Abstract: A method includes obtaining an electroanatomical map, which maps a portion of a heart while the heart experiences an arrhythmia, obtaining a sequence of images of the heart acquired by an ultrasonic probe, the sequence including one or more arrhythmic images acquired while the heart experiences the arrhythmia and one or more rhythmic images acquired while the heart is in sinus rhythm, the ultrasonic probe including a sensor that outputs, during the acquisition of the sequence of images, a signal indicating a location and an orientation of the probe in a coordinate system of the electroanatomical map, based on the signal, identifying, in one of the arrhythmic images, an anatomical portion represented by a particular portion of the electroanatomical map, by tracking the anatomical portion through the sequence of images, identifying the anatomical portion in at least one of the rhythmic images, and displaying an output in response thereto.

Abstract: A catheter includes: a shaft for insertion into an organ of a patient, and first and second position sensors. The shaft includes: (a) an inner shaft, which is configured to be deflected relative to an axis of the shaft, and (b) an outer shaft, which is coupled to a distal tip of the catheter and is configured to be: (i) coaxially disposed around the inner shaft, (ii) deflected together with the inner shaft, and (iii) rotated about the axis relative to the inner shaft. The first position sensor is coupled to the distal tip and is configured to produce a first signal, and the second position sensor is coupled to the inner shaft, and is configured to produce a second signal.

Abstract: Medical systems and methods are provided in which a processor receives the 3D ultrasound images and receives position signals from a position tracking device, indicating the position of a corresponding probe relative to the 3D ultrasound images. Based on the probe position, a region of interest is selected that contains the position the medical probe within the 3D ultrasound images, and the selected region of interest is rendered to a display together with a representation of the medical probe superimposed on the region of interest.

Abstract: A method includes manipulating a catheter, which includes an ultrasound transducer array, inside an organ of a patient so as to acquire ultrasound images of at least part of the organ. One or more reference positions are identified of one or more respective reference anatomical structures in or near the organ. The ultrasound images are annotated with annotations indicating the identified reference anatomical structures.

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: One embodiment includes a cardiac ablation system, including an ablation probe including at least one ablation application element to ablate tissue in a chamber of a heart of a living subject, a tracking module to track a position of the at least one ablation application element within the heart, a memory to store a map of the chamber of the heart and store a different, respective default ablation-parameter set for each different region of the chamber, and processing circuitry to segment the map of the chamber into the different regions, receive a user input indicative of commencement of an ablation procedure, identify, responsively to the tracked position, a region of the chamber with which the at least one ablation application element is in contact, retrieve the respective default ablation-parameter set assigned to the identified region, and apply the retrieved default ablation-parameter set in controlling the ablation procedure.

Abstract: A system, device and method of using an ultrasound sensor with a balloon catheter are disclosed. The system, device and method include collecting an ultrasound reading from the ultrasound sensor, comparing a vein diameter to the collected ultrasound reading, and calculating an inflation index based on a generated map and the respective positions of the ACL electrodes. If the vein diameter is the same as the ultrasound reading, the balloon catheter is too far into the vein and needs to be retracted. The ultrasound reading may be compared to the inflation index of the balloon and/or to the vein diameter. The system, device and method include obtaining a baseline characterization of the vein (ostium), obtaining a current characterization of the vein (ostium) after a catheter is in position for a PV ablation, comparing the respective characterizations, and determining a location of the catheter based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method is described herein. The method is implemented by an optimization engine executed by a processor. The optimization engine receives data that includes performance metrics of mapping and ablation procedures. In turn, the optimization generates procedure expected outcomes for the mapping and ablation procedures based on the data and success predictions for a current ablation procedure utilizing the procedure expected outcomes. The optimization engine, also, outputs an ablation recommendation based on the success predictions.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft, configured for insertion into a body of a subject, an inflatable balloon coupled to a distal end of the shaft, and a plurality of electrodes coupled to a distal portion of the balloon that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the distal end of the shaft when the balloon is inflated. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and techniques are disclosed for automatically generating CPM matrices. The system includes a plurality of body surface electrodes configured to sense electric signals and a processor comprising a neural network. The processor is configured to receive a plurality of historical CPM matrices, patient properties, and corresponding catheter locations, train a learning system based on the plurality of CPM matrices, patient properties, and corresponding catheter locations, generate a model based on the learning system, receive new patient properties at least in part from the plurality of body surface electrodes and generate new CPM matrices based on new patient properties at least in part from the plurality of body surface electrodes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of aiding a physician in locating an area to perform an ablation on patients with atrial fibrillation (AFIB) includes receiving data at a machine, from at least one device, the data including information relating to a desired location for performing an ablation, generating, by the machine, an optimal location for performing the ablation based upon the data and inputs, and providing an optimal set of ablation parameters for performing the ablation at the location output by the model, or at a location specified by the physician.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and techniques are disclosed for automatically detecting arrhythmia locations. The systems, devices, and techniques include a plurality of body surface electrodes configured to sense electrocardiogram (ECG) data. The systems, devices, and techniques include a processor including a neural network configured to receive a plurality of historical ECG data and corresponding arrhythmia locations determined based on each of the plurality of historical ECG data, train a learning system based on the plurality of historical ECG data and corresponding arrhythmia locations, generate a model based on the learning system. New ECG data may be received from the plurality of body surface electrodes and the processor may provide a new arrhythmia location based on the new ECG data. Additionally, a new coherent mapping adjustment may be provided based on a model that is trained using historical coherent mapping adjustments.

