Abstract: Catheterization of the heart is carried out using a framework formed by a plurality of electrically conducting wire loops. The wire loops are modeled as polygons, each subdivided into a plurality of triangles. The wire loops are exposed to magnetic fluxes at respective frequencies, and signals read from the loops. Theoretical magnetic fluxes in the polygons are computed as sums of theoretical magnetic fluxes in the triangles thereof. The location and orientation of the framework in the heart is determined by relating the computed theoretical magnetic fluxes to the signals.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a catheter tip that includes an outer layer of a thermally-conducting metal; an inner layer of a thermally-conducting metal; a polymer layer between the inner and outer layer; and a plurality of thermal bridges selectively positioned between the inner and outer layers and through the polymer layer thereby significantly increasing the heat transfer of the catheter tip through the polymer layer. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method includes, in a processor, receiving example representations of geometrical shapes of a given type of organ. In a training phase, a neural network model is trained using the example representations. In a modeling phase, the trained neural network model is applied to a set of location measurements acquired in an organ of the given type, to produce a three-dimensional model of the organ.

Abstract: A method, including receiving a bipolar signal from a pair of electrodes in proximity to a myocardium of a human subject, and receiving a unipolar signal from a selected one of the pair of electrodes. The method further includes delineating a window of interest (WOI) for the unipolar and bipolar signals, within the WOI computing local unipolar minimum derivatives of the unipolar signal, and times of occurrence of the local unipolar minimum derivatives, and within the WOI computing bipolar derivatives of the bipolar signal at the times of occurrence. The method also includes evaluating ratios of the bipolar derivatives to the local unipolar minimum derivatives, and when the ratios are greater than a preset threshold ratio value, assigning the times of occurrence as times of activation of the myocardium, counting a number of the times of activation; and classifying the unipolar signal according to the number.

Abstract: A system and method for non-invasively detecting abnormal electrical propagation in the heart are disclosed. The system and method include an interface for receiving a pacing signal applied to a heart of a patient, the pacing signal comprising (i) a sequence of regular pacing stimuli shorter than the sinus-rate intervals, and (ii) one or more extra pacing stimuli at intervals that are shorter than the regular pacing stimuli, a processor to assess the envelope of a body-surface ECG component after the regular pacing stimuli, assess the envelope of a body surface ECG component after the one or more extra pacing stimuli, and compare the assessed component after the extra pacing stimuli to the assessed component after the regular pacing stimuli. The interface outputting the comparison as an indication of regions of arrhythmogenicity and ablation targets in the heart.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body and a shaft assembly extending distally from the body. The shaft assembly includes a proximal portion defining a longitudinal axis, a steerable portion distal to the proximal portion, and a distal portion distal to the steerable portion. The steerable portion is operable to drive the distal portion laterally away from and toward the longitudinal axis. The shaft assembly further includes at least one flex circuit assembly. The at least one flex circuit assembly includes a first navigation sensor configured to measure impedance signals that indicate a real-time position of the steerable portion. The at least one flex circuit assembly further includes a second navigation sensor configured to measure magnetic signals that indicate a real-time position of the steerable portion.

Abstract: Apparatus, including an insertion tube, configured to be inserted into a body cavity and having a first lumen having a first lumen diameter and a distal opening, and a tubular channel, having a second lumen and an outer channel diameter smaller than the first lumen diameter, inserted into the first lumen. The apparatus includes a support structure, configured to be passed through a space between an inner wall of the insertion tube and an outer wall of the tubular channel to the distal opening in a folded state and to unfold, upon exit of the support structure through the distal opening, in a direction transverse to the first lumen to reach a support dimension that is greater than the first lumen diameter. A plurality of planar two-dimensional arrays of ultrasonic transducers are supported by the support structure, the arrays having transverse dimensions less than the first lumen diameter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optimal selection of beats for a 3D mapping are disclosed. A method in accordance with the present disclosure may be performed on a processor and may comprise receiving a plurality of beats from a catheter. The catheter may be located at a target mapping site, such as a chamber of the heart. A plurality of dynamic filters may be applied to the plurality of collected beats. The optimal beats may be determined and integrated as a beat in the 3D mapping system. This method enables the selection of more beats for a more comprehensive 3D mapping, as well as the selection of more quality beats that are representative of the target anatomy.

Abstract: Catheterization of the heart is carried out using a framework formed by a plurality of electrically conducting wire loops. The wire loops are modeled as polygons, each subdivided into a plurality of triangles. The wire loops are exposed to magnetic fluxes at respective frequencies, and signals read from the loops. Theoretical magnetic fluxes in the polygons are computed as sums of theoretical magnetic fluxes in the triangles thereof, The location and orientation of the framework in the heart is determined by relating the computed theoretical magnetic fluxes to the signals.

Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes receiving, by a reconstruction engine executed by processors, inputs respective to an anatomical structure and computing, by a model-based fast anatomical mapping of the reconstruction engine, an initial transformation that selects parametric model that best fits the inputs. The method further includes executing, by the model-based fast anatomical mapping, an iterative optimization. The iterative optimization include constructing a statistical prior based on the parametric model and applying the parametric model to the inputs and the statistical prior to produce an isosurface of the anatomical structure. The method further includes generating, by the reconstruction engine, an output including the isosurface.

