Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes receiving, by an optimization engine, inputs from previous ablation procedures. The method also includes training, by the optimization engine, a machine learning algorithm of the optimization engine to learn scenarios for the previous ablation procedures. The method also includes generating, by the optimization engine, ablation indices for the scenarios.

Abstract: A method of occlusion detection is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of positioning a medical tool coupled to a distal portion of a distal end of a delivery catheter at a target cavity within a patient. The medical tool includes an expandable balloon, and at least one sensor. The expandable balloon is expanded when positioned at the target cavity. The expandable balloon includes a membrane formed of a plurality of irrigation pores. Fluid is introduced into the target cavity either by injection or through the pores, or both. Using a sensor, a characteristic of blood is detected with the target cavity. The characteristic of blood is processed to determine the presence or absence of an occlusion within the cavity.

Abstract: A method is described herein. The method is implemented by an optimization engine executed by a processor. The optimization engine receives data that includes performance metrics of mapping and ablation procedures. In turn, the optimization generates procedure expected outcomes for the mapping and ablation procedures based on the data and success predictions for a current ablation procedure utilizing the procedure expected outcomes. The optimization engine, also, outputs an ablation recommendation based on the success predictions.

Abstract: Electroanatomic mapping is carried out by inserting a multi-electrode probe into a heart of a living subject, recording electrograms from the electrodes concurrently at respective locations in the heart, delimiting respective activation time intervals in the electrograms, generating a map of electrical propagation waves from the activation time intervals, maximizing coherence of the waves by adjusting local activation times within the activation time intervals of the electrograms, and reporting the adjusted local activation times.

Abstract: A power line interference (PLI) suppression method includes receiving an input analog signal superimposed with PLI, and digitally estimating one or more harmonics of the PLI in real-time. Responsively to the one or more digitally estimated harmonics, one or more analog harmonic waveforms are outputted, that match the respective one or more harmonics of the PLI. The input analog signal and the one or more analog harmonic waveforms are received, and the superimposed PLI in the input analog signal is suppressed using the one or more analog harmonic waveforms. An analog output signal is outputted, that corresponds to the input analog signal having the suppressed PLI.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating a pace-mapping prediction model. Techniques are provided that utilize a training dataset associated with biometrics of patients' hearts, including electrophysiological data associated with cardiac arrhythmia, pace-mapping datasets, and correlation data measuring the degree of correlation between the pace-mapping datasets and the electrophysiological data. Based on the training dataset, the pace-mapping prediction model is trained to predict a degree of correlation between a patient's electrophysiological data and a pace-mapping dataset. Based on the predicted degree of correlation, a cardiac location in the heart of a patient is predicted as the location for the next pace-mapping. Further systems and methods are disclosed for generating a pacing maneuver prediction model. The pacing maneuver prediction model is trained to predict interval measurement based on a pacing maneuver obtained during cardiac pace-mapping.

Abstract: A method includes positioning an expandable balloon, coupled to a distal end of a catheter, at a target location within an organ of a patient, the expandable balloon including multiple electrodes and one or more sensors in proximity to each electrode, wherein the one or more sensors are configured each to measure a characteristic of blood. The expandable balloon is expanded at the target location. A fluid is flowed through an inner lumen of the catheter and into the blood in a vicinity of each electrode. A dependence of the characteristic of blood on time is measured, via the one or more sensors, in proximity to each electrode. Using a processor, it is determined whether or not each electrode is in physical contact with tissue, based on the measured dependence of the characteristic of blood. An indication of whether or not each electrode is in physical contact with tissue is outputted to a user.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion is configured to enable lateral deflection of the distal end relative to a longitudinal axis defined by the proximal portion. A distal navigation sensor positioned at or near the distal end of the distal portion is configured to indicate a position of the distal end of the flexible distal portion in three-dimensional space. A pair of proximal navigation sensors positioned at or near a proximal end of the flexible distal portion are configured to indicate a roll orientation of the proximal end of the flexible distal portion about the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a medical system includes a catheter configured to be inserted into a chamber of a heart of a living subject, and including catheter electrodes configured to contact tissue at respective locations within the chamber of the heart, a display, and processing circuitry configured to receive signals from the catheter, and in response to the signals, sample voltage values of the signals at respective sampling times, compute respective curved three-dimensional surfaces describing electrical activity of the tissue over the catheter electrodes at respective ones of the sampling times, responsively to (a) respective positions of the respective catheter electrodes, and (b) the respective sampled voltage values indicative of electrical activity of the tissue that is sensed by the respective catheter electrodes at the respective locations at the respective sampling times, and render the respective three-dimensional surfaces to the display over time.

