Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for performing optical signal analysis and lesion predictions in ablations. A system includes a catheter coupled to a plurality of optical fibers via a connector that interfaces with a computing device. The computing device includes a memory and a processor configured to receive optical measurement data of a portion of tissue from the catheter. The processor identifies one or more optical properties of the portion of tissue by analyzing the optical measurement data and determines a time of denaturation of the portion of tissue based on the one or more optical properties. A model is created to represent a correlation between lesion depths and ablation times using the time of denaturation, the one or more optical properties, and the predetermined period of time. A predicted lesion depth for a predetermined ablation time is generated using the model.

Abstract: A catheter includes proximal and distal sections, a shaft coupled between the proximal and distal sections, and optical fibers extending through the shaft and to the distal section of the catheter. The distal section includes a support structure that includes a proximal end, a distal end, reflective elements, and a cap disposed over a portion of the distal end of the support structure. The proximal end includes alignment receptacles. Each of the optical fibers is inserted into corresponding ones of the alignment receptacles and the alignment receptacles are shaped to maintain the optical fibers straight in the support structure. The distal end includes orifices facing different directions. Each of the optical fibers is optically aligned with corresponding ones of the lenses, reflective elements, and orifices such that the optical fibers in the support structure are straight. The cap includes optical ports aligned with the orifices.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for optical coherence tomography with a centimetric range of scan depth and a high tolerance of a precision of lengths among different optical components. A system includes a long coherent light source, an optical interferometer with multiple optical components, an optical detector with a wide bandwidth, a data acquisition unit with high sampling rate, and a data processing unit to process information of interest.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for performing optical signal analysis for tissue ablation using a catheter having viewports. A method includes transmitting illumination toward a target tissue via the viewport. The method also includes receiving, at a first viewport, a first scattered illumination from the target tissue and generating a first measurement signal based on the first scattered illumination. The method also includes receiving, at the first viewport, a second scattered illumination from the target tissue after the receiving of the first scattered illumination and generating a second measurement signal based on the second scattered illumination. The method also includes determining whether the viewport is in contact with the target tissue based on a first difference among the plurality of optical measurements meeting or crossing a first threshold value, wherein the first difference comprises a difference between the first and second measurement signals.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, devices, and support structures for assembling optical fibers in catheter tips and facilitating alignment and structural support. A method for assembling a plurality of optical fibers and lenses in a support structure for an ablation catheter includes providing a support structure with a proximal end, a body, and a distal end, the distal end including a plurality of alignment orifices or slits. A plurality of optical fibers are threaded through the alignment orifices or slits, such that each optical fiber is threaded through a corresponding alignment orifice or slit. An adhesive material is applied at each alignment orifice or slit to secure the optical fibers, and the plurality of optical fibers are then cleaved at the distal end to remove portions of the fibers extending out of the distal end. Finally, a lens is attached to each of the ends of the plurality of optical fibers.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods for detecting gaps between lesions formed in tissue during ablation. A system includes a catheter that has proximal section, a distal section, and a shaft coupled between the proximal section and the distal section. A plurality of optical fibers are located within the catheter and are coupled to a computing device. The computing device includes a memory and a processor configured to receive, from the optical fibers, optical measurement data of a portion of tissue during or after an ablation, identify one or more optical properties of the portion of tissue by analyzing the optical measurement data, and detect a presence or an absence of a gap between one or more lesions formed in the portion of tissue based on the one or more optical properties.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer-readable medium aspects for improving the accuracy of an ablation model through synchronization. An aspect operates by activating a catheter energy source, acquiring a catheter energy signal from the catheter energy source, assigning an activation time stamp and deactivation time stamp to the catheter energy signal, and determining a time of ablation based on a time period between the activation time stamp and deactivation time stamp. The aspect continues to operate by acquiring an optical measurement signal from a catheter optical port, assigning an input time stamp and switching time stamp to the optical measurement signal, and processing the optical measurement signal in order to acquire a denaturation result. The aspect concludes by synchronizing the time of ablation and the denaturation result using the time stamps in order to generate a synchronized model and generating an estimated lesion depth from the synchronized model.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer-readable medium aspects for assessing ablation lesions in realtime. An aspect operates by receiving a first optical measurement data from a first catheter optical port, assigning the first optical measurement data to a first available processing core in a processing unit in order to identify an optical property at a first location of a lesion, and generating a first graphical representation from the optical property at the first location of the lesion. After a predetermined time, the aspect continues to operate by repeating the receiving, assigning, and generating operations for a second optical measurement data using a second available processing core in order to generate a second graphical representation from the optical property at a second location of the lesion. The aspect concludes by displaying the first graphical representation and the second graphical representation on a user interface at a predefined interval.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for performing optical signal analysis and lesion predictions in ablations. A system includes a catheter coupled to a plurality of optical fibers via a connector that interfaces with a computing device. The computing device includes a memory and a processor configured to receive optical measurement data of a portion of tissue from the catheter. The processor identifies one or more optical properties of the portion of tissue by analyzing the optical measurement data and determines a time of denaturation of the portion of tissue based on the one or more optical properties. A model is created to represent a correlation between lesion depths and ablation times using the time of denaturation, the one or more optical properties, and the predetermined period of time. A predicted lesion depth for a predetermined ablation time is generated using the model.

