Abstract: A method of modifying tissue behavior, comprising: determining a desired modification of tissue behavior for at least one of treatment of a disease, short or long term modification of tissue behavior, assessing tissue state and assessing tissue response to stimulation; selecting an electric field having an expected effect of modifying protein activity of at least one protein as an immediate response of a tissue to the field, said expected effect correlated with said desired modification; and applying said field to said tissue.

Abstract: A nuclear medicine tomography system comprising: a detector carrier having a circular or partially circular aperture and defining a plane; a plurality of SPECT detector assemblies attached to the detector carrier and arranged around the aperture; a patient carrier movable relative to the plane; each detector assembly comprising an arm defining an extension axis and at least one detector head movable along the axis, wherein each detector assembly has a rounded distal portion; wherein each detector head is extendible along the axis, from the detector carrier toward the patient carrier; and a controller to: control, based on desired bore size and shape, extension and retraction of the detector heads to a spatial arrangement defined by the extension and retraction, control data acquisition by the detector heads, and control image reconstruction of acquired data; the controller further configured to control data acquisition and/or image reconstruction, based on the spatial arrangement.

Abstract: There is provided a method of treating a patient, comprising: delivering a self-expandable transcatheter heart valve (THV) over a guidewire in a contracted state and within a sheath to a first anatomical location within a heart of the patient, moving the THV relative to the sheath for partially self-expanding a portion of the THV within the first anatomical location, wherein a portion of the THV in the sheath remains in the contracted state and the THV is partially self-expanded, and refraining from moving the partially self-expanded THV, relative to the aortic annulus of the heart.

Abstract: Methods and devices for tying management of an implantable medical device to the activities of a primary care physician are described, including access control, simplified parameter optimization, support for tuning a device in response to the effects of other treatments in parallel, and support for helping a primary physician and a patient work together to tune device configuration to the activity and performance needs of the patient. In some embodiments, a medical device is self-configuring in a device parameter domain, based on inputs provided in a patient performance domain. The self-configuring of the medical device is based, for example, on an automatically applied transformation of inputs derived from patient performance domain observations into changes in the configuration of the medical device which affect technical parameters of its operation.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a body cavity shape of a subject is reconstructed based on intrabody measurements of voltages by an intrabody probe (for example, a catheter probe) moving within a plurality of differently-oriented electromagnetic fields crossing the body cavity. In some embodiments, the method uses distances between electrodes as a spatially calibrated ruler. Positions of measurements made with the intrabody probe in different positions are optionally related by using spatial coherence of the measured electromagnetic fields as a constraint. Optionally, reconstruction is performed without using a detailed reference (image or simulation) describing the body cavity shape. Optionally, reconstruction uses further information to refine and/or constrain the reconstruction; for example: images, simulations, additional electromagnetic fields, and/or measurements characteristic of body cavity landmarks. Optionally, reconstruction accounts for time-dependent cavity shape changes, for example, phasic changes (e.g.

Abstract: An N-M tomography system comprising: a carrier for the subject of an examination procedure; a plurality of detector heads; a carrier for the detector heads; and a detector positioning arrangement operable to position the detector heads during performance of a scan without interference or collision between adjacent detector heads to establish a variable bore size and configuration for the examination. Additionally, collimated detectors providing variable spatial resolution for SPECT imaging and which can also be used for PET imaging, whereby one set of detectors can be selectably used for either modality, or for both simultaneously.

Abstract: Systems and method for remote field measurement-based mapping of anatomical structures (e.g., using impedance image of electrical fields) are described. In some embodiments, an image of features within a target region is produced by analysis of a spatial pattern of field measurements made in a measurement region remote from the target region features; for example, but not exclusively, by treating the spatial arrangement of field measurements in some portion of the measurement region as indicating the spatial (e.g., angular and/or distance) arrangement of features (e.g., anatomical structure of topography and/or tissue type) in the target region.

Abstract: There is provided a method of treating a patient, comprising: delivering a self-expandable transcatheter heart valve (THV) over a guidewire in a contracted state and within a sheath to a first anatomical location within a heart of the patient, moving the THV relative to the sheath for partially self-expanding a portion of the THV within the first anatomical location, wherein a portion of the THV in the sheath remains in the contracted state and the THV is partially self-expanded, and refraining from moving the partially self-expanded THV, relative to the aortic annulus of the heart.

Abstract: There is provided a computer implemented method of monitoring a guidewire position during a medical procedure, comprising: analyzing a plurality of baseline images captured over a plurality of at least one of heartbeats and breathing cycles, the plurality of baseline images depicting a guidewire in a body cavity, computing according to the analysis, a baseline movement of the guidewire during the at least one of heartbeats and breathing cycles, and monitoring successive images of the guidewire for detecting movement of the guidewire that deviates from the baseline movement.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for imaging an intra-body object. An exemplary method includes: measuring electrical measurements using electrodes of a probe hovering inside a body lumen; identifying, based on said electrical measurements, a volume encompassing the electrodes used for the measurements as a volume free of any lumen wall; and inferring, from the identified volume free of any lumen wall, a wall in the vicinity of the probe, thereby imaging at least a portion of the object.

Abstract: A nuclear medicine tomography system comprising: a detector carrier having a circular or partially circular aperture and defining a plane; a plurality of SPECT detector assemblies attached to the detector carrier and arranged around the aperture; a patient carrier movable relative to the plane; each detector assembly comprising an arm defining an extension axis and at least one detector head movable along the axis, wherein each detector assembly has a rounded distal portion; wherein each detector head is extendible along the axis, from the detector carrier toward the patient carrier; and a controller to: control, based on desired bore size and shape, extension and retraction of the detector heads to a spatial arrangement defined by the extension and retraction, control data acquisition by the detector heads, and control image reconstruction of acquired data; the controller further configured to control data acquisition and/or image reconstruction, based on the spatial arrangement.

