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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: An ablation apparatus includes a flexible probe adapted for insertion into a heart of a living subject. The probe has a distally disposed ablation electrode to be brought into contact with a target tissue in the heart, and has facilities for measuring contact force with the target tissue. The apparatus includes a transmitter, operative to transmit an indication of the contact force to a wearable device having an actuator operative to haptically stimulate the operator responsively to the indication.

Abstract: An apparatus, including an insertion tube having a proximal tube end and a distal tube end that includes an electrode, a first irrigation line including proximal and distal irrigation line ends and configured to supply fluid from the distal irrigation line end through apertures in the tube, and an electrical line including a proximal electrical line end and a distal electric line end coupled to the electrode. The apparatus includes a slip ring unit having a stator, a rotor connected to the proximal electrical line end, and a hollow channel extending through respective centers of the stator and the rotor along a longitudinal axis of the slip ring unit. The apparatus includes a rotary joint in fluid communication with the proximal irrigation line end, an angle sensor configured to detect torsion of the proximal irrigation line end, and a drive mechanism coupled to rotate the rotor responsively to the torsion.

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: Apparatus, including a flexible insertion tube having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity, a first sensor in the distal end configured to acquire a first signal from the cavity during a medical procedure, and a second sensor in the distal end configured to acquire a second signal from the cavity during the procedure. The apparatus also includes a display, and a processor configured to present, on the display, first and second measurements corresponding to the first and second signals, and to accept an input selecting one of the presented measurements so as to generate a selected measurement. The apparatus additionally includes a handle coupled to the tube's proximal end, and a haptic feedback device attached to the handle configured to provide, under direction of the processor, a tactile feedback in response to the selected measurement while deemphasizing a presentation of the selected measurement.

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 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.

Abstract: An apparatus, including an insertion tube having a proximal tube end and a distal tube end that includes an electrode, a first irrigation line including proximal and distal irrigation line ends and configured to supply fluid from the distal irrigation line end through apertures in the tube, and an electrical line including a proximal electrical line end and a distal electric line end coupled to the electrode. The apparatus includes a slip ring unit having a stator, a rotor connected to the proximal electrical line end, and a hollow channel extending through respective centers of the stator and the rotor along a longitudinal axis of the slip ring unit. The apparatus includes a rotary joint in fluid communication with the proximal irrigation line end, an angle sensor configured to detect torsion of the proximal irrigation line end, and a drive mechanism coupled to rotate the rotor responsively to the torsion.

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: An apparatus, including a transparent panel, which is configured to protect an operator positioned on a first side of the panel from X-ray radiation applied to a patient on a second side of the panel during a medical procedure, while permitting the operator to view the patient through the panel. The apparatus also includes a display device, which is coupled to present information on the transparent panel responsively to the medical procedure.

Abstract: An ablation apparatus includes a flexible probe adapted for insertion into a heart of a living subject. The probe has a distally disposed ablation electrode to be brought into contact with a target tissue in the heart, and has facilities for measuring contact force with the target tissue. The apparatus includes a transmitter, operative to transmit an indication of the contact force to a wearable device having an actuator operative to haptically stimulate the operator responsively to the indication.

Abstract: Apparatus, including a flexible insertion tube having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity, a first sensor in the distal end configured to acquire a first signal from the cavity during a medical procedure, and a second sensor in the distal end configured to acquire a second signal from the cavity during the procedure. The apparatus also includes a display, and a processor configured to present, on the display, first and second measurements corresponding to the first and second signals, and to accept an input selecting one of the presented measurements so as to generate a selected measurement. The apparatus additionally includes a handle coupled to the tube's proximal end, and a haptic feedback device attached to the handle configured to provide, under direction of the processor, a tactile feedback in response to the selected measurement while deemphasizing a presentation of the selected measurement.

Abstract: A method for displaying information, including presenting on one or more monitors a plurality of distinct elements in a first spatial relationship with one another, the plurality of distinct elements being illustrative of a state of a medical procedure. The method also includes measuring gaze directions, towards the plurality of the elements, of an implementer of the medical procedure while the procedure is being performed. In response to the measured gaze directions, the plurality of distinct elements are rearranged on the one or more monitors into a second spatial relationship with one another.

Abstract: A medical device has a flexible elongated body, a handle connected to the elongated body, at least one spine connected to the elongated body, and a flexible sheet attached to the at least one spine. The flexible sheet has a plurality of electrodes thereon, wherein the flexible sheet and the plurality of electrodes define a mapping assembly for mapping electrical information in tissue, and wherein the at least one spine and the flexible sheet is movable from a collapsed configuration to a deployed configuration.