Abstract: Described herein is a system including a catheter, an optical circuit, a pulsed field ablation energy source, and a processing device. The catheter includes a proximal section, a distal section, and a shaft coupled between the proximal section and the distal section. The optical circuit is configured to transport light at least partially from the proximal section to the distal section and back. The pulsed field ablation energy source is coupled to the catheter and configured to transmit pulsed electrical signals to a tissue sample. The processing device is configured to analyze one or more optical signals received from the optical circuit to determine changes in polarization or phase retardation of light reflected or scattered by the tissue sample, and determine changes in a birefringence of the tissue sample based on the changes in polarization or phase retardation.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, devices, and support structures for assembling optical fibers in catheter tips and facilitating alignment and structural support. A method for assembling a plurality of optical fibers and lenses in a support structure for an ablation catheter includes providing a support structure with a proximal end, a body, and a distal end, the distal end including a plurality of alignment orifices or slits. A plurality of optical fibers are threaded through the alignment orifices or slits, such that each optical fiber is threaded through a corresponding alignment orifice or slit. An adhesive material is applied at each alignment orifice or slit to secure the optical fibers, and the plurality of optical fibers are then cleaved at the distal end to remove portions of the fibers extending out of the distal end. Finally, a lens is attached to each of the ends of the plurality of optical fibers.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for performing optical signal analysis and lesion predictions in ablations. A system includes a catheter coupled to a plurality of optical fibers via a connector that interfaces with a computing device. The computing device includes a memory and a processor configured to receive optical measurement data of a portion of tissue from the catheter. The processor identifies one or more optical properties of the portion of tissue by analyzing the optical measurement data and determines a time of denaturation of the portion of tissue based on the one or more optical properties. A model is created to represent a correlation between lesion depths and ablation times using the time of denaturation, the one or more optical properties, and the predetermined period of time. A predicted lesion depth for a predetermined ablation time is generated using the model.

Abstract: A medical instrument is described that includes an optical source, an optical fiber, and a waveguide patterned upon a substrate. The optical fiber receives radiation from the optical source and includes a first segment and a second segment. The second segment is rotated about an optical axis relative to the first segment. The waveguide receives radiation from the optical source and guides a beam of radiation. The waveguide includes a first waveguide segment designed to impart a first differential group delay on the beam of radiation and a second waveguide segment designed to impart a second differential group delay on the beam of radiation. A sum of the first differential group delay and the second differential group delay is substantially zero.

Abstract: A catheter includes proximal and distal sections, a shaft coupled between the proximal and distal sections, and optical fibers extending through the shaft and to the distal section of the catheter. The distal section includes a support structure that includes a proximal end, a distal end, reflective elements, and a cap disposed over a portion of the distal end of the support structure. The proximal end includes alignment receptacles. Each of the optical fibers is inserted into corresponding ones of the alignment receptacles and the alignment receptacles are shaped to maintain the optical fibers straight in the support structure. The distal end includes orifices facing different directions. Each of the optical fibers is optically aligned with corresponding ones of the lenses, reflective elements, and orifices such that the optical fibers in the support structure are straight. The cap includes optical ports aligned with the orifices.

