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 stabilized coronary sinus catheter system having a proximal section and a distal section with a memory shape portion, and a tip, distal of the memory shape portion. A handle having a body, a tip deflection actuator, a memory shape portion deployment actuator, and an axis. The tip is in line with the axis and the tip deflection actuator is at a first position. The tip is deflected out of alignment with the axis when the tip deflection actuator is at a second position. A third position is a delivery configuration where the memory shape portion and the tip are in line with the axis. The memory shape portion deployment actuator is at a first location. A deployed configuration allows the memory shape portion to form a predetermined shape conforming to the shape of the coronary sinus when the memory shape portion deployment actuator is at a second location.

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: A method, including acquiring initial signals from selected positions in a heart, computing respective initial local values of a signal propagation metric at the selected positions, and interpolating the initial local values between the selected positions to compute initial interpolated values of the signal propagation metric at intermediate positions, between the selected positions. The method further includes acquiring subsequent signals from the positions, computing respective subsequent local values of the signal propagation metric at the selected positions, and spatially interpolating the subsequent local values of the signal propagation metric between the selected positions to compute subsequent interpolated values of the signal propagation metric at the intermediate positions.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for intra-cardiac pattern matching are disclosed. A unipolar pattern intra-cardiac (IC) electromyography (EGM) signals is received for an area of a heart from a plurality of activity channels corresponding to a plurality of electrodes of a catheter. A window of interest (WOI) of the IC EGM signals is received representing an entire cycle length for a single heartbeat. A pattern of interest (POI) is selected to include a portion of WOI corresponding to an arrhythmia activation. A template POI is generated representative of the arrhythmia activation. Subsequent electrical activity is received, weights are applied and the subsequent electrical activity is compared with the template POI. A correlation score is generated and compared with a threshold correlation score.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an apparatus that includes an expandable structure, configured for insertion into a body of a subject, and a plurality of conducting elements coupled to the expandable structure. Each of the conducting elements comprises a respective coil and has an insulated portion that is electrically insulated from tissue of the subject, and an uninsulated portion configured to exchange signals with the tissue, while in contact with the tissue. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method uses patches fixed to a surface of a body, the patches including respective electrodes in contact with the surface, and at least one of the patches configured to output a signal in response to a magnetic field applied to the body. Initially, the signal is processed to compute first magnetic locations and first electrical locations of the at least one of the patches. Subsequently, the signal is processed to compute second magnetic locations and second electrical locations of the at least one of the patches. A first relation is computed between the first magnetic and the first electrical locations, a second relation is computed between the second magnetic and the second electrical locations, and upon detecting a difference between the second and the first relations, a magnetic location correction is computed and then applied to track a position of a magnetic sensor inside the body.

Abstract: A system and method of identifying focal sources is presented. The method can comprise detecting, via sensors, electro-cardiogram (ECG) signals over time, each ECG signal detected via one of the sensors having a location in a heart and indicating electrical activity of the heart, each signal comprising at least an R wave and an S wave; creating an R-S map comprising an R-to-S ratio for each of the ECG signals, the R-to-S ratio comprising a ratio of absolute magnitude of the R wave to absolute magnitude of the S wave; identifying, for each of the ECG signals, local activation times (LATs); and correlating the R-to-S ratios for the ECG signals on the R-S map and the identified LATs and using the correlation to identify the focal sources.

Abstract: Apparatus, including a multiplexer, having a first output and multiple first inputs receiving analog input signals and an analog feedback signal and cycling through and selecting the signals for transfer in sequential signal groupings to the first output. The apparatus also includes an amplification circuit, having a second output and a second input connected to the multiplexer first output, that amplifies signals corresponding to the analog input signals with a selected gain so as to generate respective amplified analog signals at the second output. Circuitry selects a characteristic of the respective amplified analog signals from an initial signal grouping, feeds the characteristic back for input to the multiplexer as the analog feedback signal, selects a subsequent characteristic of the respective amplified analog signals from a subsequent signal grouping, and adjusts the amplification circuit gain so that the analog feedback signal and the subsequent characteristic have the same amplitude.

Abstract: A catheter has improved position and/or location sensing by using single axis sensors mounted directly along a portion of the catheter whose position/location is of interest. The magnetic based, single axis sensors are provided on a single axis sensor assembly, which can be linear or nonlinear. The catheter may include a catheter body on which at least one, if not at least three single axis sensors, are mounted serially along a length of the body. In one embodiment, the magnetic-based sensor assembly includes at least one coil member wrapped on the catheter body, wherein the coil member is connected to a respective cable member adapted to transmit a signal providing location information from the coil member to a mapping and localization system.

Abstract: A method includes retrieving from a memory a stored sensitivity table that associates magnetic position sensor readings with measured magnetic fields. One or more calibration values for the magnetic position sensor are estimated during a catheterization procedure in which a magnetic position sensor, fitted at a distal end of a catheter, is placed in an organ of a patient, based on (i) the stored sensitivity table and (ii) readings acquired by the magnetic position sensor while in the organ. Based on the one or more calibration values, a location of the distal end in the organ is magnetically tracked.

