Abstract: A method and medical system to take electrical readings includes an electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor, an electrode coupled to the monitor via a first lead and a needle such as an injection needle. The needle has a proximal end coupled to the monitor, where the monitor is able to measure an electrical pattern between the electrode and a distal end of the needle. In one example, the medical system is used to detect the contact, penetration, health and perforation of tissue at a target site.

Abstract: System and methods for locating a vascular opening and thereafter therapeutically sealing the wound with high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) are disclosed. The improved system utilizes three or more reference transducers mounted on the HIFU applicator and another transducer mounted on a distal end of a probe. The probe is used with the imaging array of the HIFU applicator. The operator places the distal end of the probe at the vessel opening using the imaging array. The position of the applicator may need to be adjusted on the patient's body, depending upon the feedback of the imaging array data. The transducers transmit and receive acoustic energy and generate signals indicative of their location. Time-of-flight (TOF) calculations are performed to determine the distances between the probe transducer and the reference transducers. A three-dimensional position of the end of the probe is calculated using a multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) algorithm.

Abstract: Methods and systems for graphically creating a representation of an anatomical structure, such as a heart, is provided. The distal end of an elongated probe is moved within the anatomical structure, and geometric shapes are defined within a coordinate system. By defining geometric shapes, such as spheres or circles, as the distal probe end is moved within the anatomical structure, the cavity within the anatomical structure can be represented. A representation of at least a portion of the anatomical structure can be graphically generated based on the geometric shapes, e.g., by determining a union of the geometric shapes and conforming the graphical representation around the union of the shapes. In the case of a heart, the union of the shapes will generally represent the blood volume within the heart, so that the graphical anatomical representation (which in this case will be a graphical representation of the endocardial surface of the heart) can be accurately conformed around the representative blood volume.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing and/or superimposing a medical image of an anatomical body (e.g., a heart) with graphical information are provided. Reference elements and/or reference catheter are placed in contact with the anatomical body. A physical structure within a navigational coordinate system is located using the reference elements and/or reference catheter. An image reference within an image coordinate corresponding to the physical structure is located. Location of the image reference can be accomplished, e.g., by displaying the medical image and electronically marking the displayed image reference, or by automatically locating image data corresponding to the image reference. The navigational and image coordinate systems are then registered based on the location of the physical structure within the navigational coordinate system and the location of the image reference within the image coordinate system, which allows graphical information to be accurately merged with the medical image data.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and method for navigating a medical probe (such as a catheter) relative to an anatomical body (such as a heart). A mark (such as a point or line), representing an anatomical region of interest (such as tissue targeted for treatment or tissue not targeted for treatment) is displayed on a representation of the anatomical body. The positions of the medical probe and the mark are determined within a three-dimensional coordinate system, and the proximity between the medical probe and the mark determined based on these positions. This proximity can then be indicated to a user, e.g., using graphics, text, or audible sounds.

Abstract: The present invention is a device localization system that uses one or more ultrasound reference catheters to establish a fixed three-dimensional coordinate system within a patient's heart using principles of triangulation. The coordinate system is represented graphically in three-dimensions on a video monitor and aids the clinician in guiding other medical devices, which are provided with ultrasound transducers, through the body to locations at which they are needed to perform clinical procedures. In one embodiment of a system according to the present invention, the system is used in the heart to help the physician guide mapping catheters for measuring electrical activity, and ablation catheters for ablating selected regions of cardiac tissue, to desired locations within the heart.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating graphical representations of orifices and vessels. One method comprises generating a representation of the surface (e.g., an endocardial surface) within a coordinate system, and laterally moving the distal end of an elongated probe within an orifice (e.g., a valve or a vessel ostium) associated with the surface. The method further comprises defining line segments within the coordinate system while the probe distal end is moved within the orifice, wherein each of the line segments represents the probe distal end. The method further comprises defining intersection points within the coordinate system, wherein each of the points represents an intersection of one of the line segments and the surface representation. Lastly, the method comprises graphically generating a representation of the orifice based on the intersection points, e.g., by forming the orifice representation around the intersection points.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for graphically displaying a three-dimensional model of a region located within a living body. A three-dimensional model of a region of interest is displayed on a graphical display. The location in three-dimensional space of a physical characteristic (e.g. a structure, wall or space) in the region of interest is determined using at least one probe positioned within the living body. The graphical display of the model is deformed to approximately reflect the determined three-dimensional location of the physical characteristic. Preferably, the probe or probes are moved throughout the region of interest so as to gather multiple data points that can be used to increase the conformity between the graphical display and the actual region of interest within the patient.

Abstract: A distance measuring system comprises first and second transducers, and an ultrasound ranging subsystem coupled to the first and second transducers for performing a plurality of distance measurements between the first and second transducers. The distance measurement system can have various applications, including medical applications, in which case, the first and second transducers can be mounted on a catheter. The distance measuring system further comprises a filter coupled to the ultrasound ranging subsystem for filtering ultrasound interference from the plurality of distance measurements (such as, e.g., eight), and outputting a distance based on the filtered distance measurements. The filter filters the ultrasound interference by selecting one of the plurality distance measurements, in which case, the outputted distance is the selected distance measurement.