Abstract: Described herein is a system including a catheter, an optical circuit, a pulsed field ablation energy source, and a processing device. The catheter includes a proximal section, a distal section, and a shaft coupled between the proximal section and the distal section. The optical circuit is configured to transport light at least partially from the proximal section to the distal section and back. The pulsed field ablation energy source is coupled to the catheter and configured to transmit pulsed electrical signals to a tissue sample. The processing device is configured to analyze one or more optical signals received from the optical circuit to determine changes in polarization or phase retardation of light reflected or scattered by the tissue sample, and determine changes in a birefringence of the tissue sample based on the changes in polarization or phase retardation.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, devices, and support structures for assembling optical fibers in catheter tips and facilitating alignment and structural support. A method for assembling a plurality of optical fibers and lenses in a support structure for an ablation catheter includes providing a support structure with a proximal end, a body, and a distal end, wherein the distal end includes a plurality of alignment orifices or slits. A plurality of optical fibers are threaded through the alignment orifices or slits, such that each optical fiber is threaded through a corresponding alignment orifice or slit. An adhesive material is applied at each alignment orifice or slit to secure the optical fibers, and the plurality of optical fibers are then cleaved at the distal end to remove portions of the fibers extending out of the distal end. Finally, a lens is attached to each of the ends of the plurality of optical fibers.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, devices, and support structures for assembling optical fibers in catheter tips and facilitating alignment and structural support. A method for assembling a plurality of optical fibers and lenses in a support structure for an ablation catheter includes providing a support structure with a proximal end, a body, and a distal end, wherein the distal end includes a plurality of alignment orifices or slits. A plurality of optical fibers are threaded through the alignment orifices or slits, such that each optical fiber is threaded through a corresponding alignment orifice or slit. An adhesive material is applied at each alignment orifice or slit to secure the optical fibers, and the plurality of optical fibers are then cleaved at the distal end to remove portions of the fibers extending out of the distal end. Finally, a lens is attached to each of the ends of the plurality of optical fibers.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for performing optical signal analysis and lesion predictions in ablations. A system includes a catheter coupled to a plurality of optical fibers via a connector that interfaces with a computing device. The computing device includes a memory and a processor configured to receive optical measurement data of a portion of tissue from the catheter. The processor identifies one or more optical properties of the portion of tissue by analyzing the optical measurement data and determines a time of denaturation of the portion of tissue based on the one or more optical properties. A model is created to represent a correlation between lesion depths and ablation times using the time of denaturation, the one or more optical properties, and the predetermined period of time. A predicted lesion depth for a predetermined ablation time is generated using the model.

Abstract: Described herein is a system including a catheter, an optical circuit, a pulsed field ablation energy source, and a processing device. The catheter includes a proximal section, a distal section, and a shaft coupled between the proximal section and the distal section. The optical circuit is configured to transport light at least partially from the proximal section to the distal section and back. The pulsed field ablation energy source is coupled to the catheter and configured to transmit pulsed electrical signals to a tissue sample. The processing device is configured to analyze one or more optical signals received from the optical circuit to determine changes in polarization or phase retardation of light reflected or scattered by the tissue sample, and determine changes in a birefringence of the tissue sample based on the changes in polarization or phase retardation.

Abstract: A medical instrument is described that includes an optical source, an optical fiber, and a waveguide patterned upon a substrate. The optical fiber receives radiation from the optical source and includes a first segment and a second segment. The second segment is rotated about an optical axis relative to the first segment. The waveguide receives radiation from the optical source and guides a beam of radiation. The waveguide includes a first waveguide segment designed to impart a first differential group delay on the beam of radiation and a second waveguide segment designed to impart a second differential group delay on the beam of radiation. A sum of the first differential group delay and the second differential group delay is substantially zero.