Abstract: The invention relates to a device and to a method for visual assistance during the electrophysiological use of a catheter in the heart, enabling electroanatomic 3D mapping data relating to an area of the heart to be treated to be visualized during the use of the catheter. Before the catheter is used, 3D image data of a body region containing the area to be treated is detected by means of a method for tomographic 3D imaging. The area to be treated or significant parts thereof are extracted from said 3D image data, in order to obtain selected 3D image data. The electroanatomic 3D mapping data and the selected 3D image data obtained are then classed in terms of position and dimension, and are adjacently visualized, for example, during the catheter ablation. The inventive method and associated device enable the orientation of the operator to be improved during the use of a catheter in the heart.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for visually supporting an electrophysiology catheter application in the heart, whereby electroanatomical 3D mapping data of an area of the heart to be treated which are provided during performance of the catheter application are visualized. Before the catheter application is carried out, 3D image data of the area to be treated are recorded by means of a tomographical 3D imaging method, a 3D surface profile of objects in the area to be treated is extracted from the 3D image data by segmentation and the electroanatomical 3D mapping data provided and the 3D images representing the 3D surface profile are associated with each other in the correct position and dimension relative each other and e.g. visualized in an superimposed manner during the catheter application. The present method and the corresponding device allow for an improved orientation of the user who carries out an electrophysiology catheter application in the heart.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for performing and monitoring minimally invasive interventions with an x-ray unit, in which at least one x-ray source and one x-ray detector can traverse a circular track through an angle range, an ECG recording unit, an imaging catheter, a mapping unit with a mapping catheter and an ablation unit with an ablation catheter. The system comprises a control and evaluation unit with interfaces for the units and catheters, which enable an exchange of data with the control and evaluation unit. The control and evaluation unit is designed for processing measurement or image data which it receives from the catheters and units, and for controlling the catheters and units for the capture of the measurement or image data. The workflow from the examination through to the therapy, particularly with regard to the treatment of tachycardial arrhythmias, is covered completely and continuously by the proposed system.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for automatic replacement of instruments during minimally invasive procedures, comprising a housing, an outlet element for an instrument, a selection unit and a guide element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and to a method for visual assistance during the electrophysiological use of a catheter in the heart, enabling electroanatomic 3D mapping data relating to an area of the heart to be treated to be visualised during the use of the catheter. Before the catheter is used, 3D image data of a body region containing the area to be treated is detected by means of a method for tomographic 3D imaging. The area to be treated or significant parts thereof are extracted from said 3D image data, in order to obtain selected 3D image data. The electroanatomic 3D mapping data and the selected 3D image data obtained are then classed in terms of position and dimension, and are adjacently visualised, for example, during the catheter ablation. The inventive method and associated device enable the orientation of the operator to be improved during the use of a catheter in the heart.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for the three-dimensional presentation of an examination region of a patient in the form of a 3D reconstruction image, a preoperatively acquired 3D image dataset of the examination region is employed in a medical procedure, datasets representing a number of 2D ultrasound images of the examination region are acquired, the preoperative 3D image dataset is updated using the datasets representing 2D ultrasound images, and the 3D reconstruction image is generated on the basis of the updated 3D image dataset.

Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed for visually supporting an electrophysiology catheter application in the heart, whereby electroanatomical 3D mapping data of an area of the heart to be treated which are provided during performance of the catheter application are visualized. Before the catheter application is carried out, 3D image data of the area to be treated are recorded by way of a tomographical 3D imaging method, a 3D surface profile of objects in the area to be treated is extracted from the 3D image data by segmentation and the electroanatomical 3D mapping data provided and the 3D images representing the 3D surface profile are associated with each other in the correct position and dimension relative each other and e.g. visualized in a superimposed manner during the catheter application. The disclosed method and the corresponding device allow for an improved orientation of the user who carries out an electrophysiology catheter application in the heart.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for automatic replacement of instruments during minimally invasive procedures, comprising a housing, an outlet element for an instrument, a selection unit and a guide element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for performing and monitoring minimally invasive interventions with an x-ray unit, in which at least one x-ray source and one x-ray detector can traverse a circular track through an angle range, an ECG recording unit, an imaging catheter, a mapping unit with a mapping catheter and an ablation unit with an ablation catheter. The system comprises a control and evaluation unit with interfaces for the units and catheters, which enable an exchange of data with the control and evaluation unit. The control and evaluation unit is designed for processing measurement or image data which it receives from the catheters and units, and for controlling the catheters and units for the capture of the measurement or image data. The workflow from the examination through to the therapy, particularly with regard to the treatment of tachycardial arrhythmias, is covered completely and continuously by the proposed system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for imaging during interventional or surgical procedures. In said method 2D fluoroscopy images (14a, 14b) of an area under examination are recorded by means of an X-ray fluoroscopy system and registered with previously recorded 3D image data (13) of the area under examination. The method is characterized in that two 2D fluoroscopy images (14a, 14b) are recorded in each case from a stereoscopic perspective as a 2D image pair, two 2D rendering images corresponding to the stereoscopic perspective of the 2D image pair are computed from the 3D image data (13), and the 2D image pair and the 2D rendering images are displayed stereoscopically as an overlay. The method and the device permit improved orientation for the operator in the area under examination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for imaging during interventional or surgical procedures. In said method 2D fluoroscopy images (14a, 14b) of an area under examination are recorded by means of an X-ray fluoroscopy system and registered with previously recorded 3D image data (13) of the area under examination. The method is characterized in that two 2D fluoroscopy images (14a, 14b) are recorded in each case from a stereoscopic perspective as a 2D image pair, two 2D rendering images corresponding to the stereoscopic perspective of the 2D image pair are computed from the 3D image data (13), and the 2D image pair and the 2D rendering images are displayed stereoscopically as an overlay. The method and the device permit improved orientation for the operator in the area under examination.