Abstract: Methods and devices using measurements of heart electrophysiological activity to guide structural heart disease interventions, and in some particular embodiments, implantation of heart valve annuloplasty devices. In some embodiments, measurements of heart electrophysiological activity are mapped into locations of a heart model defined by one or more additional measurement modalities. Locations to map electrophysiological data to, in some embodiments, are determined by non-electrophysiological measurements simultaneous with the electrophysiological data measurement which locate a probe—for example, measurements made by the probe itself, and/or measurements which themselves indicate positioning of the probe.

Abstract: Methods and devices for tying management of an implantable medical device to the activities of a primary care physician are described, including access control, simplified parameter optimization, support for tuning a device in response to the effects of other treatments in parallel, and support for helping a primary physician and a patient work together to tune device configuration to the activity and performance needs of the patient. In some embodiments, a medical device is self-configuring in a device parameter domain, based on inputs provided in a patient performance domain. The self-configuring of the medical device is based, for example, on an automatically applied transformation of inputs derived from patient performance domain observations into changes in the configuration of the medical device which affect technical parameters of its operation.

Abstract: A method of modifying tissue behavior, comprising: determining a desired modification of tissue behavior for at least one of treatment of a disease, short or long term modification of tissue behavior, assessing tissue state and assessing tissue response to stimulation; selecting an electric field having an expected effect of modifying protein activity of at least one protein as an immediate response of a tissue to the field, said expected effect correlated with said desired modification; and applying said field to said tissue.

Abstract: Automatic intraoperative monitoring of new onset conduction disturbances (NOCD) comprising comparison of metric values derived from an ECG signal recording to reference values. An alarm is raised when the comparison result indicates a new onset conduction disorder. Other indications of the comparison may also be presented. Reference values may derive, for example, from a baseline ECG signal recording, and/or from a database of previously observed associations between ECG signals and NOCD. In some embodiments, comparison is also made to threshold values defined by clinical heart block criteria. Baseline and clinical threshold values may define a range used in the comparison. Comparison may combine ranges; for example, using Boolean logic. Comparison and/or alarm triggering is optionally modulated by a database of previously observed associations between non-ECG data and NOCD. Optionally, a user is enabled to select alarm triggering conditions through a user interface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a contact angle of a catheter relative to tissue are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a catheter with three or more electrodes, and a processor circuit in communication with the catheter. The processor circuit controls the three or more electrodes to emit a plurality of electrical voltages and to measure the plurality of electrical voltages. Based on the measured electrical voltages, the processor circuit calculates a first interelectrode impedance and a second interelectrode impedance. The processor circuit calculates, for each of a plurality of hypothetical i.e. model angles, a first hypothetical i.e. model contact force and a second hypothetical i.e. model contact force based on the first and second interelectrode impedances. The processor circuit determines and outputs the contact angle of the catheter based on a comparison of the first and second model contact forces calculated for each of the plurality of model angles.

Abstract: An N-M tomography system comprising: a carrier for the subject of an examination procedure; a plurality of detector heads; a carrier for the detector heads; and a detector positioning arrangement operable to position the detector heads during performance of a scan without interference or collision between adjacent detector heads to establish a variable bore size and configuration for the examination. Additionally, collimated detectors providing variable spatial resolution for SPECT imaging and which can also be used for PET imaging, whereby one set of detectors can be selectably used for either modality, or for both simultaneously.

Abstract: Methods for creation and use (e.g., for navigation) of displays of flattened (e.g., curvature-straightened) 3-D reconstructions of tissue surfaces, optionally including reconstructions of the interior surfaces of hollow organs. In some embodiments, data comprising a 3-D representation of a tissue surface (for example an interior heart chamber surface) are subject to a geometrical transformation allowing the tissue surface to be presented substantially within a single view of a flattened reconstruction. In some embodiments, a catheter probe in use near the tissue surface is shown in positions that correspond to positions in 3-D space sufficiently to permit navigation; e.g., the probe is shown in flattened reconstruction views nearby view regions corresponding to regions it actually approaches. In some embodiments, automatic and/or easily triggered manual view switching between flattened reconstruction and source reconstruction views is implemented.

Abstract: Methods and systems for position determination of an intrabody probe, targets of an intrabody probe, and or actions to be performed using an intrabody probe are described. In some embodiments, an anatomy being navigated and/or mapped is described by a rule-based schema relating different anatomically identified structures to one another according to their ability to help identify and/or locate one another. Additionally, in some embodiments, data recorded from the intrabody probe is processed according to schema rules in order to provide anatomical identification of the anatomical region which the intrabody probe is sampling, optionally without performing detailed mapping, and/or prior to the availability of detailed mapping of anatomical geometry.

Abstract: An N-M tomography system comprising: a carrier for the subject of an examination procedure; a plurality of detector heads; a carrier for the detector heads; and a detector positioning arrangement operable to position the detector heads during performance of a scan without interference or collision between adjacent detector heads to establish a variable bore size and configuration for the examination. Additionally, collimated detectors providing variable spatial resolution for SPECT imaging and which can also be used for PET imaging, whereby one set of detectors can be selectably used for either modality, or for both simultaneously.