Abstract: A position sensor of an instrument provides a signal indicating a real-time position and orientation of a distal portion of the instrument in response to an electromagnetic field. A processor drives a display screen to display an image of an anatomical region of a patient. The processor processes signals from the position sensor to determine the real-time position and orientation of a distal portion of the instrument within the patient, then provides a first indicator on the image to indicate the real-time position of the distal portion of the instrument within the patient. The processor also provides a second indicator on the image, indicating the real-time orientation of the distal portion of the instrument within the patient. The second indicator includes virtual illumination of an anatomical structure within the image. The virtually illuminated anatomical structure includes a structure toward which the distal portion of the instrument is oriented.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing scar tissue identification using a processor coupled to a memory is disclosed. The method and apparatus receive a first modality and a second modality. The first modality is of a first type. The second modality is of a second type, which is different from the first type. Each of the first modality and the second modality respectively describe organic tissue of a patient according to the first and second types. The method and apparatus cross reference the first modality and the second modality and generates improved image data for the first modality based on the cross referencing. The image data includes enhanced accuracy over or higher resolution than original data of the first modality.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a position sensor, and a depth-finding module or an ultrasound imager. The position sensor is fixedly positioned relative to a distal end of the body. The position sensor is configured to generate a signal indicating a real-time position of the position sensor within three-dimensional space. The depth-finding module or an ultrasound imager is fixedly positioned relative to the position sensor. The distal end of the body is configured to emit energy from the depth-finding module or ultrasound imager.

Abstract: A medical procedure navigation system includes processing circuitry configured to obtain, from an electronic storage device, data associated with a medical procedure instrument, the electronic storage device being housed within the medical procedure instrument; obtain at least one preoperative patient image; track, using one or more tracking devices, a real-time location of the medical procedure instrument and an imaging instrument; obtain, from the imaging instrument, at least one patient image; determine, based on the data associated with the medical procedure instrument, at least one feature of the medical procedure instrument; identify, based on the real-time location of the medical procedure instrument and the imaging instrument and the at least one feature, a localized view of the at least one preoperative patient image; and superimpose and display, on a display device, a localized view of the at least one preoperative patient image over the at least one patient image.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an apparatus that includes an expandable structure, configured for insertion into a body of a subject, and a plurality of conducting elements coupled to the expandable structure. Each of the conducting elements comprises a respective coil and has an insulated portion that is electrically insulated from tissue of the subject, and an uninsulated portion configured to exchange signals with the tissue, while in contact with the tissue. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an apparatus that includes an expandable structure, configured for insertion into a body of a subject, and a plurality of conducting elements coupled to the expandable structure. Each of the conducting elements comprises a respective coil and has an insulated portion that is electrically insulated from tissue of the subject, and an uninsulated portion configured to exchange signals with the tissue, while in contact with the tissue. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a frame and a plurality of magnetic field generators. The frame is configured to be secured to a patient's head. The frame includes a plurality of housings. Each housing of the plurality of housings is configured to securely engage a corresponding portion of the patient's head. The plurality of magnetic field generators is operable to generate a magnetic field around at least a portion of the patient's head. Each magnetic field generator of the plurality of magnetic field generators is securely retained by a corresponding housing of the plurality of housings.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly and a distal endoscope cap. A flexible distal portion of the shaft assembly is laterally deflectable relative to a rigid proximal portion of the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly defines a working channel sized and configured to enable advancement of a working element. The distal endoscope cap is configured to attach to the distal end of the shaft assembly. The distal endoscope cap has an outer diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the flexible distal portion. The distal endoscope cap includes a body having at least one coupling member for attaching the distal endoscope cap to the distal end of the shaft assembly, at least one image sensor secured to the body for visualizing an anatomical structure, and at least one illuminating element secured to the body for illuminating a field of view of the at least one image sensor.

Abstract: A power line interference (PLI) suppression method includes receiving an input analog signal superimposed with PLI, and digitally estimating one or more harmonics of the PLI in real-time. Responsively to the one or more digitally estimated harmonics, one or more analog harmonic waveforms are outputted, that match the respective one or more harmonics of the PLI. The input analog signal and the one or more analog harmonic waveforms are received, and the superimposed PLI in the input analog signal is suppressed using the one or more analog harmonic waveforms. An analog output signal is outputted, that corresponds to the input analog signal having the suppressed PLI.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a medical system includes a catheter including electrodes, and configured to be inserted into a chamber of a heart and maneuvered among sampling sites to sample electrical activity, a display, and processing circuitry to receive signals provided by the catheter, and compute, for each sampling site, a sampling position of the catheter and respective electrode positions of the catheter electrodes, render to the display a 3D representation of the chamber including respective sampling-site markers indicating the computed sampling position of the catheter at respective ones of the sampling sites, receive a user input selecting one sampling-site marker, and update the 3D representation to include electrode markers indicating the respective electrode positions of the respective catheter electrodes while the catheter was sampling the electrical activity of the tissue at the sampling site corresponding to the selected sampling-site marker.

Abstract: A system, device and method for left atrial appendage occlusion detection is disclosed. The system for occlusion detection comprises a sheath; a delivery system comprising: a delivery catheter extending between a proximal end and a distal end; and a handle coupled to the proximal end of the delivery catheter; a medical tool coupled to a distal end of the delivery catheter at a target location within a portion of an organ of a patient, the medical device comprising a hub including a bore defining an axis, an occluder portion coupled to the hub and an anchor portion extending between a first end and a second end; at least one pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure of the target cavity while blood is suctioned form inside the left atrial appendage; and at least one processor configured to process the pressure measurement acquired from the at least one pressure sensor.