Abstract: An Apparatus for directing a magnetic element in a body (17) of a patient comprises a pair of directing magnet pods (11, 12) movable in relation to each other and attached to opposite ends (10) of an arm (2, 20) which extends in a circumferential direction (4, 22) around a support (5) of the patient and which is movable in a circumferential direction (4, 22) and pivotable around a radial axis (8, 24) with respect to the support of the patient.

Abstract: In a medical treatment/examination device and method for the acquisition and presentation of a medical instrument introduced into a cavity organ of a patient to be examined or treated, particularly in the framework of a cardial examination or treatment with a catheter, intracorporeal registration of 2D ultrasound images of the cavity organ is undertaken using a catheter-like ultrasound acquisition device guided into the cavity organ with simultaneous acquisition of the spatial position and orientation of a 2D ultrasound image by a position acquisition system, a 3D ultrasound image dataset is generated from the 2D ultrasound image, following introduction of the instrument, the instrument is acquired in a coordinate system registered with the 3D ultrasound image dataset, and a 3D reconstruction image is generated on the basis of the 3D image dataset and is presented at a monitor, containing a positionally exact presentation of the instrument in the 3D reconstruction image.

Abstract: An endoscopy apparatus has an endoscopy capsule for acquiring images of the inside of an organ or vessel of the human or animal body that can be wirelessly transmitted to an external receiver, with cameras respectively at both ends that supply separate images from different acquisition directions. At least one of the cameras is movable in the capsule either from side-to-side relative to a central position, or circularly around a central position.

Abstract: A method of locating and visualizing a medical catheter that has been introduced into an area of examination within a patient

Abstract: In a medical treatment/examination device and method for the acquisition and presentation of a medical instrument introduced into a cavity organ of a patient to be examined or treated, particularly in the framework of a cardial examination or treatment with a catheter, intracorporeal registration of 2D ultrasound images of the cavity organ is undertaken using a catheter-like ultrasound acquisition device guided into the cavity organ with simultaneous acquisition of the spatial position and orientation of a 2D ultrasound image by a position acquisition system, a 3D ultrasound image dataset is generated from the 2D ultrasound image, following introduction of the instrument, the instrument is acquired in a coordinate system registered with the 3D ultrasound image dataset, and a 3D reconstruction image is generated on the basis of the 3D image dataset and is presented at a monitor, containing a positionally exact presentation of the instrument in the 3D reconstruction image.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for image presentation of a medical instrument introduced into an examination region of a patient, particularly a catheter in the framework of a cardiological examination or treatment, a 3D image dataset of the examination region is employed to generate a 3D reconstruction image of the examination region, at least two 2D fluoroscopic images of the examination region are acquired that reside at an angle relative to one another and wherein the instrument is shown, the 3D reconstruction image is registered relative to the 2D fluoroscopic images, the spatial position of the catheter tip and the spatial orientation of a section of the catheter tip are determined on the basis of the 2D fluoroscopic images; and the 3D reconstruction image is presented at a monitor, this presentation containing a positionally exact presentation of the tip and of the section of the catheter tip of the catheter in the 3D reconstruction image.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for the three-dimensional presentation of an examination region of a patient in the form of a 3D reconstruction image, a preoperatively acquired 3D image dataset of the examination region is employed in a medical procedure, a number of 2D ultrasound images of the examination region are acquired, the preoperative 3D image dataset is updated using the 2D ultrasound images, and the 3D reconstruction image is generated on the basis of the updated 3D image dataset.

Abstract: An apparatus for localizing action currents in the heart of a living subject has electrodes for acquiring a distribution of electrical potential on the body surface of the living subject generated by the action currents, a position acquisition unit for determining the spatial position of the electrodes, and a localization unit connected to the electrodes and to the position acquisition unit. The localization unit localizing the action currents from the distribution of potential and the spatial position of the electrodes. A reference catheter fixable in the heart is fashioned such that its spatial position can be determined by the position acquisition unit, and that the localization unit localizes the action currents with reference to the reference catheter.

Abstract: In a method for localizing an origination site of electrical heart activity, body surface potentials generated by the heart activity are measured at a number of measuring points with a multi-channel measuring system, and values are stored that characterize the body surface potentials at the measuring points. These values are then compared to comparison values stored in a data bank, the comparison values representing comparison surface potentials that arise from modeled comparison heart activities whose position in the heart is known. The position of that comparison heart activity whose comparison values exhibit the most similarity to the characteristic values is emitted as a localization result. The comparison values are determined using a heart model embedded in a thorax model.