Abstract: A tip electrode of a catheter includes an outer wall and a temperature sensor assembly. The outer wall includes a thermally conductive multilayer printed circuit board (TCM-PCB) that includes a void. The temperature sensor assembly, which is fitted in the void of the TCM-PCB, includes a temperature sensor, one or more thermally insulating layers that surround a volume of the temperature sensor excluding one facet of the volume, and a heat conductive layer covering the excluded facet.

Abstract: Described embodiments include apparatus that includes a catheter and a tip electrode, at a distal end of the catheter, shaped to define a plurality of microelectrode apertures. The apparatus further includes at least one printed circuit board (PCB) disposed within a lumen of the catheter, and a plurality of microelectrodes coupled to the PCB and at least partly situated within the microelectrode apertures, the PCB being configured to carry signals from the microelectrodes. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Electroanatomic mapping is carried out by inserting a multi-electrode probe into a heart of a living subject, recording electrograms from the electrodes concurrently at respective locations in the heart, delimiting respective activation time intervals in the electrograms, generating a map of electrical propagation waves from the activation time intervals, maximizing coherence of the waves by adjusting local activation times within the activation time intervals of the electrograms, and reporting the adjusted local activation times.

Abstract: Medical apparatus and methods for diagnostic and site determination of cardiac arrhythmias within a heart of a subject are provided. A computing device receives, records and processes electrocardiogram (ECG) signals in the form of bipolar and unipolar ECGs associated with respective cardiac tissue locations corresponding to catheter distal end sensors on locations. Unipolar ECGs that include signals from a plurality of successive heartbeats corresponding to locations within an area of study are analyzed to identify Fractionated Unipolar ECG Signal Complexes (FUESCs) of unipolar ECGs by defining complexes of the unipolar ECGs that correspond to respective bipolar activity windows. Identified arrhythmia sites for treatment include a predetermined number of unipolar ECGs that have a predetermined number of FUESCs. Atrial arrhythmia sites for treatment by ablation can be identified with respect to FUESCs of unipolar ECGs that include signals from at least ten successive heartbeats of an atrial tissue study area.

Abstract: A calibration method includes receiving magnetic field values, which are generated by a plurality of real magnetic transmitters and are measured at multiple positions on a grid in a region containing a magnetic field perturbing element. Approximate locations of the real magnetic transmitters are received. Using the approximate locations, a respective plurality of imaginary magnetic sources is characterized inside the field perturbing element. Using the measured magnetic field values, the approximate locations, and the characterized imaginary sources, there are iteratively calculated (i) actual locations of the real and imaginary magnetic sources in the region, and (ii) modeled magnetic field values that would result from the real and imaginary magnetic sources at the actual locations. Using the calculated locations, and the modeled magnetic field values at the multiple positions on the grid, a magnetic field calibration function is derived for the region.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and techniques are disclosed for automatically generating CPM matrices. The system includes a processor configured to receive a plurality of historical, sparse CPM matrices and a plurality of historical, supplemented CPM matrices, wherein each sparse CPM matrix is associated with a respective supplemented CPM matrix; train a learning system based on the plurality of historical, sparse CPM matrices and the plurality of historical, supplemented CPM matrices, wherein the learning system is trained so as to generate a supplemented CPM matrix given a sparse CPM matrix; receive, by the trained learning system, a new, sparse CPM matrix; and generate, with the trained learning system, a new supplemented CPM matrix.

Abstract: A method for evaluation of electrical propagation in the heart includes receiving a pacing signal applied to a heart of a patient, the pacing signal including a sequence of normal and shorter, abnormal, pacing stimuli. A responsive cardiac signal is received, that is sensed by electrodes at a location in the heart and on the body surface of the patient. A model response is found and annotated from evoked potentials caused by the normal pacing stimuli. A correlation is made between the model response along the different signal sections to find and calculate a normal and decremental time delays between the pacing stimuli and respectively resulting evoked potentials at a tissue location. A time difference is calculated, between the normal time delay and the decremental time delay. An EP map of at least a portion of the heart is presented to a user, with a graphical indication of the time difference presented at the tissue location.

Abstract: Electroanatomic mapping is carried out by inserting a multi-electrode probe into a heart of a living subject, recording electrograms from the electrodes concurrently at respective locations in the heart, delimiting respective activation time intervals in the electrograms, generating a map of electrical propagation waves from the activation time intervals, maximizing coherence of the waves by adjusting local activation times within the activation time intervals of the electrograms, and reporting the adjusted local activation times.

Abstract: A position sensor includes a flexible substrate formed into a three-dimensional (3D) shape. At least first and second field-sensing coils are formed in first and second respective layers of the flexible substrate, such that in the 3D shape the first and second field-sensing coils have first and second respective axes that are not parallel to one another.

Abstract: An ENT surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly, a flexible substrate, and at least at least one electrically-conductive sensor trace formed on the flexible substrate. The shaft assembly has a distal end sized and configured to fit in an anatomical passageway in an ear, nose, or throat of a patient. The flexible substrate extends along at least a portion of the shaft. The at least one sensor trace includes at least one concentric loop portion, wherein the at least one concentric loop portion defines at least one navigation sensor.