Abstract: A probe having a contact force sensor is inserted into a cardiac chamber and an image of the blood pool is generated. A portion of the blood pool is removed from the image to retain a remaining portion of the blood pool. A determination is made that the distal segment of the probe is within the remaining portion of the blood pool, and responsively to the determination the contact force sensor is manually zeroed.

Abstract: A system-on-chip (SoC) can include a processor, a network controller configured to provide a network interface, and a memory controller configured to perform memory scrubbing. A memory patrol driver executing on the processor can initiate direct memory access (DMA) transfers to read successive portions of the memory by configuring corresponding DMA descriptors at a certain time interval. The network controller can perform each DMA transfer to read a corresponding portion of the memory, which can cause the memory controller to scrub the corresponding portion of the memory. The scrubbed data is sent to the network controller, which is discarded by the network controller.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of ablation. The method includes the steps of inserting a probe having an ablation electrode into a body of a living subject and urging the ablation electrode into a contacting relationship with a target tissue. A measurement of at least one electroanatomic parameter is made between the ablation electrode and the target tissue, and the measurement is haptically communicated to an operator. Responsively to the communicated measurement, ablating the target tissue using the ablation electrode.

Abstract: A method includes registering a fluoroscopic imaging system and a position tracking system to a common frame of reference. A region of interest is marked in a patient body by the position tracking system. Using the common frame of reference, a field of view of the fluoroscopic imaging system is set such that the region of interest appears in the field of view.

Abstract: A system includes an electrical interface for communicating with a probe, and a processor. The electrical interface is configured to be inserted into a heart of a patient. The processor is configured to (A) receive from the probe, via the electrical interface, (i) position-signals indicative of a position of a distal tip of the probe in the heart, (ii) a contact-force indication indicative of a contact force exerted on the distal tip, and (iii) an electrophysiological (EP) measurement acquired by the distal tip at the position, (B) calculate a contact-force vector based on the contact-force indication received from the distal tip, and (C) based on the position-signals and on the contact-force vector, estimate a location, on an electro-anatomical map of the heart, at which the distal tip touches tissue, and to update the electro-anatomical map with the EP measurement, associated with the estimated location.

Abstract: Cardiac catheterization is facilitated by generating first and second electroanatomic maps of a heart of a subject and designating common spatial locations that correspond to first electrical events on the first electroanatomic map and second electrical events on the second electroanatomic map. The common spatial locations of the first electroanatomic map and the second electroanatomic map are aligned to establish an aligned map, and using the location data on the aligned map to guide a probe to a point of interest.

Abstract: A method for electrode placement includes acquiring an image of a body of a patient, such that the image captures a patch that has been placed on the body. Based on the acquired image and the patch appearing therein, one or more preferred locations are calculated on the body for placing one or more respective electrodes to be used in carrying out a procedure in an internal organ of the patient. The preferred locations are displayed to an operator.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an apparatus that includes a display and processor. The processor is configured to receive, from a user, an input that indicates one or more points of interest on an electroanatomical map, of an anatomical surface, that is displayed on the display, and to superimpose on the map, in response to the input, a plurality of contours, each one of the contours being at a different respective geodesic distance, with respect to the surface, from the points of interest. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus, consisting of an envelope transparent to X-rays, and a fluid transparent to X-rays and contained within the envelope. Multiple charged particles, opaque to X-rays, are suspended within the fluid. There are at least two electrodes on opposite sides of the envelope, that are configured to apply a field to the multiple particles, so that, absent the field, the particles disperse throughout the fluid.