Abstract: A medical system includes a shaft, multiple ultrasound transducers and a processor. The shaft is configured for insertion into an intra-body cavity of a patient. The multiple ultrasound transducers, which are distributed over splines that form a basket catheter at a distal end of the shaft, are configured to transmit ultrasonic signals in the intra-body cavity and to receive echo signals in response to the ultrasonic signals. The processor is configured to calculate a surface of the intra-body cavity by processing the echo signals using an ellipsoidal back-projection method, which reconstructs ultrasound-wave reflecting surfaces by performing at least one of applying back-projection summation over sub-sets of scattered echo signals distributed over respective sub-sets of constructed ellipsoids and applying a non-linear minimum operator over each of the sub-sets of distributed echo signals to generate a respective minimum value for each sub-set.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, apparatuses and methods that include a catheter configured to be inserted into an intra-body cavity of a patient. An ultrasonic transducer array including a plurality of multi-frequency ultrasonic transducers may be arranged on the catheter. Each of the plurality of multi-frequency ultrasonic transducers may be configured to transmit a wide beam ultrasonic signal and a narrow beam ultrasound signal, and may further be configured to receive a wide beam echo signal and narrow beam echo signal. A processor may be configured to detect free space of the intra-body cavity by processing the wide beam echo signals and the narrow beam echo signals.

Abstract: A method, including acquiring initial signals from selected positions in a heart, computing respective initial local values of a signal propagation metric at the selected positions, and interpolating the initial local values between the selected positions to compute initial interpolated values of the signal propagation metric at intermediate positions, between the selected positions. The method further includes acquiring subsequent signals from the positions, computing respective subsequent local values of the signal propagation metric at the selected positions, and spatially interpolating the subsequent local values of the signal propagation metric between the selected positions to compute subsequent interpolated values of the signal propagation metric at the intermediate positions.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an apparatus that includes an expandable structure, configured for insertion into a body of a subject, and a plurality of conducting elements coupled to the expandable structure. Each of the conducting elements comprises a respective coil and has an insulated portion that is electrically insulated from tissue of the subject, and an uninsulated portion configured to exchange signals with the tissue, while in contact with the tissue. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An endobronchial probe includes a deflector having a bore extending therethrough at an angle to its long axis for passage of a tool. The probe includes a location sensor and an ultrasound imager. A push-pull anchoring system comprises a plurality of guides and wires that can extend beyond the guides and retract within the guides. When extended the wires diverge from the long axis sufficiently to engage a bronchus. The probe includes a balloon disposed on the distal segment contralateral to bore that when inflated urges the mouth of the bore into contact with the bronchial wall.

Abstract: A system for visually representing estimated ablation size is provided which includes sensors that acquire location signals indicating locations of an ablation device during an ablation of an organ and ablation parameters signals indicating ablation parameters during the ablation. The system also includes memory which stores location data and ablation parameter data corresponding to the location signals and ablation parameters signals. The system also includes a processing device which generates mapping information for displaying a map of the organ and first object information for displaying a first geometrical object having a first size which represents an estimated depth of the ablation of the organ. The processing device also generates second object information for displaying, concurrently with the first geometrical object, a second geometrical object having a second size which represents an estimated width of the ablation of the organ.

Abstract: A method includes receiving an input mesh representation of a cardiac chamber, a set of measured locations on a wall tissue of the cardiac chamber, and a respective set of local activation times (LATs) measured at the locations. The input mesh is re-meshed into a regular mesh including regularized polygons. The set of measured locations and respective LATs is data fitted to the regularized polygons. Respective LAT values are iteratively calculated for the regularized polygons, so as to obtain a cyclic EP activation wave solution over the regular mesh that take account of reentry of an EP wave. An electroanatomical map including the cyclic EP activation wave overlaid on the regular mesh is presented.

Abstract: A system includes an electrical interface and a processor. The electrical interface is configured for communicating with a probe inserted into a heart of a patient. The processor is configured to receive, via the electrical interface, (i) a first indication of an electrical impedance measured by the probe at a given location on an inner surface of the heart, and (ii) a second indication of a quality of mechanical contact between the probe and the inner surface of the heart during measurement of the electrical impedance. The processor is further configured, based on the first and second indications, to classify tissue at the given location as scar tissue.

Abstract: A catheter is provided with improved position and/or location sensing with the use of single axis sensors that are mounted directly along a length or portion of the catheter whose position/location is of interest. The magnetic based, single axis sensors are provided on a single axis sensor (SAS) assembly, which can be linear or nonlinear as needed. A catheter of the present invention thus includes a catheter body and a distal member of a particular 2D or 3D configuration that is provided by a support member on which at least one, if not at least three single axis sensors, are mounted serially along a length of the support member. In one embodiment, the magnetic-based sensor assembly including at least one coil member that is wrapped on the support member, wherein the coil member is connected via a joint region to a respective cable member adapted to transmit a signal providing location information from the coil member to a mapping and localization system.