Abstract: A method, including receiving sets of signals during multiple cardiac cycles, each set indicating, for a probe inserted into a cardiac chamber, a 3D location of a distal end of the probe, electrical potentials measured at the location, and respective times during a given cycle when the potentials were measured. The received measurements and the respective times are compared to a first template for a sinus rhythm cycle and a second template for a non-sinus rhythm cycle so as to identify a sequence of cycles including consecutive first, second, and third cycles wherein the first and second cycles match the first template and the third cycle matches the second template. A physical map is generated based on the locations. Based on the received locations and corresponding potentials, an electroanatomic map including the local activation times for the non-sinus rhythm cycle overlaid on the physical map is rendered to a display.

Abstract: A method, including receiving sets of signals during multiple cardiac cycles, each set indicating, for a probe inserted into a cardiac chamber, a 3D location of a distal end of the probe, electrical potentials measured at the location, and respective times during a given cycle when the potentials were measured. The received measurements and the respective times are compared to a first template for a sinus rhythm cycle and a second template for a non-sinus rhythm cycle so as to identify a sequence of cycles including consecutive first, second, and third cycles wherein the first and second cycles match the first template and the third cycle matches the second template. A physical map is generated based on the locations. Based on the received locations and corresponding potentials, an electroanatomic map including the local activation times for the non-sinus rhythm cycle overlaid on the physical map is rendered to a display.

Abstract: A method is disclosed comprising: performing a first scan of an organ using a set of electrodes in a catheter that are currently active; deactivating one or more of the electrodes in the set based on data that is collected as a result of the first scan; tuning the set by at least one of (i) deactivating one or more electrodes in the set that remain active after the deactivating, and (ii) activating one or more electrodes in the catheter that are inactive; performing a second scan of the organ using electrodes in the set that are currently active after the tuning is performed, and generating a map of the organ based on data collected as a result of the second scan; and outputting the map of the organ for presentation to a user.

Abstract: A method for treatment evaluation includes applying energy through a probe to ablate tissue at a plurality of sites in an organ in a body of a patient, thereby creating lesions in the tissue including at least first and second lesions at respective first and second, mutually-adjacent sites. Location coordinates and respective treatment parameters are recorded at each of the sites with respect to the applied energy. Based on the recorded treatment parameters, respective measures of size of the lesions are computed, including at least respective first and second measures of the first and second lesions. An indication of contiguity between at least the first and second lesions is generated responsively to the first and second measures and to a distance between the location coordinates of the first and second sites.

Abstract: One embodiment includes a cardiac ablation system, including an ablation probe including at least one ablation application element to ablate tissue in a chamber of a heart of a living subject, a tracking module to track a position of the at least one ablation application element within the heart, a memory to store a map of the chamber of the heart and store a different, respective default ablation-parameter set for each different region of the chamber, and processing circuitry to segment the map of the chamber into the different regions, receive a user input indicative of commencement of an ablation procedure, identify, responsively to the tracked position, a region of the chamber with which the at least one ablation application element is in contact, retrieve the respective default ablation-parameter set assigned to the identified region, and apply the retrieved default ablation-parameter set in controlling the ablation procedure.

Abstract: A system comprises a display and a processor. The processor is configured to display on the display in a graphical user interface (GUI), while a plurality of electrogram signals are acquired from a heart, a plurality of widgets corresponding to different respective electroanatomical maps generated from the electrogram signals, each of the electroanatomical maps being associated with a respective set of suitability criteria such that any one of the electrogram signals is used to generate the map only if the signal satisfies the set of suitability criteria. The processor is further configured to display in the GUI, in response to a user selecting any one of the widgets, a status of a most recently acquired one of the electrogram signals with respect to at least one criterion in the set of suitability criteria associated with the electroanatomical map to which the selected widget corresponds. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: One embodiment includes a medical system including electrodes configured for application to a body of a subject and configured to output signals in response to electrical activity of a heart of the subject, a display, and a processor configured to store a set of templates corresponding to different types of arrhythmia of the heart, apply the templates to the signals so as to associate one or more different temporal sections of the signals with respective ones of the types of arrhythmia, and render to the display a user interface screen including at least a part of the signals and graphical identifiers identifying the different temporal sections of at least the part of the signals with the respective ones of the types of arrhythmia with which they are associated.

Abstract: A method is disclosed comprising: performing a first scan of an organ using a set of electrodes in a catheter that are currently active; deactivating one or more of the electrodes in the set based on data that is collected as a result of the first scan; tuning the set by at least one of (i) deactivating one or more electrodes in the set that remain active after the deactivating, and (ii) activating one or more electrodes in the catheter that are inactive; performing a second scan of the organ using electrodes in the set that are currently active after the tuning is performed, and generating a map of the organ based on data collected as a result of the second scan; and outputting the map of the organ for presentation to a user.