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: Catheterization of the heart is carried out by inserting a probe having electrodes into a heart of a living subject, recording a bipolar electrogram and a unipolar electrogram from one of the electrodes at a location in the heart, and defining a window of interest wherein a rate of change in a potential of the bipolar electrogram exceeds a predetermined value. An annotation is established in the unipolar electrogram, wherein the annotation denotes a maximum rate of change in a potential of the unipolar electrogram within the window of interest. A quality value is assigned to the annotation, and a 3-dimensional map is generated of a portion of the heart that includes the annotation and the quality value thereof.

Abstract: A method includes receiving (i) a plurality of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals acquired by a mapping catheter at a plurality of locations on a surface of a heart of a patient, (ii) a reference ECG signal from a reference catheter positioned at a nominal location in a coronary sinus (CS) of the patient, and (iii) position signals indicative of a position of the reference catheter in the CS. An electrophysiological (EP) map of at least part of the heart is calculated by time-referencing the ECG signals relative to the reference ECG signal. Based on the position signals, a displacement of the reference catheter from the nominal location in the CS, which distorts the time-referencing, is estimated. The distortion in the EP map is mitigated using the estimated displacement.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and programs are disclosed herein for automatically demarcating segments of an anatomical structure and include providing a processor having a memory, receiving and storing three-dimensional (3D) model data of an anatomical structure of a patient in the memory, generating positional information to orient 3D model data of the anatomical structure, identifying at least one segment of the 3D model data of the anatomical structure based on the positional information, demarcating the at least one identified segment of the 3D model data of the anatomical structure with an identification enhancer that visually distinguishes the at least one identified segment, and providing, for display, the 3D model data of the anatomical structure with the at least one demarcated segment.

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: A method, including recording parameters indicative of a quality of ablation performed at one or more sites in a region of a human heart, and receiving a set of electrophysiological signals indicative of a wave of electrical activation flowing through the region. The method further includes identifying locations within the region at which the wave is blocked from flowing and estimating confidence levels with respect to a blockage of the wave at the locations in response to the signals and the parameters. The method also includes displaying a map of the human heart including an indication of the confidence levels.

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: 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: In one embodiment, a medical system includes a catheter to be inserted into a chamber of a heart of a living subject, and including catheter electrodes to contact tissue at respective locations within the chamber of the heart, a display, and processing circuitry to receive signals from the catheter, and in response to the signals, sample respective voltage values of the signals at respective timing values, and render to the display respective intracardiac electrograms (IEGM) presentation strips representing electrical activity in the tissue that is sensed by the catheter electrodes at the respective locations, each of the IEGM presentation strips including a linear array of respective shapes associated with, and arranged in a temporal order of, respective ones of the timing values, fillers of the respective shapes being formatted responsively to respective ones of the sampled voltage values of a respective one of the signals sampled at respective ones of the timing values.

Abstract: A system includes an interface and a processor. The interface is configured to receive a plurality of electrophysiological (EP) measurements performed in a heart of a patient. The processor is configured to estimate a wall thickness at a specified location of the heart based on the EP measurements.

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: 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 data acquisition circuitry and a processor. The data acquisition circuitry is configured to acquire multiple signals using multiple respective electrodes of an array of electrodes coupled to one of an organ of a patient and tissue or a cell culture. The processor is configured to hold a definition of a mixed-norm that is defined as a function of relative positions of the electrodes in the array, and jointly compress the multiple signals in a compressed-sensing (CS) process that minimizes the mixed-norm.

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 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.

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: 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 method includes receiving (i) a plurality of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals acquired by a mapping catheter at a plurality of locations on a surface of a heart of a patient, (ii) a reference ECG signal from a reference catheter positioned at a nominal location in a coronary sinus (CS) of the patient, and (iii) position signals indicative of a position of the reference catheter in the CS. An electrophysiological (EP) map of at least part of the heart is calculated by time-referencing the ECG signals relative to the reference ECG signal. Based on the position signals, a displacement of the reference catheter from the nominal location in the CS, which distorts the time-referencing, is estimated. The distortion in the EP map is mitigated using the estimated displacement.

Abstract: Cardiac catheterization is carried out by constructing a left atrial model of a heart of a living subject, selecting a global catheter that is dimensioned to conform to the left atrial model, representing the catheter in the left atrial model; extending the length axis of the catheter in the left atrial model to form an intersection with the foramen ovale, and reporting the intersection as a recommended site of transseptal puncture for insertion of the catheter therethrough.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a handle and a ring-shaped visual indicator. The ring-shaped visual indicator surrounds a perimeter of the handle and is configured to illuminate a visual indication in response to being driven by a driver-signal.