Abstract: A method for electrode placement includes acquiring an image of a body of a patient, such that the image captures a patch that has been placed on the body. Based on the acquired image and the patch appearing therein, one or more preferred locations are calculated on the body for placing one or more respective electrodes to be used in carrying out a procedure in an internal organ of the patient. The preferred locations are displayed to an operator.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an apparatus that includes a display and processor. The processor is configured to receive, from a user, an input that indicates one or more points of interest on an electroanatomical map, of an anatomical surface, that is displayed on the display, and to superimpose on the map, in response to the input, a plurality of contours, each one of the contours being at a different respective geodesic distance, with respect to the surface, from the points of interest. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A system includes an electrical interface for communicating with a probe, and a processor. The electrical interface is configured to be inserted into a heart of a patient. The processor is configured to (A) receive from the probe, via the electrical interface, (i) position-signals indicative of a position of a distal tip of the probe in the heart, (ii) a contact-force indication indicative of a contact force exerted on the distal tip, and (iii) an electrophysiological (EP) measurement acquired by the distal tip at the position, (B) calculate a contact-force vector based on the contact-force indication received from the distal tip, and (C) based on the position-signals and on the contact-force vector, estimate a location, on an electro-anatomical map of the heart, at which the distal tip touches tissue, and to update the electro-anatomical map with the EP measurement, associated with the estimated location.

Abstract: A method for electrode placement includes acquiring an image of a body of a patient, such that the image captures a patch that has been placed on the body. Based on the acquired image and the patch appearing therein, one or more preferred locations are calculated on the body for placing one or more respective electrodes to be used in carrying out a procedure in an internal organ of the patient. The preferred locations are displayed to an operator.

Abstract: A probe having a contact force sensor is inserted into a cardiac chamber and an image of the blood pool is generated. A portion of the blood pool is removed from the image to retain a remaining portion of the blood pool. A determination is made that the distal segment of the probe is within the remaining portion of the blood pool, and responsively to the determination the contact force sensor is manually zeroed.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an apparatus that includes a display and processor. The processor is configured to receive, from a user, an input that indicates one or more points of interest on an electroanatomical map, of an anatomical surface, that is displayed on the display, and to superimpose on the map, in response to the input, a plurality of contours, each one of the contours being at a different respective geodesic distance, with respect to the surface, from the points of interest. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A probe having a contact force sensor is inserted into a cardiac chamber and an image of the blood pool is generated. A portion of the blood pool is removed from the image to retain a remaining portion of the blood pool. A determination is made that the distal segment of the probe is within the remaining portion of the blood pool, and responsively to the determination the contact force sensor is manually zeroed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of ablation. The method includes the steps of inserting a probe having an ablation electrode into a body of a living subject and urging the ablation electrode into a contacting relationship with a target tissue. A measurement of at least one electroanatomic parameter is made between the ablation electrode and the target tissue, and the measurement is haptically communicated to an operator. Responsively to the communicated measurement, ablating the target tissue using the ablation electrode.

Abstract: Cardiac catheterization is facilitated by generating first and second electroanatomic maps of a heart of a subject and designating common spatial locations that correspond to first electrical events on the first electroanatomic map and second electrical events on the second electroanatomic map. The common spatial locations of the first electroanatomic map and the second electroanatomic map are aligned to establish an aligned map, and using the location data on the aligned map to guide a probe to a point of interest.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of ablation. The method includes the steps of inserting a probe having an ablation electrode into a body of a living subject and urging the ablation electrode into a contacting relationship with a target tissue. A measurement of a contact force is made between the ablation electrode and the target tissue, and the measurement is haptically communicated to an operator. The probe is adjusted responsively to the communicated measurement, to achieve a desired value of the contact force while ablating the target tissue using the ablation electrode.

Abstract: A fiberoptic waveguide connectable to an optical receiver, and a plurality of electro-optical elements optically coupled to the waveguide. The electro-optical elements each have a first electrode with a first polarity, and a second electrode with a second polarity. A light-emitting diode is linked to the first electrode and configured for illuminating the waveguide responsively to an electrical potential between the first electrode and the second electrode at a respective wavelength. The waveguide may be incorporated into a catheter for insertion into a subject, such as a cardiac catheter.