapath modules from a netlist. The method further comprises aggregating the datapath modules into higher level modules. The method also comprises clustering random logic into structures.

Abstract: A programmable logic core (PLC) can be integrated into custom ICS such as ASICs and SOCs. An example PLC for integration into a custom IC includes a Multi Scale Array (MSA) that consists of an array of configurable ALUs, an Application Circuit Interface (ACI) that provides signal interface between the MSA and application circuitry, and a PLC Adapter that initiates and loads the PLC configuration data and interfaces.

Abstract: Ablation methods and instruments are disclosed for creating lesions in tissue, especially cardiac tissue for treatment of arrhythmias and the like. Percutaneous ablation instruments in the form of coaxial catheter bodies are disclosed having at least one central lumen therein and having one or more balloon structures at the distal end region of the instrument. The instruments include an energy emitting element which is independently positionable within the lumen of the instrument and adapted to project radiant energy through a transmissive region of a projection balloon to a target tissue site. The instrument can optionally include at least one expandable anchor balloon disposed about, or incorporated into an inner catheter body designed to be slid over a guidewire. This anchor balloon can serve to position the device within a lumen, such as a pulmonary vein.

Abstract: Heart function is improved by inducing heart rate variability through cardiac pacing. Electrical pacing signals are generated and applyied to a heart to improve heart function. The pacing signals are controlled to vary a heart rate during periods of less than five minutes in duration to induce beneficial heart rate variability.

Abstract: Cardiac electrical stability is assessed by generating a measure of cardiac electrical stability (e.g., an alternans measure) using a physiologic signal representative of activity of a patient's heart, generating a reference signal that provides information regarding whether the measure is representative of cardiac electrical stability, and visually presenting the measure and the reference signal in a way that permits visual evaluation of whether the measure is representative of cardiac electrical stability in view of characteristics of the reference signal.

Abstract: A method of reducing noise in a biological signal, such as an ECG signal, includes acquiring a biological signal, comparing the biological signal to a representative signal, and generating a predicted signal corresponding to the representative signal when the biological signal sufficiently matches the representative signal. The predicted signal is subtracted from the biological signal to produce a second signal, and a filter is applied to the second signal to produce a filtered signal. The predicted signal and the filtered signal then are combined to produce a noise-reduced signal.

Abstract: A localized cardiac measure, such as a localized measure of myocardial ischemia, is obtained by applying sensors to a subject, where the sensors are configured to produce electrical signals representative of cardiac activity of the subject. The subject's heart is then physiologically stressed by, for example, exercise stress testing, and electrical signals are received from at least two of the sensors. The received signals then are processed to obtain a localized cardiac measure.

Abstract: A multi-segment ECG electrode includes a flexible basepad, a central segment defined on a surface of the basepad, and exterior segments defined on the surface of the basepad. The exterior segments may be sized, shaped and positioned relative to the central segment so that an average position of the exterior segments approximates a position of the central segment.

Abstract: The alternans pattern of cycle-to-cycle variability in physiologic waveforms is assessed by applying transducers to a subject, recording physiologic signals, and analyzing the alternans pattern of variation in waveform morphology.

Abstract: A method of reducing noise in a signal that represents a physiologic process includes obtaining multiple input signals, measuring a relationship between noise content of the input signals, and combining the input signals in consideration of the measured relationship to produce an output signal having low noise content. The multiple input signals may include, for example, two or more primary physiologic input signals or one or more primary physiologic input signals and two or more secondary input signals that represent noise. The method may further include dividing one or more ECG input signals and secondary input signals into set of segments, where each set of segments represents a beat of the ECG signal, measuring a relationship between noise content of corresponding points from successive sets of segments, and combining the input signals based on the measured relationship.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for improved electronic display and interpretation of physiologic waveforms. The apparatus generates a two-dimensional grid on the video screen simulating the appearance of electrocardiographic recording paper or other physiologic signal recording paper. At least one physiologic signal is superimposed upon the grid for a display of the combined signal and grid. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the grid includes lines some of which are separated by no more than 2.6 millimeters. In another embodiment of the invention the grid includes horizontal or vertical lines of at least two types.

Abstract: The temporal pattern of cycle-to-cycle variability in physiologic waveforms, such as alternans, is assessed by applying transducers to a subject, recording physiologic signals, and analyzing the cycle-to-cycle variation in waveform morphology. Preferred embodiments include the application of physiologic stress to the subject in order to adjust heart rate to the desired range, real-time analysis of waveform variability, reduction in the effect of intercycle variability on waveform variability, improved techniques for determining the statistical significance of the amplitude of a temporal pattern of variability, handling of abnormal beats such as atrial and ventricular premature beats, and assessment of the statistical significance of a measured level of a temporal pattern of variability.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a circuit for automatically selecting between an ECG heartbeat signal source and a pressure/pulse signal source depending on which of the two sources is the most periodic between three successive heart beats. A pair of microprocessor internal timers commence a count-up cycle in response to a first detected heart beat from each of the two respective sources, after which count-down cycles are started in response to the next successive detected heart beats. The counting of the timers is then stopped in response to the third successive detected heart beats from the two sources and a comparison is provided to determine which of the two sources is most periodic, and should be used to trigger a heart rate monitor.

Abstract: Improved plotting and printing apparatus has a writing surface for supporting a printing medium and which has an opening for exposing the underside of the medium. A transparent plate is mounted to the supporting surface so as to permit placement onto that surface of a printing medium such as a plural leaf form set whose area is larger than that of the plate so that one portion of the medium extends across the opening under the plate and can be printed on by a printer positioned under the surface opposite the opening, while another portion of the medium lies on the surface beyond the plate so that it can be written on from above the surface.